Smart Client Features

A smart client would have the following characteristics:

* Local Resource Utilization - A smart client application always has code artifacts on the client that enable local resources to be utilized. What do we mean by local resources? We mean everything from hardware to software resources. A smart client may take advantage of the local CPU, local memory or disk, or any local devices connected to the client, such as a telephone, bar-code/RFID reader, and so on. But it may also take advantage of local software, such as Microsoft Office applications, or any installed line-of-business (LOB) applications that interact with it.
* Connected - Smart client applications are never standalone and always form part of a larger distributed solution. This could mean that the application interacts with a number of Web services that provide access to data or an LOB application. Very often, the application has access to specific services that help maintain the application and provide deployment and update services.
* 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. For applications running in occasional or intermittent connectivity situations, such as those used by traveling workers or even those running on laptops, tablets, PDA's, and so on, where connectivity cannot be guaranteed at all times, being able to work while disconnected is essential. Even when the client is connected, the smart client application can improve performance and usability by caching data and managing the connection in an intelligent way.
* Intelligent Install and Update - Smart client applications manage their deployment and update in a much more intelligent way than traditional rich client applications. The .NET framework enables application artifacts to be deployed using a variety of techniques, including simple file copy or download over HTTP. Applications can be updated while running and can be deployed on demand by clicking on a URL. The Microsoft(r) .NET Framework provides a powerful security mechanism that guarantees the integrity of the application and its related assemblies. Assemblies can be given limited permissions in order to restrict their functionality in semi-trusted scenarios.
* Client Device Flexibility - The .NET Framework together with the .NET Compact Framework provides a common platform upon which smart client applications can be built. Often, there will be multiple versions of the smart client application, each targeting a specific device type and taking advantage of the devices unique features and providing functionality appropriate to its usage.

Let us look at one of the very important features of Smart clients Intelligent Install and Update.
Intelligent Install and Update (Easy Deployment)

Smart client applications manage their deployment and update in a much more intelligent way than traditional rich client applications.
Components

A Smart client application will have two components

1. A very thin client application to be installed locally
2. The actual application hosted on a Web Server build using Strong named assemblies

Process involved

When the user opens a Smart client Application

1. The User opens the Application.
2. The application references a assembly hosted on a Web Server
3. The .NET Framework checks if the previously downloaded assembly is the latest one.
4. If not downloads the latest version from the server, loads the assembly locally and launches the application.