SocketWrench Overview

SocketWrench is a collection of general purpose TCP/IP development components that come in several editions, with each edition designed to meet the needs of a particular development environment. Which edition is best to use for a given project depends on several factors, including the programming language being used, the type of application being developed and the individual preferences of the developer. To learn more about the product and the general functionality of SocketWrench, please review the Product Features.

SocketWrench is available in three different editions. The Standard Edition provides basic TCP/IP networking functionality and enables developers to quickly and easily integrate Internet functionality in their applications. The Secure Edition also includes support for the SSL and TLS protocols, enabling your software to establish secure, encrypted connections using industry standard protocols. The SocketWrench .NET Edition is a managed code class for the .NET Framework which is easier to use than the native socket class, and integrates the same security features that are found in the Secure Edition.

SocketWrench .NET Edition

The SocketWrench .NET Edition is a managed code class written in C# that can be used with any Visual Studio .NET programming language. The primary benefit to using the .NET components is a simplified interface, rapid development and a lower learning curve. In languages like Visual Basic .NET, the classes can be simply referenced as you would any other .NET class. Because the SocketWrench .NET component is a managed code class that is native to the .NET Framework, there isn't the additional overhead associated with using ActiveX components and COM Interop.

The SocketWrench .NET class supports both synchronous and asynchronous modes of operation, with events used to notify the application when data is available, an operation completes and so on. The interface implemented by the class is similar to the ActiveX control interface, making the transition to the .NET platform as simple as possible.

The SocketWrench .NET Edition requires either Visual Studio .NET 2003 or Visual Studio 2005 and is supported on Windows 2000 and later platforms. The .NET components cannot be used languages that don't support the .NET Framework and Common Language Runtime such as Visual Basic 6.0 or older versions of Visual C++.
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SocketWrench Standard Edition

The SocketWrench Standard Edition includes both an ActiveX control (OCX) and dynamic link library (DLL). The ActiveX control is typically used with high-level programming languages such as Visual Basic, however it can be used with any language that supports the Component Object Model (COM) specification. For those development tools that don't support ActiveX, SocketWrench also includes a standard dynamic link library that can be used with most programming language. If the language is capable of directly calling functions in the Windows API, then it is capable of using the SocketWrench library.

One of the significant advantages of SocketWrench is the dual component approach, providing both an ActiveX control and DLL in the same product, ensuring broad compatibility with virtually every Windows programming language. The choice of which component to use largely depends on the language being used and the personal preference of the developer.

The primary benefit to using the SocketWrench ActiveX control is a simplified interface, rapid development and a lower learning curve. In languages like Visual Basic, the controls can be simply dropped on a form or dialog and referenced as you would any other object. On the other hand, some developers also prefer the lower-level interface and simpler redistribution afforded by the library. The trade-off is that the SocketWrench API tends require more coding on the part of the developer.
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SocketWrench Secure Edition

The SocketWrench Secure Edition includes both an ActiveX control (OCX) and dynamic link library (DLL) and supports the same general features and functionality that is included with Standard Edition of the product. In addition, the Secure Edition also supports the creation of client and server applications using the industry standard SSL and TLS security protocols. These are the same protocols that are used with secure websites, and SocketWrench makes it simple to integrate that same level of security in your own applications.

The Secure Edition can be used to establish both standard and secure connections, and implementing security features typically only requires a few lines of code. You don't need to understand complex encryption algorithms or how to manage certificate information. Because SocketWrench uses standard Windows libraries that are included with the base operating system, there's no third-party libraries that you need to redistribute, and there are no patent concerns or export restrictions beyond those of the operating system itself. The SocketWrench Secure Edition greatly simplifies the development of applications that require secure communications over the Internet.
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SocketWrench Edition

SocketWrench Links

SocketWrench 5.0
Read about what is new in the latest version of SocketWrench.

SocketWrench Overview
More information about the different SocketWrench Editions.

SocketWrench Features
An overview of the product features and benefits.

SocketWrench Tutorials
Get started using SocketWrench in your application.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about SocketWrench.

Release Notes
Release notes for the current version of SocketWrench.