Fluid Framework

2020: Disclosure of source codes

On May 19, 2020 Microsoft submitted the updated Fluid Framework platform. The main innovation is connected with the fact that its source codes are open and available on the GitHub portal now.

It is possible to realize all potential of Fluid Framework only by creation of various, open and active community of developers — the corporate vice president for Microsoft 365 Jared Spataro says. — For this reason Microsoft decided to open source codes of Fluid Framework that will allow developers and creators of [content] to use key infrastructure of Fluid Framework in the applications.

Microsoft opened source codes of the modular web platform for joint work with documents

Components and tools of the modular platform — tables, lists, calendars and text elements — will appear in web versions of Microsoft Office and Outlook for subscribers of Microsoft 365.

Integration of Fluid Framework into Microsoft 365 will allow several users to make at the same time changes to documents and to create the connected components which can share in applications. For example, tables, charts and task lists can be inserted into the web version of Outlook that, for example, data on sales, project tasks and reports on researches were constantly updated taking into account last modifications.

On Office.com it is possible to create working spaces of Fluid Framework and to manage them, including in a tape of activity of the document, in the list of recommendations, references, or to look for them on Office.com. As the Fluid Framework components "weigh" little, changes are applied instantly, noted in Microsoft.

Added to the companies that the network Fluid environment helps to transform the application to the tool for joint work. She turns on the data structures which are synchronized with a low delay and switching service for connection of termination points.^[1]

If you replace structures of static data with Fluid data structures, the joint work mode in real time instantly will begin to support your application, says Microsoft.[2]

2019: Announcement

At the beginning of May, 2019 Microsoft announced the modular platform for joint work with  the documents Fluid Framework.

The company calls Fluid Framework "technology of developers" by means of which content from browsers and office applications can be separated into components, to combine them and again to collect in modular constructions. Thanks to it the companies and development teams will be able to organize much more simply and more effectively collective work on materials, said in the press release of Microsoft.

The company says that the interactive   Fluid Framework web platform is capable to create suitable conditions for joint work and creativity. Wednesday supports integration with virtual assistants which will select the necessary content, to offer relevant images, to transfer data, etc.

Example of work of Fluid Framework

With Fluid Framework it is possible to work on the document with authors from around the world who speak different languages. Transfer will take place in real time.

Microsoft 365 will also support Fluid Framework. Can serve as examples of such work broadcast of contents of the table in Excel in a chat of Microsoft Teams or "zhivoy" transfer to Word for each participant of the document.

Fluid Framework will be compatible to browsers Chrome Edge, Firefox and versions of Edge  based on Chromium. The release of the platform in a public access through tools SDK will take place later in 2019.^[3]

The senior analyst and the president of Moor Insights & Strategy company  Patrick Moorhead called the announcement of Fluid Framework the most interesting among innovations for Microsoft 365.

The platform will allow the employee to make changes to an object, for example, in the spreadsheet, and this change will be automatically displayed on the website. Impresses property of real-time operation when the delay time does not exceed five milliseconds — the expert noted.

Notes