14 DAY TRIAL // A new project from Microsoft is designed to enable developers to overcome the limitations of the Team Foundation Server 2010 object model by leveraging Open Data Protocol (OData). Essentially, devs using Visual Studio 2010 will be able to take their Team Foundation Server data beyond Windows applications.
Developers using non-Windows operating systems, as well as those not relying on PCs in specific scenarios, but on their smartphone or Tablet PC / slate, can still access their Team Foundation Server 2010 projects by using a new service provided by the software giant which involves the OData web protocol.
The first Beta development milestone of the OData Service for Team Foundation Server 2010 is already available for download for early adopters.
Testers can get it through the Microsoft Download Center, and even use it into production since it comes with a go-live license. Devs should know that documentation is included in the download, but they won’t be able to get support from the Redmond company.
The “OData service interacts with the client object model in the SDK (it does not manipulate any web services directly),” explained Brian Keller, Microsoft Sr. Technical Evangelist for Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management.
“The service can be easily hosted in Windows Azure to front-end your own Team Foundation Server instance, or if you want to use this with CodePlex we’ve already hosted this service for you at https://codeplexodata.cloudapp.net/,” Keller added.
“As long as you have contributor rights on any CodePlex project backed by Team Foundation Server 2010 you can start making OData calls immediately.”
There isn’t a specific availability deadline for the final release of the OData Service for Team Foundation Server 2010 at this point in time.
Microsoft hopes to get the service out of Beta in the coming months, but this will largely depend on the quality of the project based on the feedback that testers will provide.
“In most cases, they will. Connecting to Team Foundation Server via OData has the same licensing implications as connecting via Team Explorer, the web, or any other client. But there are a few exceptions where users working with Team Foundation Server don’t need CAL’s,” Keller added.
Make sure to watch the video embedded below featuring Keller. It’s sure to be a very interesting resource for developers looking to test OData Service for Team Foundation Server 2010 Beta and to further use the service once it graduates from Beta.
OData Service for Team Foundation Server 2010 Beta is available for download here.