Dan K Blog

'tis a Strange Thing, and thank you all.

I was talking with one of the people I am currently contracting with about the weird nature of our profession.  I taught myself most of what I know, reading books, watching demos and tutorials, attending free Microsoft events like the upcoming Code CampII, and taken a few community college classes here and there.  How many other respectable professions can you do that with?  Can you teach yourself accounting or veterinary medicine at home?  Come here Willis, I want to try to neuter you!(Willis is one of our cats, not children). 

There are not too many other professions that I know of where the person will actually spend 8, 9, 10 or more hours working with something, fight a nasty commute, and sit down at home and spend another 3, 4, 5 or more hours doing THE SAME THING.  I wonder why that is?  What makes a geek a geek?  Why is it (seemingly) just us? 

The only other difference I notice with our kind is the amazing community support.  Blogs, free events, mentoring and the like make this life fun and easier, if you're into it. Do accountants get to play with beta version of the next Peachtree or MAS90?  Do most of the accountants in that community have access to all the rich resources that blogs, MSDN and other great websites offer? 

If you're out there and you're reading this, thank you. 

 If you've linked to this or passed it on another way thank you. 

If you give up a weekend to teach geeks for free like Thom Robbins and Patrick Hynds do at Code Camps, THANK YOU. 

If you stay up waaayyy too late on Thursday nights and host or speak on DotNetRocks, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU . 

If you write a blog that has at least taught one person one thing, thank you. 

If participate and contribute anything to this community, thank you.  This is a great community and a great profession, and a great BUNCH OF GEEKS. 

Everyone keep up the great work!  Thanks again, Dan K

posted @ Friday, July 30, 2004 10:57 PM | Feedback (2) |

You down with VWD? Yeah you know me!

Installed the beta of Visual Web Developer Express thing this evening.  I got caught on the little problem where the installer progress bar is at 100% and it looks as if the installation has hung, I waited what I thought was a good while and then clicked “Cancel” like I know I shouldn't have, and the install exited gracefully.  I figured, um OK beta, whatever, and let it finish.  I thought the install went bad, so I ran the install again, and got prompted something like “yeah this product is already installed, yeah, go to Add / Remove programs yeah and choose repair on this product.”  Sorry for the Rainman.  Did that and it told me the product was fine, so I ran it, and it was indeed fine.  Started out looking at the personal web page starter kit.  Looks pretty good, then I immediately started playing with some classic ASP apps to see where I could take them in an upcoming upgrade.  What's this? you say, you are using something made after 1999 at work?  No not exactly, my full time enslavement still hurts, using VB6 and classic asp.  I have picked up a few contracts on the side, many of them being 'convert this classic asp / access app to .net and sql'.  Mmm mmm, thats what I'm talkin bout!  I am all over this beta, although at work we have the MSDN disks that have the full VS2005 beta and I know they will only be used as coasters, so I *should have* brought them home today and installed them on my dev laptop. The problem there being I am on vacation as of right now, and I know I would be tempted to spend the next 10 days drooling all over the new baby.  (Is that sick that I would refer to a VS beta as a new baby?)   I somehow think my wife would not understand.  To avoid fights and the temptation to start one, I left the disks at work, but I'm sure I will be dreaming of them and of me and VS2005 traipsing down the beach hand in hand.

Then the wife went off to her monthly book club, and while I was left home alone with a somewhat new DSL connection and twinkle in my eye, I downloaded the VWD express thingy.  Oohh boy, I don't think I will be sleeping tonight, and the vacation might end up producing a few um 'discussions'. I can hardly contain myself. 

Aside from the excitmemt of the new VS products, I *do* get to come back from vacation and start working on a BRAND NEW APP, over 200 USERS AT ONCE, and I get to make it using ACCESS and VB6.  I loved VB6 back in the day, and it was beautiful, but it's 2004 and every old dog has to eventually take that final trip to the country where it will live on a farm, where there are no cars and no loud fireworks to bother it.  Until then, VB6, I love ya, but I think it's time to pack up your COM objects and book that bus ride upstate. 

IT'S 2004, SOMEONE TELL MY BOSS THAT IT IS 2004!!!

TIME TO MOVE ON???  PLEASE???

posted @ Friday, July 30, 2004 10:38 PM | Feedback (0) |

Que up the theme from Jaws - Code Camp II The Return

It's baaaccckkkk!  I just noticed that the crazy geek fest called Code Camp is back for the fall 04.  So far according to the MS Events Page Code Camp II The Return is official as well.  I can hardly contain myself.  First Windows Mobile Developer Day is getting closer, now this?  Thom Robbins has a little more info up on his blog, so keep your eyes here or there for more info as it develops.  Also it looks like he is looking for speakers for this shin dig, so if you have something you want to say, and you think we'll think it's worth hearing you say it, let him know.  If not just go register now. 

If nothing else, pack up the significant other, kids, family dog or whatever, and head on up to beautiful MA.  Tell the family you're going on a wonderful fall foliage tour.  Leave them in the car all day while you're in the sessions, and I'm pretty sure they'll be able to see a few leaves, depending on where you park. 

Just kidding, leave the dog at home, that would be cruel to leave a dog locked in a car all day.  Whatever you do, just spread the word about Code Camp II and if you know a good speaker, send them to Thom. 

posted @ Friday, July 23, 2004 7:05 AM | Feedback (0) |

Hit The Road Jack - Windows Mobile Developer Day

OK, the email in my in box this morning makes it even more official.  Windows Mobile Developer Day is coming to Microsoft New England.  If you're anywhere near Waltham MA or New England in general, get your mobile butt out to this event.  So far the agenda looks great : 

8:30 – 9:00 – Registration
9:00 – 10:30 - .NET Compact Framework Overview
10:30 – 10:45 – Break
10:45 – 12:00 – Occasionally-Connected Application Development
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 – Data Storage Best Practices
2:30 – 2:45 – Break
2:45 – 4:00 - .NET CF Tips and Tricks
4:00 – 4:15 – WrapUp

Don't worry if you attended the Code Camp weekend in May in Waltham, I've heard that the talks will be different enough from the mobile talks from Code Camp to make it interesting.  I know Duane Laflotte will be there and that guy alone is a wealth of info.  Go to the site, register yourself and come on out to have some fun and learn a thing or two. 

posted @ Friday, July 23, 2004 6:42 AM | Feedback (0) |

Foaming at the Mouth

posted @ Thursday, July 22, 2004 11:42 AM | Feedback (0) |

Got It!

I almost forgot with all my XM excitement, but I also got Mike Gunderloy's Coder to Developer for my birthday!  Sweet.  I am a little torn; we're going on vacation in a couple weeks, and I want to do some reading then, but CtD might be too much like work, so maybe I'll get it read before we go.  Did anyone read this yet?  Like it?  Love it? Skip it?  Let me know

posted @ Tuesday, July 20, 2004 5:17 AM | Feedback (1) |

Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names

posted @ Monday, July 19, 2004 6:38 PM | Feedback (0) |

woo hoo!

posted @ Monday, July 19, 2004 6:30 PM | Feedback (0) |

XM

posted @ Monday, July 19, 2004 5:57 PM | Feedback (0) |

g m a i l f o r u

posted @ Thursday, July 01, 2004 6:16 PM | Feedback (3) |