Microsoft has released a community preview of "Acropolis", a set of components and tools intended to make it easier for developers to build and manage modular, business focused, client applications for Microsoft Windows on the .NET Framework
>> Microsoft Code Name Acropolis Product and Documentation
Building on the vision of software + services, Microsoft Code Name "Acropolis" makes it easier to build and manage modular, business-focused, client applications for Microsoft Windows on the .NET Framework. It builds on the rich capabilities of Windows and the .NET Framework, including Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), by providing tools and pre-built components that help developers quickly assemble an application from loosely-coupled parts and services. Code Name "Acropolis" reduces the complexities of building occasionally connected client applications and provides the ability to assemble and reconfigure systems without having to write a lot of code. Code Name "Acropolis" is part of the .NET Client Futures release, Microsoft's preview of upcoming technologies in Windows client development. For more information about Code Name "Acropolis" and the .NET Client Futures, see http://windowsclient.net.
There are two downloads. An .MSI file that has the August Community Technology Preview product and a .CHM file that has the Help documentation.
>> Microsoft Code Name Acropolis Product and Documentation