Enterprise Library (New release of the patterns & practices Application Blocks)

"Enterprise Library

Enterprise Library is a major new release of the patterns & practices Application Blocks, which are reusable software components designed to assist developers with common enterprise development challenges. Enterprise Library 1.0 will bring together new releases of the most widely reusable blocks into a single integrated download. The major themes of Enterprise

Library are:

• Consistency – all Enterprise Library Application Blocks will feature consistent design patterns and implementation approaches, configuration mechanisms and tools, documentation, samples, deployment and operational processes.

• Extensibility – all blocks include defined extensibility points which allow developers to customize the behavior of the blocks by ‘plugging in’ their own code. Enterprise Library will also ship with guidance to assist developers with building their own blocks that integrate with the Library.

• Ease of Use – Enterprise Library will offer numerous usability improvements, including a graphical configuration tool, simpler installation, and clearer and more complete documentation and samples.

• Integration – the Enterprise Library Application Blocks are designed and tested to work well together. It will also be possible to use the blocks individually, thus catering for a range of different usage scenarios.
...
The initial release of Enterprise Library will include Application Blocks that support the following scenarios: data access, exception handling, caching, configuration, logging, security and cryptography. In the future the library will be expanded to include additional Application Blocks that support a wider range of scenarios.

The first version of Enterprise Library is being developed by Microsoft in partnership with Avanade. In recognition of Avanade’s role in helping build the foundation of this deliverable, this version will be available to Avanade’s enterprise customers in late 2004 prior to the general release. It will then be released to the general public in early 2005. ..."

Tracking this project now... Sounds like it will be ready right in time for VS2005?