Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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If you're used to working with the VS 2005 Performance Tool (Dynamic Code Analysis) and you're starting to work on projects in VS 2008, you may have been a little surprised as I was running the VS 2008 version on existing code and getting different results than you get in VS 2005.
By Default in a VS 2008 profiling session there is a check box called "Exclude Small Functions from Instrumentation" which is checked. You may need to uncheck it in order to get more complete results on your code. An example of this option is shown below (after I unchecked it):
Then again - maybe it's selected by default for a good reason...all I know is in the initial tests I ran I noticed quite a difference in the results until I unchecked this option.
I was called into a meeting yesterday to discuss performance issues related to a web application that's been developed (I was on that project long ago, but now I'm on a different project). They wanted to know my input for server optimizations to help with some rather severe performance issues they were experiencing. They had a slides and spreadsheets showing the problem - all laid out in "the amount of time it takes the page to load" and had ideas on how changing this setting or that could possibly improve performance of the application on the server.
Having given presentations at user groups and code camps on performance analysis before I had two questions for this team:
- What are the performance goals for this application?
- Have you run Visual Studio's Dynamic Code Analysis yet?
Their answer to the first question was dismal - nobody knew what they expected it to do other than "it needs to work faster". While that may provide a fine start, you need a more defined performance goal so you can know whether you are meeting it or not, and if not, by what margin are you missing the goal.
Their answer to the second question was equally disappointing. This is a team that has purchased Visual Studio Team Suite 2005 and has access to those tools provided by Microsoft for such performance analysis. I even gave a demonstration (the same presentation I have given at user groups/code camps) on how to use the tool to the development team prior to the product development launch...yet more than a year later there's performance issues but nobody has run dynamic code analysis yet to try and pinpoint the issue, instead relying on manually created stopwatches inserted at different points in the code so they can measure execution and page load times.
In light of that I'm going to dust off my "Confessions of a Performance Junkie" slide deck and demo code and try to update it for VS 2008 and maybe put together an article or video on using it to try and help others who may not know just how nice this little tool can be for you.
As for this team they've agreed to start using the tool and I'm interested to see what improvements it can bring them!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
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I managed to squeak through April in dead last place on Community-Credit and picked up Extreme Office Crafts!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
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In a nutshell - use .NET Code to build virtual robots that can:
1) Navigate their way through a maze with hidden traps and surprises
2) Explore a virtual Martian surface
3) Navigate a car though an urban setting
4) Rescue a person trapped in ruble after a major disaster
5) Sumo-wrestle another robot
Introducing RoboChamps from Microsoft. If you remember the .NET Terrarium back in the day this sounds similar. Check out the link and get started!
http://www.robochamps.com/
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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I've posted the slide deck and demo code from my user group presentation the other night. You can download it from my VBMobile blog: http://ilovevb.net/Web/files/folders/vbmobile/entry132.aspx
The demo code shows basic SMS Messaging, State & Notifications Broker, Call Blocking (using the State and Notifications Broker) and using System Settings - all in VB.NET.
Enjoy!
Saw this video of a man trapped in an elevator for 41 hours (it's a time lapse video). This happened back in 1999...I can't imagine being trapped in an elevator that long.
Take a peek: http://www.newyorker.com/online/video/2008/04/21/080421_elevators
Monday, April 21, 2008
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This post-meeting post is actually a little delayed because I went from giving my presentation at the user group straight to the hospital where my son (Little Lou) was being admitted. To make a long story short, he has a rare medical condition which every now and again causes problems which require him to be admitted to the hospital. It's to the point now where when we notice the signs and symptoms, we just call his surgeon and then the surgeon calls the hospital and arranges for him to bypass the ER and get directly admitted. Little Lou is fine right now - this was actually his shortest stay ever, he was only there for just under 20 hours before he was stabilized and released to go home!
Back to the meeting info - I was a little nervous doing a live demo of my Windows Mobile call blocker program since Mr. Murphy likes to show up when you try something new for the first time, but it actually went really well so I thank Mr. Murphy for kindly staying away. I've posted the slide deck and demo code for that on the GC.NUG web site, but I'll also post it on my VBMobile blog so those of you who aren't part of the user group don't have to register with GCNUG.net just to get it. That should be posted later today.
We also had a surprise showing by Murray Gordon who had recently left Charleston to work for Microsoft out in Atlanta so as soon as Murray sends me the the photos he was taking during the meeting I can get those posted too (hint - Murray!)
