Jialiang's Blog

Oops. Our download counter overflowed with 10 MILLION Downloads Achieved!

Jialiang — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:41:03 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/04/08/oops.-our-download-counter-overflowed-with-10-million-downloads-achieved.aspx

When we founded Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework and built the portal 4 years ago, we did not expect that we can become so popular. (Ok. I admit that we planned for it ). The sample download counter on our portal has overflowed!

Our sample download number has exceeded 10 MILLION this month, thanks to your support of our sample effort for collecting and solving developers’ real-world pains and needs. If it’s still the first time that you hear about All-In-One Code Framework, please use our Sample Browser apps to enjoying the learning of thousands of code samples.

The sample# and download# growth trends over the past years are promising. We are committed to produce more and more quality samples that can address developers’ real-world needs.

Microsoft Refreshes Sample Browser with the support for 13 new Languages

Jialiang — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:44:33 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/03/26/microsoft-refreshes-sample-browser-with-the-support-for-13-new.aspx

Shortly after releasing Sample Browser last month, our team refreshes the app with an important feature for global developers: Localized sample search experience.

Please visit http://bit.ly/ZxmISi to get the update. If you have already installed the last version, Windows Store will notify you to get the update today.

Not only is the Sample Browser app UI localized to 13 new languages, but it also supports localized search. For example, when you switch to the Japanese UI in the app Settings, you can directly type Japanese queries to search for Japanese code samples. Get the new app for your language today!

English
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean
German
Spanish
French
Russian
Portuguese
Italian
Polish
Turkish
Czech

In addition, this update of Sample Browser includes over 20 performance improvement and issue fixes. They may not deserve being called out individually, but you will feel the difference when you get your hands on it. The team is committed to bringing the sample search and use experience to the next level. We received tons of great ideas from MVPs during the 2013 Global MVP Summit. The engineers are heads-down working on them in order to release a new version every few weeks. Please install the app, and share your experience with us. We look forward to hearing from you.

The localization effort of the Sample Browser app is thanks to the partnership with Microsoft ECO Localization Team (Martine Smets, Pei Wang), and the Japan MVP community (Mayumi Suzuki, Satoru Kitabata, and Japan MVPs).

Top 5 Most Recommended Apps for Developers in Windows Store

Jialiang — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:41:11 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/03/26/top-5-most-recommended-apps-for-developers-in-windows-store.aspx

Here are the top 5 most recommended apps designed for Developers in Windows Store.

TOP 1. Code Writer

Code Writer is a free text and code editor app with active syntax highlighting that updates as you edit documents and has over 20 supported file types. A tabbed document interface allows for quickly switching between open documents.

TOP 2. Sample Browser

Developers live and die by code samples. Provided by Microsoft, this app puts thousands of code samples, including the official Windows 8 samples, at developers’ fingertips. You can search, download, learn, share and even request code samples from the app!

TOP 3. Snipppet

Snipppet is a powerful application for Windows 8 that helps you manage the most valuable pieces of code so you can reuse it later in other projects. The app is optimized for touch based interface, and is a perfect companion to browse your code on the go.

TOP 4. MSDN and TechNet Top Blogs

Top Blogs from MSDN and TechNet. Enjoy then in one place.

TOP 5. Channel 9 videos

Every developer working with Microsoft technologies knows or ought to know Channel 9 on MSDN. Channel 9 has a library of great videos and shows, ranging from C++ development over Azure, .NET and SharePoint, to more entertaining shows like This Week on Channel 9, and Ping!. Channel 9 videos aggregates several of these shows in to one app, where you can easily find and view the video streams of your choice.

Enjoy!

The trilogy of Sample Browser – Search samples in Visual Studio, in Windows 8, and in traditional Desktop

Jialiang — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:07:40 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/03/15/the-trilogy-of-sample-browser-ndash-search-samples-in-visual.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/onecode/p/samplebrowser.aspx

Sample Browser has reached its third milestone with the new Windows Store app since we released the desktop version and the Visual Studio version in 2012. The trilogy and the continued evolvement are putting the world of code samples at developers’ fingertips.

The journey of Sample Browser begins in 2010, with the purpose of making it easier for developers to find the ever-growing sample repository. Searching, downloading and locally managing code samples WAS a pain for most developers. It took many manual steps to find, download, unpackage, and open a code sample. We got the idea of developing a Sample Browser client tool to ease the steps. The first step that we made was on the Desktop. We released the Sample Browser desktop version in partnership with MSDN Samples Gallery. In short few months, its deployment exceeds 50K. Last year the team started to work with the Visual Studio product team to integrate the Sample Browsing experience into Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010. We made deep integration with the IDE, including the toolbar, the code editor, the VS2012 quick launch bar, the sample download experience, and the look & feel. “This is definitely a "must-have" for every developers in Visual Studio!!" – said the Visual Studio community.

