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I went to Microsoft’s launch of Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005, and Biztalk Server 2006 at the Toronto Congress Centre yesterday. The event was styled in a rock concert atmosphere, with loud music and huge screens abound. It was a typical Microsoft event, with everybody was well taken care of, free software, free goodies and food. I think Microsoft does a great job and handling such events.
First thing I found out when I got my badge was that there was gonna be lunch (didn’t know that), so kinda started the day on a good note. Grabbed a muffin and proceeded to the first session (keynote speaker). There were a couple of things that happened in this first session, which I can’t seem to recall properly (not enough demonstrations ) ), but there was a talk by Microsoft Canada’s President, GM for Visual Studio 2005 and testimonials from partners who have successfully implemented the newest versions of these products. Ho-hum so far, but I did get one of those glow in the dark sticks (picked purple, thinking it would look cool like Mace Windu’s lightsabre ) ).
The following sessions were more interesting, as they proceeded to do demo’s and actual development of applications using these products. There were 2 tracks, developer and database, and I went to all the developer sessions. In all, there were 3 main presenters for the developer track, and they paired up for each of these sessions. Check out their blogs:
Some of the interesting parts in each session that I noted:
Session 1 – Overview of all 3 products (more like 2, VS2005 was covered much in depth in the later sessions)
- Ability to use managed code in stored procedures / SQL Scripts
- Ability to expose a procedure as a web service
- Exception handling in T-SQL
- .NET runtime, ability to set breakpoint, debug etc.
- Mapping various objects using orchestrator maps in Biztalk is a breeze (never used Biztalk, so correct me if I’m wrong, but that looked cool)
Session 2 – Visual Studio Team System
- Various versions for various roles within software development (architects, developers, testers, PM)
- Integrated tracking of work items
- Improved Source Safe, ability to set policy on check-in / check-out, use of SQL Server 2005 data store
- Built in reporting, can be put on portal
- Shelving, allow other developer to check changes before check in is committed
- Integrated testing framework, allowing unit, load testing etc.
Session 3 – Smart Client
- Goal is to reduce lines of code written, especially the plumbing parts
- Demo the creation of online store, almost no code for UI and major functionality
- 2 way binding with database
- Tons of new controls to use including login, gridview
- Master pages (this was still painful to do in ASP.NET 1.1) !!!
- Easily implement security, authorization, built in administration page that can be customized
Overall, I was quite satisfied with the event. The demos didn’t run as smooth as expected (within the 2 first sessions, a crash in the first session and a failure in the second, causing missed demo of major parts of the applications); the presenters claimed that they were not using the release version, and it shouldn’t happen in it ) Not a big deal, as it happens sometime, but shouldn’t really happen during a major launch event IMO.
The best part about this? Everyone who attended the event, received complimentary copies of Visual Studio 2005 Standard, SQL Server 2005 Standard, and a rain-cheque for BizTalk Server 2006 Developer Edition when it launces next year. In addition, we also received a coupon to waive the certification test fee for 1 course and a free T-shirt (You have to have free T-Shirts at launch events ) ).
I’m really impressed with Visual Studio and SQL Server 2005, as they look much improved from previous versions (can’t speak about Biztalk). I could picture how the new features would save tons of work in developing new applications, allowing developers like me to focus on the business logic and more important stuff. Now, I wonder when these will make their way into the office, probably not till a few years from now )
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Woohoo, my contract got extended :) Meaning I still have a job until May 2006.
My current contract expires Nov 25th, and I was told that this position will be posted again (nobody succeeded in getting the position when it was posted awhile ago), so I’ll have to apply again. Hopefully I get an interview this time around, wish me luck.
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Else you can end up rejected like Latrell Sprewell.
He complained about the offer he received last year from Minnesota, that would have paid him about US$7 million per year, saying that it’s too low and he has a family to feed. Right now he’s out of the league, and nobody wants to sign him, even the lowly Atlanta Hawks.
Lesson learnt: US$7 million is enough to feed a family :)
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I tried Microsoft Live yesterday because of the hype created during the launch.To me it doesn’t seem too much different than Google’s personalized home page or MyYahoo. Differences in how they look are expected, but the way everything works seem similar to each other, availability of mail summaries, RSS feeds, weather content (Google’s doesn’t allow display in Celcius!!!), but overall it just seems Microsoft’s trying to play catch up to Google and Yahoo in this area.
The interesting part is that AJAX is being used more and more in these new web technologies. I do like the concept of using a broker to act as intermediary between the web server and browser, so that surfing looks a lot smoother and more enjoyable.
ps. I wonder how much Microsoft paid Live Networks to buy the Live.com domain?
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Recently, I bought a book called Code Complete 2, which is one of the best software engineering books around based on my research.

One of the topics I’m reading is about the mental juggling act that programmers are required to do on a regular basis. In a high concentration mode, keeping track of various objects, classed, functions and variables, programmers are sometimes in a “zone”. I know this, because I’ve experienced it many times. At times like these, you’re just so focused, that a tiny, quick interruption will just break everything and the result is like crashing down mentally. It’s very annoying and drains so much energy out of someone.

So people, if you’re trying to get your programmer upset, or you have a beef with a programmer and are trying to get back at him, wait till he’s in the “zone”, then just try your best to distract him. Guaranteed to annoy the heck out of him )
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No, it’s not because I hate it for no reason, and not because it’s not fun, but somehow I have something against sports that aren’t really affordable to the regular guy. I think there’s a correlation between cost of playing game and its popularity. Case in point, 2 of the most popular sports around the world, football (soccer as North American’s call it) and basketball.
Why are these more popular than hockey (besides the fact it’s hard to play hockey in countries where the average temp year round is 30 deg Celcius :) )? They don’t cost much to play! Of course, you need a pair of shoes and a ball, but compare that to the equipment / environment required to play hockey: ice rink, ice skates, stick, helmet, gloves, hockey pants, and shoulder pads. I guess you get the picture.
Now let me say, that I enjoyed playing pickup hockey when I first came to Canada. We did that late nights at open outdoor rinks during the winter, with no slapshots allowed, using no other equipment but sticks and skates, and it was tons of fun. But the fun of playing and watching is just not the same; I think professional hockey is just too far separated from people like me who come from countries where hockey is a relative unknown.
The issue is that in trying to get used to a certain sport is that you have to play it enough to grow into it, and pickup hockey as I played it doesn’t at all resemble what’s actually played in pro leagues, hence the disconnection. To play hockey as it’s plyaed professionally requires lots of equipment, and equipment costs money, which is kinda hard to come by these days :), so my apologies to hockey, but I just can’t like you that much.
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