WCF Service Library template not available on Visual Studio 2013 express?
templates, visual-studio-2013, wcf
Solution
A WCF Service Library is, in essence, a class library (DLL) that contains the service contract and its implementation (or just the implementation if the contract is in a separate project).
While the WCF Service Library template is a convenient way to create a WCF Service library, the only things it adds are the `IService1.cs/vb` interface, `Service1.cs/vb` implementation, some boiler plate code, and references to `System.Runtime.Serialization` and `System.ServiceModel`.
If you don't have the template, you can do the following:
- Create a new Class Library in the language of your choice.
- Rename `Class1.cs` to your service name.
- Add an interface for the service contract.
- Add a reference to `System.ServiceModel` and `System.Runtime.Serialization` (the latter if you'll be using DataContracts).
I haven't used the express editions since 2010, and I don't remember if you can create class libraries with Visual Web Developer Express, so you might need to use Express 2013 for Windows Desktop.
It's a little extra work without the template (about 5 minutes or less), but you can still do it.
Problem
I really want to develop using the WCF Service Library template, but I am concluding that it is not available on the express version. Can anyone confirm? I've tried the installVStemplates, and re- installing the software. No luck it seems. Am hoping I might be wrong somehow.