Catalyst Development

SocketTools 7, codenamed “Sawtooth”, is going to introduce some exciting new features, along with some additional components that expand the functionality of the product. We wanted to provide you with an overview of a few of the things you can expect to see in this upcoming release, as well as provide some general information about the new version.

Here is a brief overview of just a few of the major changes that will be coming in the next release. Additional information about SocketTools 7 can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions document on our website.

Native support for 64-bit Windows applications. The SocketTools 7 .NET and Library Editions will include 64-bit editions that can be used to build native 64-bit versions of your applications. Of course, we will continue to offer our 32-bit components as well, allowing developers to target the platforms of their choice.

Support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). Commonly known as the next generation Internet protocol, IPv6 is designed to eventually replace the current version. IPv6 addresses many of the problems with the current version of the protocol, and adds a number of improvements in terms of routing, network configuration and overall performance. While most of the Internet still uses IPv4, offering support for IPv6 ensures the long-term compatibility of your application software.

Support for Quality of Service functionality. The ability to negotiate and manage the bandwidth allocated to a connection is known as Quality of Service (QoS). This allows an application to prioritize network traffic for mission-critical applications, as well as obtain statistical information about the connection.

Support for the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) protocol. A new library and component will be included that provides a simplified interface to download and parse RSS feeds. RSS has become common place in providing updates to frequently changing content on the Internet, and can also be used programmatically. For example, your application could check an RSS feed to determine if it is running the current version, or if the user should be notified of a new release.

Support for Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging. This component and library enables developers to send short text messages, typically 160 characters or less, to a mobile device. All you need to know is the cell phone number and provide the text that you wish to send. A method for specifying an alternate email gateway server, typically needed for providers outside of the United States, can also be specified if needed.

Support for very large file transfers. Currently, file transfers using protocols like FTP and HTTP are limited to 4GB. In SocketTools 7, these limitations will be removed, enabling applications to upload and download very large files that exceed 4GB.

Support for automatic management of background file transfers. This will enable your application to queue file transfers in the background, without interfering with the current thread of execution. For example, you could have a number of files that you want your software to download at one time. With this option enabled, you request the files as you normally would and the data transfer begins in the background, executing in a separate thread and control is immediately returned to your program. An event is used to signal when the transfer has completed. There’s no need for you to worry about managing multiple threads or worry about writing complex inter-process communication code.

Network protocol improvements and extensions. SocketTools 7 will also include improvements to many of the network protocols, such as support for HTTP compression, Integrated Windows Authentication support and improved session logging and debugging features.

Of course, one of the most common concerns for developers is code compatibility. SocketTools 7 will continue to include all of the components and libraries in the current version and will be source compatible to ensure that upgrading is as easy as possible. This includes continuing support for ActiveX controls and Visual Basic 6.0 (Classic VB). We will continue to support all of the current Windows platforms from Windows 2000 and later, including the new release of Windows 7 in October, 2009. As with previous versions, SocketTools 7 will support side-by-side installation. You can safely install the new version on the same system that already has a previous version of SocketTools installed.

SocketTools 7 is currently under development, and there will be phased beta testing similar to how the beta test for version 6.0 was managed. If you’re a current beta tester, you’ll automatically be invited for the first round of testing. We’ll then open up testing to other developers who are interested in working with the new release. We currently plan on releasing SocketTools 7 in the summer of 2010, although this is subject to change based on the testing process and feedback from developers.