It’s been one week since PDC and I’ve seen some interesting post-PDC blogs. My favorite is Paul Thurrott’s.
Here is my take on some post-PDC highlights or rather most interesting topics in my order of significance.
1. Visual Studio Team System (VSTS)
VSTS will have a significant impact on the software industry.
Key Features:
– CMMI Process Templates
– Automated Builds – continuous build feature (e.g., Cruise Control)
– Source Code Reporting – Unit Test, Code Coverage and FxCop
– Project Metrics Data Warehouse
– HTTP-based Version Control (no more VSS)
– Work Items – this is the key reporting mechanism.
Developers associate work items with code check-ins.
– Deployment Modeling Tool – a result of the ongoing Dynamic Systems
Initiative (DSI). It uses the Systems Definition
Model (SDM) which is an Infrastructure Deployment
XML schema.
– Software Modeling Tool
Other VSTS Notes:
– VSTS beta 2 is currently being used for mission critical
apps in some shops.
– NTeam – is an open source competitor to VSTS.
– Team Foundation Server Beta 2 Install Problems – VSTS dev
team suggests setting aside ~2 weeks to
install/configure it.
– Useful site: http://teamsystemrocks.com/tutorials/
– Team Foundation Server Wiki is here.
2. Contract Driven Development
– This is the new programming paradigm.
– SW Architecture should focus on Workflow-enabled
Transparent XML Messaging services. Its a mouthful
of buzzwords but the idea will minimize the coding effort.
– Object Oriented is being relegated to 2nd class citizen status.
– OOP is an important implementation detail but not
as important as contract services.
3. WinFX – superset of next generation .Net API’s.
– My WinFX Roadmap thoughts are in a previous blog entry here.
– See intro here. You’ll need to fast forward to the 1:39:30 position.
Key components are:
– WPF/E – Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere
(formerly Avalon)
– WCF – Windows Communication Foundation (formerly Indigo)
– WWF – Windows Workflow Foundation
– WinFS – new Relational Database File System
– InfoCard – UI for the Federated Security solution
– LINQ (more info on DLINQ and XLINQ in next item)
WPF/E Notes:
– North Face Demo – 3D video app.
Need to fast forward to the 2:40 position.
– Project Max – An example of the type of apps that
you can expect with WPF/E.
4. LINQ – Language Integrated Query
Notes:
– See important Channel 9 session here.
– Intro and hands-on demo of LINQ is here.
You’ll need to fast forward to the 2:06:00.
DLINQ
– ‘Evolutionary’ OR Mapping solution.
– Mapping Errors caught at Compile Time! – The great
feature of DLINQ is that mapping errors in
the attributes and/or external mapping file
will be caught at compile time which is always
better than runtime!
– Current implementation maps objects to relational tables
using Attributes.
– External Mapping File – As with EJB 3.0, Microsoft is
working on a version of DLINQ that provides
ability to override attributes with an external
mapping file.
XLINQ
– LINQ for XML Data
– Applies some XMLBeans technology to LINQ
5. Vista – latest build is 5219
Some Key Features:
– SuperFetch
– New improved UI features (e.g., thumbnail hovers, Flip3D,
video carousel, etc.)
– Please see video here and some more screenshots.
– USB Memory Stick
– Anti-phishing
– Sidebar – video here
Notes:
– See Jim Allchin’s video here. Need to fast forward to 1:14:00.
– Great 5219 info here.
– If hosting in Virtual PC, it will not have the Aero Glass
translucent features since the Virtual PC video drivers
do not yet emulate yet the required
LDDM/DirectX 10 Video Drivers.
6. Office 12
Some features:
– Sharepoint Integration
– New UI
– Peer To Peer file sharing – "People Near Me" Groove Technology
– Search and RSS Notifications
– Part 1 video here.
– Part 2 video here.
7. InfoCards – New Federated Security solution
– UI for the identity metasystem
– Uses the industry standard SAML
– Channel 9 video here