John Alexander's Blog

Thanks to everyone who attended the “Flip on LightSwitch!” at the Kansas City Office Geeks User Group last night!  Lots of great questions and interaction from the group!

As promised, here are the resources we talked about:

First, you need a place to play with LightSwitch. As it is beta, a vpc is always a good idea.

Currently there are three flavors of the Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate VPC:

Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2010 and Team Foundation Server® 2010 RTM virtual machine for Microsoft® Virtual PC 2007 SP1

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=5e13b15a-fd74-4cd7-b53e-bdf9456855bd&displaylang=en

Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2010 and Team Foundation Server® 2010 RTM virtual machine for Windows Virtual PC

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=509C3BA1-4EFC-42B5-B6D8-0232B2CBB26E&displaylang=en

Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2010 and Team Foundation Server® 2010 RTM virtual machine for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E0198B64-4ACB-4709-B07F-359FB4D523BC&displaylang=en

Visual Studio LightSwitch Download

Get the bits here.

http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/lightswitch

Visual Studio LightSwitch Developer Center

Lots of good stuff here. Check out the how to videos for a great start!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lightswitch/default.aspx

Visual Studio LightSwitch Beta 1 Training Kit

The Visual Studio LightSwitch Training Kit contains demos and labs to help you learn to use and extend LightSwitch. The introductory materials walk you through the Visual Studio LightSwitch product. By following the hands-on labs, you'll build an application to inventory a library of books.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ac1d8eb5-ac8e-45d5-b1e3-efb8e4e3ebd1&displaylang=en

Walkthrough: Creating the Vision Clinic Application

Here is a great walkthrough to build a more advanced app from stem to stern:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee256749.aspx

Make sure you you get the database and finished sample here:

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/lightswitch

And last but not least, here is the MSDN documentation:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff851953.aspx

That should give you a great start! Look for more posts on Visual Studio LightSwitch from me soon.

From a message from Brian Keller:

“Back in December we posted a set of virtual machines pre-configured with Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2, Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 Beta 2, and 7 hands-on-labs. I am pleased to announce that today we have shipped an updated virtual machine using the Visual Studio 2010 Release Candidate bits, a brand new sample application, and 9 hands-on-labs.

This VM is customer-ready and includes everything you need to learn and/or deliver demonstrations of many of my favorite application lifecycle management (ALM) capabilities in Visual Studio 2010. This VM is available in the virtualization platform of your choice (Hyper-V, Virtual PC 2007 SP1, and Windows [7] Virtual PC). Hyper-V is highly recommended because of the performance benefits and snapshotting capabilities.

Tailspin Toys
The sample application we are using in this virtual machine is a simple ASP.NET MVC 2 storefront called Tailspin Toys. Tailspin Toys sells model airplanes and relies on the application lifecycle management capabilities of Visual Studio 2010 to help them build, test, and maintain their storefront. Major kudos go to Dan Massey for building out this great application for us.

Hands-on-Labs / Demo Scripts
The 9 hands-on-labs / demo scripts which accompany this virtual machine cover several of the core capabilities of conducting application lifecycle management with Visual Studio 2010. Each document can be used by an individual in a hands-on-lab capacity, to learn how to perform a given set of tasks, or used by a presenter to deliver a demonstration or classroom-style training. Unlike the beta 2 release, 100% of these labs target Tailspin Toys to help ensure a consistent storytelling experience.

Software quality:

• Authoring and Running Manual Tests using Microsoft Test Manager 2010
• Introduction to Test Case Management with Microsoft Test Manager 2010
• Introduction to Coded UI Tests with Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate
• Debugging with IntelliTrace using Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate

Software architecture:

• Code Discovery using the architecture tools in Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate
• Understanding Class Coupling with Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate
• Using the Architecture Explore in Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate to Analyze Your Code

Software Configuration Management:

• Planning your Projects with Team Foundation Server 2010
• Branching and Merging Visualization with Team Foundation Server 2010 “

Check out Brian’s Post for more info including download instructions…

Interested in getting up to speed on Windows Azure? Then check out this FREE boot camp, all across the US this spring.

What is a Windows Azure Boot Camp?

Windows Azure Boot Camp is a two day deep dive class to get you up to speed on developing for Windows Azure. The class includes a trainer with deep real world experience with Azure, as well as a series of labs so you can practice what you just learned. ABC is more than just a class, it is also an event in a box. If you don't see a class near you, then throw your own. We provide all of the materials and training you need to host your own class. This can be for your company, your customers, your friends, or even your family. Please let us know so we can give you all of the details.

Awesome. How much does it cost?

Thanks to all of our fantabulous sponsors, this two day training event is FREE! We will provide drinks and snacks, but you will be on your own for lunch on both days. This is a training class after all.

How do I attend one?

You can click here to register for the Kansas City event on April 8th and 9th or click here to see where else ABC will be…

WHAT TO BRING – important!!!

Meeting tonight!!! Food! Great giveaways including a full license of Infragistics for a year!

See you there!!

Meeting for March 23rd, 2010

WHERE: Centriq Training, 8700 State Line Road, Leawood, KS (Click
WHEN: 6:00 PM
TOPIC: Microsoft's Security Development Lifecycle for Agile development

Microsoft recently added secure development guidance for agile methodologies within their SDL. During this presentation, Nick will summarize the new guidance and discuss what makes this guidance successful for Agile development.

SPEAKER: Nick Coblentz

Nick Coblentz is a senior consultant within AT&T Consulting Services' Application Security Practice. He focuses on helping organizations build mature application security programs and secure development processes. Nick has provided consulting services to fortune 500 companies within the retail, financial services, banking, and health care sectors.