With the launch of Windows 8 in October, 2012, a new era of app use experience begins. The Windows Store app platform and the amazing touch experience on Windows 8 release computer users from the “desktop”. Developers love code samples, but they have been sitting in front of desktop for too long. A Sample Browser Windows Store app can give them some time to sit relaxingly in a sofa and continue to learn the beloved code samples. Mobile agility is another important consideration when we develop the app. It has to support both online and offline mode. It has to be easy to find and share code samples.

On Feb 17th, we released the first version of Sample Browser Windows Store app. The best is yet to come. The team has a big pipeline of cool features to be added to the app. We will continue surprising the world of developers as months roll on.
Could a Windows Phone version of Sample Browser be our next milestone in the journey? We will see.

Sample Browser for Visual Studio 2012 & 2010
Install: http://aka.ms/samplebrowservsx

In partnership with Visual Studio and MSDN Samples Gallery, we released the Sample Browser for Visual Studio 2012 and 2010 - an effort to integrate the code sample use experience into the Visual Studio environment. You can search, download and open thousands of code samples from within the IDE.

Sample Browser for Windows 8 and Windows RT
Install: http://aka.ms/win8samplebrowser

The Sample Browser for Windows 8 and Windows RT gives developers a new experience to search, download, learn, share and request code samples. Swipe and search and share - It's that easy! The app also supports the offline mode, so you can learn code samples anytime, anywhere.

Sample Browser for traditional desktop
Install: http://aka.ms/samplebrowser

Last but not least, we provide the traditional desktop version of the Sample Browser app. It is useful when you are using Visual Studio Express.

Great app for learning code on Windows 8!

Jialiang — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:05:54 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/02/22/great-app-for-learning-code-on-windows-8.aspx

Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework team has just released the new Sample Browser for Windows 8. It’s available for download in the Windows Store from today!

You can search code samples; learn code samples and share code samples from the app. Here is the more detailed introduction:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/codefx/archive/2013/02/20/releasing-sample-browser-for-windows-8-get-your-hands-on-5000-amazing-code-samples.aspx

Tips of the Week 2013-2-10

Jialiang — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:01:24 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/02/11/tips-of-the-week-2013-2-10.aspx

PowerPoint Tip- Merge Shapes in PowerPoint 2013

IE Tip- Set more than one web page as your IE homepage

XBox Tip- Clear Xbox Cache

Office 2013 Tip- Change the Theme of Office 2013

Lync Tip- Share PowerPoint slides in Lync

Surface Tip- Take a Screenshot on Microsoft Surface

Outlook Tip- Delay sending emails in Outlook

Tips of the Week for Microsoft Products

Jialiang — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:27:46 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/02/02/tips-of-the-week-for-microsoft-products.aspx

Tip of the Day for Microsoft Products

Learn an amazingly useful tip about Windows, Office, Windows Phone, Surface, Xbox, Visual Studio, and any other Microsoft products every 24 hours!

Tip of the Day for Microsoft Products

Jialiang — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:22 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2013/01/28/tip-of-the-day-for-microsoft-products.aspx

Tip of the Day for Microsoft Products

The blog posts an amazingly useful tip about Microsoft products every 24 hours, covering Windows, Office, Windows Phone, Surface, Xbox, Internet Explorer, Visual Studio, etc. Here are the first two tips:

Windows Tip: Add a Shutdown / Restart / Logoff tile to the Windows 8 Start menu

Windows Phone Tip: Two clicks to Send a “running late” Message for your Meeting in Windows Phone 8

New Windows 8 Code Sample Demo Video on Channel 9

Jialiang — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:46:43 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2012/12/18/new-windows-8-code-sample-demo-video-on-channel-9.aspx

Since we launched Windows 8 How-do-I code sample videos last month, the first Windows 8 video has been watched for over 15,000 times! We heard your voice that you want more videos to demonstrate some typical programming tassks in the new Windows Store app platform. We are commited to this and will release more and more videos. Together with DPE, and video product team, we now provide you with the 2nd video. You can get a front line seat to all our latest Windows Store app samples with demo videos.

