Is WCF right for this??

Question

Hi I've been looking at some WCF examples and all and I just cant see if this would be appropriate in my application. I have an application for which I need multiple users to be assigned to. And each user needs privileges assigned to them so that when they make a database request (MySQL database running on server) the privileges are seen and applied. Does WCF support a 'user' adding removing and database access application? Or am I looking in the completely wrong place? Thanks a lot in advance. Person.

Piotr Justyna · Answer

Hi Person! The truth is the Windows Communication Foundation is actually Web Services :) I believe your idea is quite good but you can also apply a set of access/privilege rules using one or more tables in the existing database. Of course if you can modify its structure :) If you can't modify the database you have few possibilities: either you can create your own database with access/privilege rules or you can write a WCF Web Service serving as a 'gatekeeper' for your application (serving a set of different methods for each user). I'm not sure if you need a WS for your purpose but it definitely sounds like a very interesting project :) Please share your ideas! Cheers!

person · Answer

Hi I have an application which I want users to sign into...so user accounts are required. Our database is hosted god knows where though its not on my machine. I have to find a way of applying locks etc to the database so as to allow the admin user to read and write and others with varied privileges. I dont know anything about WCF and it was mentioned to me that it would make the creation of this application easier. Though I looked at WCF documentation a bit yesterday and it seems that it is generally used for web services etc is this true? Thanks Person

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Where is your application and database server? Are they on separate machines? If they are on same machine you don't need WCF. WCF is needed when you need to make a communication between 2 or more machines. You need to be more specific. What exactly are you trying to do? It its just a simple database based Web application you really don't need WCF. You can do everything in just using ASP.NET.

Piotr Justyna · Answer

Hi Person! I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve but if you have authentication in mind the answer is yes - WCF supports authentication. You can use for example Windows Authentication - based WCF application and connect to your database using c# and appropriate framework. Please let me know if this helps. Cheers!