This book is a step-by-step tutorial with clear instructions and screenshots to guide you through the creation of a multi-tier real-world WCF service solution. Configuration files, host applications, test clients, and WCF services for each solution will be available for download on this website for you to examine, modify, and debug from the outside to the inside. The book focuses on the essentials of using WCF and LINQ, rather than providing a reference to every single possibility. It leaves the reference material online where it belongs, and concentrates instead on practical examples, code, and advice. This book is for C# and C++ developers who are eager to get started with WCF and LINQ, and want a book that is practical and rich with examples from the very beginning. Developers and architects evaluating SOA implementation technologies for their company will find this book particularly useful because it gets you started with Microsoft's tools for SOA and shows you how to customize our examples for your prototypes. This book presumes basic knowledge of C# or C++. Previous experience with Visual Studio will be helpful but is not required, as detailed instructions are given throughout the book.