SPONSOR: TekSystems

TEKsystems® is the leading IT staffing and services company. Our capabilities span a wide range of services: from technical staff augmentation and direct placement services, to full management of IT projects and comprehensive workforce management solutions.

With over 25 years of experience, we are experts at connecting technical professionals. Whether you are looking for the best IT talent, an experienced IT outsourcing partner, or a career in the IT industry, TEKsystems delivers.

And for the last post of 2009…

The biggest tech flops of the decade…Enjoy!

I’ve thought about it.  I predict that social aspects of the web will explode in 2010.

http://mashable.com/2009/12/02/farmville-bigger-than-twitter/ This is just one example. From iPhone apps to search services that mine real time status.  Hopefully, GeeksWithBlogs will be somewhat in the middle of this. We were an early integrator of twitter as part of our community.  I guess we’ll see what happens!

Recently I was in a meeting to discuss the new features of Team Foundation Server 2010.  The senior management team asked many questions and was duly impressed.  Afterwards, I thought that the QA would make a good blog post. It was then I remembered this great post from Brian Harry earlier this year.  Read it for a great introduction. Oh and Happy New Year!!

Hello,

Here are the companion resources for the “Dancing with SharePoint” presentation at SharePoint Saturday Kansas City! We talked about best practices to create a SharePoint virtual development environment, ways to get the most functionality out of the box, and some great development tools. Thanks to all who came!!!!

“Power User Books” – For getting the most out of the box

The SharePoint Shepherd's Guide for End Users

Essential SharePoint 2007: A Practical Guide for Users, Administrators and Developers

Beginning SharePoint 2007 Administration: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007

Virtual PC Resources and Best Practices

 Virtual PC Tips by Scott Hanselman

How to Create a MOSS 2007 VPC Image – This is a great series of articles on setting up a virtual environment, especially part 20 which is about creating differencing disks.

Here is another great article on differencing disks by Andrew Connell.

SharePoint Development Tools

Here is a list of the Tools demonstrated during the presentation:

STSDev

WSPBuilder

U2U CAML Query Builder

For the person who asked - “How to Use CAML (with examples)”

Search Query Web Service Test Tool for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007

SharePoint 2007 SDK – includes BDC Editor

Simego MOSS BDC Design Studio

Lightning Tools BDC Meta Man

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Tools: Visual Studio 2005 Extensions, Version 1.1

A 30 day Virtual PC environment for SharePoint:

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 VHD

Visual Studio Team System 2008 vpcs with new expiration dates!!!!

The last set of images was set to expire December 31, 2009. These images were updated with new expiration dates (January 31, 2011) and all of the latest Windows updates.

This virtual machine is running Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, SP2. It contains a full installation of Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server SP1, Team Build 2008 SP1, Team Explorer 2008 SP1, Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite SP1 and all necessary prerequisites. In addition, it has been updated with Office 2007 SP1, current Windows Updates as of December 1, 2008, the October 2008 Release of the TFS Power Tools, Team System Web Access 2008 SP1, and the Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server MSSCCI Provider. Team Foundation Server is installed in workgroup authentication mode and thus does not require a domain controller.
This release also contains 38 hands-on labs and sample data. Please examine C:\MSLabs inside the image.
This virtual machine does not have anti-virus installed. It should not be connected to any network until it has anti-virus installed. In addition, the operating system and programs installed were patched with all updates as of December 10, 2009.

Public download locations:

Visual Studio Team Suite 2008 + Team Foundation Server 2008 (Hyper-V)

Visual Studio Team Suite 2008 + Team Foundation Server 2008 (VPC 2007 SP1)

Team Foundation Server 2008 ONLY (Hyper-V)

Team Foundation Server 2008 ONLY (VPC 2007 SP1)

Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate and Team Foundation Server 2010 – Beta 2, WITH SAMPLE DATA

This VM included everything you need to learn and demonstrate the ALM capabilities of Visual Studio 2010 beta 2 (with the exception of Lab Management – the product team is hard at work on a solution for configuring Lab Management in a VM). This VM is available in the virtualization platform of your choice (Hyper-V, Virtual PC 2007 SP1, and Windows [7] Virtual PC). Hyper-V is highly recommended because of the performance benefits and snapshotting capabilities.

Available in 3 delicious flavors:

Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 (Hyper-V)

Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 (Windows [7] Virtual PC)

Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 (Virtual PC 2007 SP1)

Merry Christmas!!!

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is known world wide for its impressive educational and research programs.  They have an initiative called OpenCourseWare, which is a collection of free lecture notes, exams, and videos. No registration required.

“MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity.”

Get started here.

As if it couldn’t get any better. Thanks Channel9!

“The Silverlight 4 Training Course includes hands-on-labs, a video and a whitepaper designed to help you learn about the new features in Silverlight 4 focusing on three major areas: Enabling Business Application Development, Empowering Richer Experiences and Moving Beyond the Browser. Some of the new highly anticipated features include Printing, WebCam and Microphone support, custom right-click, rich text, HTML support and access to local files with trusted applications.”

Oh, just in case, you aren’t familiar with Silverlight, click here.

Channel 9 has several new online courses!

Interested in SharePoint 2010 development? Go here…Now!!!!

In a recent post I told you about the online PDC videos available for free. Now the DE’s have picked their favorites.  The Developer Evangelists and Architect Evangelists spend a ton of time supporting the local user communities and are great!  My AE, Clint Edmonson, rocks!

Anyway, from the ISV DE Blog…

“Our team has put together a list of videos from Professional Developers Conference (PDC09) that we think are important for ISVs. All the videos are online. You can access the video itself or just the slides. The videos include the screen and a video of the speaker giving the presentation.

You can get a list of all the recorded sessions at PDC09 Videos.

Here are the list of some of our team’s picks…”