How to Manipulate a File with FileRandomAccessStream in a Windows Store app

Code Sample Downloads:

C#: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/CSWindowsStoreAppFileRandom-5da68cc9

VB: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/VBWindowsStoreAppFileRandom-ac8f7fca

Microsoft Channel 9 Interviews Mei Liang to Introduce Sample Browser Extension for Visual Studio 2012 and 2010

Jialiang — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:46:13 GMT

Originally posted on: http://geekswithblogs.net/Jialiang/archive/2012/12/18/microsoft-channel-9-interviews-mei-liang-to-introduce-sample-browser-again.aspx

This morning, Microsoft Channel 9 interviewed Mei Liang - Group Manager of Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework - to introduce the newest Sample Browser extension for Visual Studio 2012 &2010. This extension provides a way for developers to search and download more than 4500 code samples from within Visual Studio, including over 700 Windows 8 samples and more than 1000 All-In-One Code Framework customer-driven code samples. Mei shows us not only the extension, but also the standalone version of the Sample Browser.

http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Visual-Studio-Toolbox/Sample-Browser-Visual-Studio-Extension

Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework, working in close partnership with the Visual Studio product team and MSDN Samples Gallery, developed the Sample Browser extension for both Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010. As an effort to evolve the code sample use experience and improve developers' productivity, the Sample Browser allows programmers to search, download and open over 4500 code samples from within Visual Studio with just a few simple clicks. If no existing code sample can meet the needs, developers can even request a code sample easily from Microsoft thanks to the free “Sample Request Service” offered by Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework. Through innovations, the teams hope to put the power of tens of thousands of code samples at developers’ fingertips.

In short 3 months, the Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension has been installed by 100K global users. It is also selected as one of the six most highly regarded and commonly used tools for Visual Studio that will make your programming experience feel like never before.

	Got to love the All-In-One Code Framework team! You guys know this is THE go to source for code samples. Get this extension and you'll never need to leave VS2012 (well except for bathroom trips, but that's TMI anyway... ;) Read More...
	From: Greg Duncan (Author of CoolThingOfTheDay) 9/6/2011 12:00 AM
	The one software design pattern that I have used in just about every application I’ve written is “cut-and-paste,” so the new “Sample Browser” – read sample as a noun not an adjective – is a great boon to my productivity. Read More...
	From: Jim O'Neil (Microsoft Developer Evangelist) 9/28/2011 12:00 AM

Install: http://aka.ms/samplebrowservsx

Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework also offers the standalone version of Sample Browser. The standalone version is particularly useful to Visual Studio Express edition or Visual Studio 2008 users, who cannot install the Sample Browser Visual Studio extension.

From Grassroots’ Passion for Developers to the Innovation of Sample Browser

This Sample Browser has come a very long way improving the code sample use experience. The history can be traced back to a grass-root innovation three years ago. In early 2009, a few MSDN forum support engineers observed that lots of developers were struggling to work in Visual Studio without adequate code samples. Programming tasks seem harder than they should be when you only read through the documentation. Just a couple of lines of sample code could answer a lot of questions. They had a brilliant idea: What if we produce code samples based on developers’ frequently asked programming tasks in forums, social networks and support incidents, and then aggregate all our sample code in a one-stop library to benefit developers? And what if developers can request code samples directly from Microsoft, free of charge? This small group of grassroots at Microsoft devoted their nights and weekends to prototyping such a customer-driven code sample library. This simple idea eventually turned into “Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework”, aka. OneCode. With the support from more and more passionate developers at Microsoft and the leaders in the Community and Online Support team and Microsoft Commercial Technical Services (CTS), the idea has become a continually growing library with over 1000 customer-driven code samples covering almost all Microsoft development technologies.

These code samples originated from developers’ common pains and needs should be able to help many developers. However, if developers cannot easily discover the code samples, the effort would still be in vain. So in early 2010, the team started the idea of Sample Browser to ease the discovery and access of these samples. In just two months, the first version of Sample Browser was finished and released by a passionate developer. It was a very simple application, only supporting the basic sample offline search. Users had to download the whole 100MB sample package containing all samples first, and run the Sample Browser to search locally. Though developers could not search and download samples on-demand, this simple application laid a solid foundation for the team’s continuous innovations of Sample Browsing experience.

In 2011, MSDN Samples Gallery had a big refresh. The online sample experience was brought to a new level thanks to its PM Steven Wilssens and the gallery team’s effort. Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework Team saw the opportunity to realize the “on-demand” sample search and download feature with the new gallery. The two teams formed a strong partnership to upload all the customer-driven code samples to MSDN Samples Gallery, and released the new version of Sample Browser to support “on-demand” sample downloading in April, 2011. Mei Liang, the Group Manager of Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework, was interviewed by Channel 9 to demo the Sample Browser. Customers love the effort and the innovation!! This can be clearly seen from the user comments in the publishing page. It was very encouraging to the team of All-In-One Code Framework.

