Smart Client Overview

Monday, September 7, 2009

Smart Client Definition
A Smart Client is an application that uses local resources, utilizes XML Web Services and can be deployed and updated from a centralized server.
It can work both in the connected and disconnected modes.
Smart Client combines the best features found in both the thin and thick architectures.
Smart Client includes following features from the think and thick architectures.

Thick Application
• Rich User Experience
• Offline Capable
• High Developer productivity
• Flexible
Thin Application
• Easy to update
• Easy to deploy
• Easy to manage

Smart Client Features
Local Resource Utilization – A smart client may take advantage of the local CPU, local memory or disk, or any local devices connected to the client
Connected – The application interacts with a number of Web services that provide access to data or an application
Offline Capable – Because they are running on the local machine, one of the key benefits that smart client applications offer is that they can be made to work even when the user is not connected. Intelligent
Install and Update – Applications can be updated while running and can be deployed on demand by clicking on a URL.

Disadvantage of Smart Client
• The MSIL EXE gets downloaded at client side. So it takes more time to load at the first time
• Since MSIL EXE gets downloaded at client there is risk of client "de-compiling" your code
• There is no central control on the application once it gets deployed to the users.

Types of Smart Client Application
• Windows Smart Client applications - These kinds of applications typically use Windows Forms to provide a familiar Windows-style user interface
•Office Smart Client applications - With an Office smart client solution, one can integrate data sources, accessed through Web services, with the features of Word 2003, Excel 2003, InfoPath 2003, or other Office applications.
•Mobile Smart Client applications - Mobile smart clients are applications that run on smart devices — Pocket PCs, Smart phones, etc. These applications are developed using the .NET Compact Framework, which is a subset of the full .NET Framework.