What is the best workaround for the WCF client `using` block issue?

Question

I like instantiating my WCF service clients within a using block as it\'s pretty much the standard way to use resources that implement IDisposable:

Answer 1

A wrapper like this would work:

public class ServiceClientWrapper : IDisposable
{
    private ServiceType _channel;
    public ServiceType Channel
    {
        get { return _channel; }
    }

    private static ChannelFactory _channelFactory;

    public ServiceClientWrapper()
    {
        if(_channelFactory == null)
             // Given that the endpoint name is the same as FullName of contract.
            _channelFactory = new ChannelFactory(typeof(T).FullName);
        _channel = _channelFactory.CreateChannel();
        ((IChannel)_channel).Open();
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        try
        {
            ((IChannel)_channel).Close();
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            ((IChannel)_channel).Abort();
            // TODO: Insert logging
        }
    }
}

That should enable you to write code like:

ResponseType response = null;
using(var clientWrapper = new ServiceClientWrapper())
{
    var request = ...
    response = clientWrapper.Channel.MyServiceCall(request);
}
// Use your response object.

The wrapper could of course catch more exceptions if that is required, but the principle remains the same.