The team continues innovating and evolving the Sample Browser. They found the Visual Studio product team this time, and integrated the Sample Browsing experience into the latest Visual Studio 2012. The newly released Sample Browser Visual Studio extension makes good use of Visual Studio 2012 IDE such as the new Quick Launch bar, the code editor, the toolbar and menus to offer easy access to thousands of code samples from within the development environment. The Visual Studio Senior Program Manager Lead - Anthony Cangialosi, the Program Manager - Murali Krishna Hosabettu Kamalesha, the MSDN Samples Gallery PM – Steven Wilssens, and the Visual Studio Senior Escalation Engineer - Ed Dore shared lots of insightful suggestions with the team. Thanks to the brilliant cross-group collaboration inside Microsoft, tens of new features including “Local Language Support” and “Favorite Samples”, as well as a face-lifted user interface, were added to further enhance the user experience.

Since the new Sample Browser Visual Studio extension was released, it has received over 100 thousand downloads and five-star ratings. A customer told the team that he officially falls in LOVE with Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework.

The Sample Browser Innovation for Developers Never Stops!

The teams would never stop improving the Sample Browser for developers’ easier lives. The Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework, Visual Studio and MSDN Samples Gallery teams are working closely to develop the next version of Sample Browser. Here are the key functions in development or in discussion. We hope to learn your feedback of the effort. You can submit your suggestions to the official Visual Studio UserVoice site. We look forward to hearing from you!
1) Offline Sample Search

This is one of the top feature requests that we have received for Sample Browser. The Sample Browser will support the offline search mode so that developers can search downloaded code samples when they do not have internet access. This is particularly useful to developers in Enterprises with strict proxy settings.

2) Code Snippet Support and Visual Studio Editor Integration

Today, the Sample Browser supports downloading and opening sample project. However, when developers are searching for code samples, a better user experience would be to see the code snippets in the search result first. Developers can quickly decide if the code snippet is relevant. They can also drag and drop the code snippet into the Visual Studio Editor to solve some simple programming tasks. If developers want to learn more about the sample, they can then choose to download the sample project and open it in Visual Studio.

3) Enterprise Sample Sharing and Searching

Large enterprises have many code samples for their own internal tools and APIs that are not appropriate to be shared publicly in MSDN Samples Gallery. In that case, today’s Sample Browser and MSDN Samples Gallery cannot help these Enterprise developers. The idea is to create a Code Sample Repository in TFS, and provide an additional Visual Studio extension for Enterprise developers to quickly share code samples to TFS. The Sample Browser can be configured to connect to the TFS Code Sample Repository to search for and download code samples. This would potentially enable the Enterprise developers to be more productive.

4) Windows Store Sample Browser

With the upcoming release of Windows RT and Microsoft Surface, developers are facing a completely new world of application platform. Not like laptop, people would often use Microsoft Surface in commute and in travel. Internet may not be available. Today’s Visual Studio cannot be installed and run on Windows RT, however, our enthusiastic developers would hope to spend every minute on code. They love code! The idea is to create a Windows Store version of Sample Browser.

Search and download samples from the online Samples Gallery when the user has internet access.
Browse the sample code files and learn the sample documentation of downloaded samples with or without internet access. In addition to the "browse” function, the Sample Browser could further support “bookmark”, “learning notes”, “code review”, and “quick social sharing".
Make full use of the new touch and Windows Store App UI to give developers a new “relaxing” code browsing and learning experience, anytime, anywhere.

With Windows Store Sample Browser, developers can enjoy

A new relaxing and enjoyable experience for developers to learn code samples
You do not have to sit in front of desk and formally open Visual Studio to read code samples. Many developers get sub-health due to staying in front of desk for a very long time. With Windows RT, Microsoft Surface and this Windows Store Sample Browser combining with the online MSDN Samples Gallery, developers can sit in a sofa, relaxingly hold the tablet and enjoy to learn their beloved sample code with detailed documentation.
Anytime, anywhere
Whether you have internet access or not, whether you are at home, in office, or in commute/airplane, developers can always easily access and browse the sample code.
Lightweight and fast
Particularly for learning a small sample project, the Windows Store Sample Browser would be more lightweight and faster to open and browse the sample code.

Please submit your feedback and suggestion to Visual Studio UserVoice. We look forward to hearing from you and deliver a better and better sample use experience. Happy Coding!

Special Thanks to People working behind the latest release of Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension and the great partnerships!

Jialiang's Blog

Oops. Our download counter overflowed with 10 MILLION Downloads Achieved!

Microsoft Refreshes Sample Browser with the support for 13 new Languages

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