The May meeting will likely be held on May 15th and we've got John Lunsford scheduled to speak about LINQ. If you haven't seen John present before, you don't want to miss this..his presentations have been packed at every code camp I've seen him present!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
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The All Time GWB Posting Record looks about to be shattered....
Monday, April 14, 2008
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Location
Our meeting will be held at Benefit Focus on Daniel Island. If you ever attended the past meetings at Blackbaud, you probably remember passing Benefit Focus on the way there. If you need directions follow this link from Benefit Focus: http://www.benefitfocus.com/contact/directions.html
Register Please!
Let us know you're coming! Please RSVP at EventBrite: http://april-gcnug.eventbrite.com/
Topic 1
We’re going to explore Windows Mobile development a little deeper with demonstrations and code starting with a “Hello World” using SMS. From there we’ll learn how to take back control of our mobile phones using the State and Notifications Broker to intercept and process incoming phone calls. Finally we’ll take a peek at using the GPS API and how to use it.
Topic 2
There are several community events in the works for the coming months and we want you to have a part in planning them. These events include the Community-Launch, DotNet University and Code Camp.
Friday, April 11, 2008
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Came across an article about Padarn today. What is it you ask? A pretty cool concept if you ask me. It's basically an ASP.NET web server capable of running on mobile devices (CE 5.0 and 6.0). I've seen similar attempts at writing and hosting a web server on mobile devices, however this is the best one I've seen yet. I can imagine this being useful to more and more devices as the project grows. Go ahead and check it out! http://www.padarn.net/
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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Saw this on MSN this morning - while I'm sure most reading this would "ace" the exam, it did bring back some interesting memories. I had to guess at the answer for the iTunes question...
http://encarta.msn.com/quiz_308/Internet_Quiz_2.0.html?GT1=27004
Since my Tilt has an integrated GPS I've been anxious to try development with it. I've started now by converting the GPS helper that comes with the Windows Mobile 6 SDK from c# to VB.NET and working with that. I've noticed (like many other VB developers) that more and more examples are not being done in VB so this is my little part toward making spreading VB.NET to the mobile world...since especially in Windows Mobile most examples are either c# or c++. Eventually I'd like to use this little app on my phone to finally settle an argument with Bill about which way is a longer walk from the Silvercloud Inn to Bldg 40 :)
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
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Microsoft has officially announced Windows Mobile 6.1 - and it looks like a number of devices will be able to get it as an update in addition to the newer devices coming out this year already having it. You can see tons of screen shots at Gizmodo.
While I was already planning to update the ROM for my Tilt (a known/reported start button issue - it's occasionally unresponsive), now I may just wait and see if I get the 6.1 upgrade at the same time.
The Rational Guide to Building Technical User Communities
By Dr. Greg Low
Published by Rational Press 2007
ISBN: 978-1-932577-32-7
Running and maintaining a user group over time can be quite challenging and rewarding at the same time. Having recently stepped into a new role as leader of our local user group I was looking for additional help and ideas that would provide me with the wisdom of others who have been far more successful at this than I have been in the past. I think it was actually through e-mail a couple months back that David Silverlight first recommended this book to me...and I've finally decided to buy the book and read it.
First off - it's a very easy and enjoyable read. I was able to read through it in an afternoon...so it's not going to take up tremendous time for you to read it. I was mistaken though in my first impression with the book - that is, I thought I might read it and then pass it on to another UG leader. Nope, not this one, it's staying on my shelf as an essential reference as time goes on.
This book cuts through all the craziness that can come with organizing, leading, or creating a user group and provides practical, tested ideas about topics such as providing better value for your user group members, realizing that "pizza does not make a user group", and the need to allow for more social networking time at group meetings (something that as I look back I realize was present in our last meeting and was quite welcome).
In short - if you're starting a user group, running one or want to find out how you can help an existing one, you should really check out this book. And if you don't want to buy it, I know of at least one other geek who's got an extra copy his wife wants him to find a new home for :)
An interesting read from the folks at Global Knowledge, their article 10 Signs that your project is about to be cut sums up several things I've seen a bit in projects I've worked on in the past though thankfully I've not witnessed #10 first hand. For me it's usually been #6 or #9 though I did have a #4 that I was able to successfully detach myself from.