News

Build Communication Apps with TCP Connectivity

May 13, 2025
Use TCP-enabled components to build stable, high-performance connections across distributed applications.

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a core network protocol that ensures reliable, sequential, and error-checked delivery of data between devices over IP networks. It is fundamental to many internet applications, including web browsing, email, and file transfer. TCP support enables developers to create distributed applications capable of exchanging structured data over both internet and local network connections. This ensures stable and consistent communication between clients and servers, making it ideal for scenarios like real-time processing, remote procedure calls, and service-oriented architectures that require dependable connectivity.

Several .NET communications and messaging components offer TCP features including:

  • IPWorks .NET Edition by /n software allows you to build scalable TCP client and server apps using an asynchronous, event-driven architecture with optional SSL/TLS encryption.
  • PowerTCP Sockets for .NET by Dart Communications enables TCP support with SSL/TLS security and a stream-based interface for efficient data handling.
  • SocketTools .NET Edition by Catalyst Development Corp. facilitates rapid development of TCP client and server applications with simplified socket programming interfaces.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET communications & messaging components.

Compare .NET Comms & Messaging Components

Implement SSO Effortlessly in Your Apps

May 7, 2025
Cloud SSO helps you implement Single Sign-On in minutes using standard protocols like SAML and OpenID Connect.

Cloud SSO, a new product in the The Red Carpet Subscription Vol. 2 2025 update, dramatically simplifies the implementation of Single Sign-On (SSO) in modern applications. By supporting widely adopted standards like SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) and OpenID Connect, this toolkit ensures seamless integration with virtually any major identity provider - including Microsoft, Google, Apple, GitHub, GitLab, Okta, and others. Developers can now enable centralized authentication without writing custom code for each provider, making it easier to build secure, scalable, and user-friendly login flows across cloud, mobile, and desktop applications.

To see a full list of what's new in Red Carpet Subscription Vol. 2 2025, see our release notes.

Red Carpet Subscription is licensed per developer and is available as a Perpetual License with a 12 month support and maintenance subscription. See our Red Carpet Subscription licensing page for full details.

For more information, visit our /n software Red Carpet Subscription product page.

Diagnose Network Issues with ICMP Support

May 2, 2025
Use ICMP messaging to perform real-time network checks and improve diagnostics directly within your .NET application.

ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) support within .NET components, provides developers with essential functionality for diagnosing and managing network connectivity within applications. By enabling interaction with ICMP messages - such as echo requests and replies used in the popular "ping" utility - developers can implement robust network health checks, latency measurements, and reachability assessments. This capability is especially valuable in enterprise environments, where real-time monitoring and diagnostics are crucial for maintaining service reliability and performance.

Several .NET communications and messaging components offer ICMP features including:

  • IPWorks .NET Edition by /n software lets you implement ICMP echo functionality, enabling applications to verify network connectivity and measure round-trip times between hosts. ​
  • SocketTools .NET Edition by Catalyst Development Corp. facilitates sending and receiving ICMP echo datagrams, allowing developers to assess host reachability.
  • Clever Internet .NET Suite for C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET allows you to perform ICMP operations, such as pinging remote hosts, to determine their availability and response times.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET communications & messaging components.

Compare .NET Comms & Messaging Components

Boost Security with Support for Strict Key Exchange

April 30, 2025
PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET V8.0 enhances protection against Terrapin attacks by adding support for OpenSSH's "strict kex" mode.

PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET by Dart Communications is a robust component suite designed to simplify secure file transfer and remote shell access within .NET applications. Tailored for developers building enterprise-grade solutions, it offers a comprehensive implementation of the SSH (Secure Shell) and SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) standards. With a focus on reliability and performance, the library supports advanced features such as asynchronous operation, persistent connections, and full control over session parameters. Whether you're automating secure file exchanges or integrating remote server access, PowerTCP SSH and SFTP provides the flexibility and security essential for modern .NET development.

The PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET V8.0.0.0 update introduces support for OpenSSH's "strict kex" (key exchange) extension. This change directly addresses the security vulnerability exploited in Terrapin attacks - where weaknesses in the SSH protocol’s key exchange could be manipulated. By enforcing stricter key exchange validation, this enhancement ensures that the connection negotiation process is more resilient to tampering, significantly improving the overall security of SSH and SFTP sessions in .NET applications.

To see a full list of what's new in version 8.0.0.0, see our release notes.

PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET is licensed per developer and is available as a perpetual license with 12 months subscription (product updates and priority email support). See our PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET licensing page for full details.

PowerTCP SSH and SFTP for .NET is available individually or as part of the following products:

Duende Software Joins ComponentSource

April 24, 2025
ComponentSource partners with Duende Software to provide users with robust solutions for modern authentication and authorization needs.

ComponentSource, a leading global marketplace for software components and development tools, has announced a strategic partnership with Duende Software, a specialist in identity and access management solutions. This partnership is set to enhance the way developers and organizations approach application security, providing advanced capabilities, greater flexibility, and simplified integration.

Through the combination of ComponentSource’s broad software catalog and Duende Software’s deep expertise in OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0 standards, developers will gain access to a robust suite of security solutions designed to handle complex authentication and authorization challenges with ease. This partnership supports organizations across industries in building secure, compliant, and user-friendly applications.

Duende’s flagship product is IdentityServer, a highly extensible framework for implementing secure authentication and authorization in .NET applications. IdentityServer’s strong focus on security, adaptability, and standards compliance aligns with ComponentSource’s mission to provide reliable, high-quality software solutions. Complementing this, Duende’s Backend-for-Frontend (BFF) security framework offers protection for single-page applications (SPAs) and Blazor WebAssembly apps by avoiding token storage in the browser. Together, these solutions provide developers with practical tools to enhance their application security while accelerating development timelines.

IdentityServer and Duende BFF Security Framework are both licensed on an annual subscription basis, requiring yearly renewal to maintain their use. See the IdentityServer licensing page and Duende BFF Security Framework licensing page for more details.

For more information, visit our Duende Software brand page.