CodeActivity vs NativeActivity

CodeActivity vs NativeActivity

When to use a CodeActivity and when NativeActivity?

Along with all the activity types available in WF 4 CodeActivity and NativeActivity are pretty powerful code based activities, which can be used to write your own custom code and create custom activities. When you create your own custom activity you have the option of either deriving from CodeAcitivity, or NativeActivity.  So what is the basic difference between these two activity types?

Though these two activities look similar they have their differences.

CodeActivity: 

1.       Provides an Execute method that can be overridden to have your implementation. Also provides access to tracking, variables and arguments.

2.       Use CodeActivity for simple Custom Activities

3.       Use CodeActivity for Synchronous Activities

4.       Use it when you need to execute in a single pulse of execution

5.       Use it when you do not need to schedule other activities

6.       Use it when you do not need to use advanced WF Runtime features

NativeActivity:  

1.       Provides all the features of the CodeActivity plus it lets you abort activity execution, cancel child activity execution, schedule activities, use bookmarks, activity actions and functions.

2.       Use NativeActivity for complex Custom Activities

3.       Use NativeActivity for long running Custom Activities

4.       Use it when you need to execute in multiple pulses

5.       Use it when you have to schedule other activities

6.       Use NativeActivity  when you need to use advanced WF Runtime features

Note: Do not Use NativeActivity to create activities that do not require capabilities of the WF Runtime – use CodeActivity Instead.

Here is a detailed description on using the NativeActivity. Click here

On Error Handling in NativeActivity. Click here

And for those who are wishing there were a Template for NativeActivity for Visual Studio 2010, here it is. Click Here

Note: The Other activity type that is available to create your Custom Activities is the AsyncCodeActivity

References:

1.       Deciding which Base Activity to use for creating Custom Activities

2.       NativeActivity Class

3.       NativeActivity Explained

4.       Error Handling in NativeActivity

5.       NativeActivity Template for Visual Studio 2010