15.1. Introducing MEF

In this section, you’ll learn where to get MEF, what you get, and how you start using it. We’ll also look at how components are configured and packaged. Table 15.1 provides fundamental information that you’re likely to need to get started.

Table 15.1. MEF at a glance

Question	Answer
Where do I get it?	MEF is part of .NET 4 and Silverlight 4.
What’s in the download?	You get MEF when you install .NET 4 or Silverlight 4. It’s part of the Base Class Library and packaged in the System.ComponentModel.Composition assembly. If you visit http://mef.codeplex.com/, you can also download the source code to peruse.
Which platforms are supported?	.NET 4 and Silverlight 4. On http://mef.codeplex.com/ you can also find unsupported versions for .NET 3.5 SP1 and Silverlight 3.
How much does it cost?	Nothing. It’s part of .NET 4 and Silverlight 4.
Where can I get help?	Because MEF is part of .NET and Silverlight, you can get support from Microsoft.
On which version is this chapter based?	.NET 4.