How can I automatically configure WCF service on user's machine

Question

I have an existing .NET application that controls external hardware. I am looking into extending some of the functionality that already exists on the PC to a smartphone app that will be used exclusively over a local network. This is not an enterprise system installed in a single location, it is a system sold to the public. WCF looks like a great solution, but if I'm going to have to walk users through manually setting up the service, configuring IIS, etc, that's a showstopper. How can I programatically deploy a WCF service so it is visible on a local network?

Answer 1

WCF can be hosted several different ways. Here is a great article that should get you going. You can jump to the section called "Exploring Your Hosting Options".

Answer 2

I've got it figured out. There are obviously multiple hosting methods, as Code Chops pointed out. For my requirements, I just need a self hosted solution that is running when the program I'm extending is running. I also used C# exclusively, with no xml configuration. This allows me to programmatically determine the local IP address (not shown). This all runs in a normal console app.

    using System;
    using System.Collections.Generic;
    using System.Linq;
    using System.Text;
    using System.ServiceModel;
    using System.ServiceModel.Description;
    using System.ServiceModel.Web;


    namespace SelfHost
    {
        class Program
        {
            static void Main(string[] args)
            {     
                string localIP = "192.168.1.5";
                string port = "8001";
                Uri baseAddress = new Uri("http://" + localIP + ":" + port + "/hello");

                using (ServiceHost host = new ServiceHost(typeof(HelloWorldService), baseAddress))
                {                       
                    ServiceMetadataBehavior smb = new ServiceMetadataBehavior();
                    smb.HttpGetEnabled = true;
                    smb.MetadataExporter.PolicyVersion = PolicyVersion.Policy15;
                    host.Description.Behaviors.Add(smb);
                    host.AddServiceEndpoint(typeof(IHelloWorldService), new WebHttpBinding(), "");
                    host.Description.Endpoints[0].Behaviors.Add(new WebHttpBehavior { HelpEnabled = true });                
                    host.Open();

                    Console.WriteLine("The service is ready at {0}", baseAddress);
                    Console.WriteLine("Press <Enter> to stop the service.");
                    Console.ReadLine();

                    // Close the ServiceHost.
                    host.Close();
                }
            }
        }

        [ServiceContract]
        public interface IHelloWorldService
        {
            [OperationContract]
            [WebGet(UriTemplate = "SayHello/{name}")]
            string SayHello(string name);

            [OperationContract]
            [WebGet(UriTemplate = "SayGoodbye/{name}")]
            string SayGoodbye(string name);
        }

        public class HelloWorldService : IHelloWorldService
        {
            public string SayHello(string name)
            {
                return string.Format("Hello, {0}", name);
            }

            public string SayGoodbye(string name)
            {
                return string.Format("Goodbye, {0}", name);
            }

        }


    }