Microsoft recently released the Enterprise Library for .NET Framework 2.0.

I continue to be impressed by Microsoft’s movement in the Enterprise components direction. While .NET still has a way to catch up to the Java camp in the open source community, Microsoft is (as usual) doing a great job supporting developers by giving out this stuff for free.

Here’s what Microsoft says is in EL 2.0:

• Caching Application Block. With this application block, developers can incorporate a local cache in their applications.
• Cryptography Application Block. With this application block, developers can incorporate hashing and symmetric encryption in their applications.
• Data Access Application Block. With this application block, developers can incorporate standard database functionality in their applications.
• Exception Handling Application Block. With this application block, developers and policy makers can create a consistent strategy for processing exceptions that occur throughout the architectural layers of enterprise applications.
• Logging Application Block. With this application block, developers can include standard logging functionality in their applications.
• Security Application Block. With this application block, developers can incorporate authorization and security caching functionality in their applications.

Enterprise Library also includes a set of core functions, including configuration, instrumentation, and object builder services. These functions are used by all other application blocks.