Will this Runtime SDK replace ArcGIS engine eventually?

[weiliang]

Hi there,

I'm new to this ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF. It seems to me that the purpose of this SDK is to replace ArcGIS Engine. Am I correct or what's the difference of these two products?

Thanks for your time to help me.

Wei

[MichaelBranscomb · Accepted solution]

Hi,

It is possible that eventually the ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF will replace ArcGIS Engine but for now ArcGIS Engine is still a good product choice if, for example, you need to perform fine-grained geometry and topological work or you need to build a solution that contains 3D visualization. The ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF contains a coarser grained API. The majority of the development effort is now on the ArcGIS Runtime SDKs and over the next 6, 12, 18 months you will see additional capabilities added to the Runtime SDK for WPF which will probably include some of the features already available in ArcGIS Engine such as edit synchronization, 3D, etc.

As an EDN subscriber you will have access to both product SDKs and will be able to evaluate/prototype both to decide the right approach for each project you undertake. Unless you specifically need something that is only in ArcGIS Engine I suggest you should look at the new ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF.

Cheers

Mike

[weiliang]

Many thanks for your detailed answer, Mike. So this leaves ArcObjects only useful in the case of customize ArcGIS (e.g., ArcMap, ArcCatalog) software. Since the ArcObjects is not easy to learn and use.
does ESRI has any plan to wrap up the current ArcObjects and release a new non-COM based API to customize the ArcGIS desktop environment?

Best regards,

Wei