The Composite UI Application Block (or CAB) is an addition to

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...

.NET Framework The .NET Framework (pronounced as "''dot net"'') is a proprietary software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It was the predominant implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) until bein ...

for creating complex

user interface In the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, a user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine f ...

s made of loosely coupled components. Developed by Microsoft's patterns & practices team, CAB is used exclusively for developing

Windows Forms Windows Forms (WinForms) is a free and open-source graphical (GUI) class library included as a part of Microsoft .NET, .NET Framework or Mono Framework, providing a platform to write client applications for desktop, laptop, and tablet PCs. While ...

. A derivative version of CAB exists in both the Web Client and Mobile Client Software Factories as well. It encourages the developer to use either the Model-View-Controller or Model-View-Presenter

architectural pattern An architectural pattern is a general, reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem in software architecture within a given context. The architectural patterns address various issues in software engineering, such as computer hardware perform ...

, to encourage reuse of the individual User Controls (referred to in CAB as "SmartParts") by not coupling them with their underlying data elements or presentation code. It is part of the foundation of the Smart Client Software Factory, another patterns & practices deliverable. It is also part of the Mobile Client Software Factory which is a version of the Smart Client Software Factory for use with the

.NET Compact Framework The Microsoft .NET Compact Framework (.NET CF) is a version of the .NET Framework that is designed to run on resource constrained mobile/embedded devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, factory controllers, set-top box ...

2.0.

External links

CAB Home page

Smart Client Software Factory Home page
Microsoft software factories Software architecture {{Microsoft-software-stub

See also

External links