Friday, October 07, 2005

Fun weekend ahead!

I have an app that is a smart client with a host of  about 20 additional assemblies that contain subclassed forms, classes and Crystal Reports that are dynamically loaded. The entire app uses web services for authentication and data access. The app uses 3rd party controls by Xceed, Infragistics and Janus, plus a few home grown ones by Juval Lowy and Duncan McKenzie (thanks guys). It also, of course, uses WSE 2.0. The application works very nicely however it's big failing is deployment and I am shooting for Click Once.

My plan of attack is

  • update wse2.0 to wse 3.0 (I will leverage the upgrade tool for some of this)
  • remove some (but not all) of the 3rd party controls and replace with new improved Windows Forms controls
  • replace Juval's .Net 1.x background worker component with .net 2.0's (he designed the component to emulate the 2.0 one and for easy update)
  • replace xceed's http compression tool with the new System.IO.Compression bits

There will be more but I think it will be great to feel what this is like in a real application.

We'll see how it goes...

Hmmm, where is that "insanity" category?



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 5:46:15 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

I default all of my VS2005 web development to the file based web server (also referred to as the Development web server). This gave me a big headache today when I couldn't solve a problem.

I was trying to host a Windows Forms control built in VS2005 in a web page.

Update: this problem seems to be specific to ink-enabled controls. Normal controls work fine against the development server.

No matter what I kept getting this where my control was supposed to be:

I moved the application to be hosted on IIS and all was well. If I can find out how to get this working on the file based webserver, I will post the solution.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 2:54:45 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

I have read that phrase a few too many times today. Maybe Microsoft can just come up with a symbol like  did.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 12:04:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

I have two beeyoooteeful wonderful Newfoundlands; my "little old ladies." Surely you have seen many posts and photos of them by now.

Tasha I adopted (rescued, actually) when she was 2 1/2 years old and she will be 12 in December. She is in pretty good shape for her age. She can go on really long walks, can get up and down the stairs fairly well (though it's harder work now) and can still run around a bit. There are really no signs ofl losing her any time soon - we are so incredibly lucky. Newfies generally live well until about 10 years old.

Daisy is a dog I adopted (well, maybe "stole" is more accurate) from my parents last summer. She will be 11 in January. But there is something amazing about this dog. Considering that their life span is more like 10 years old, this should be a pokey fat old dog by now. But she isn't. With my new Canon Elph, I made a little video (pretty shaky and I'll do another better one eventually) this morning showing off her bouncing around in excitement waiting for me to throw her bumper and then running off to get it. Daisy has the fluidity and strength of a young dog still. The video is 6 MB.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 11:02:02 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
Friday, October 07, 2005 10:48:46 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Now that I have an IPOD, I finally have a means of listening to DotNet Rocks. I cannot listen to it while I am working and cannot just sit in front of the computer doing nothing, listening to the show either. So, I downloaded a bunch for my six hour drive to Syracuse this week. Among them was a recent show with Michele Leroux Bustamante where she talked with Richard and Carl about WS Security, Infocards and Indigo. In New York state you are not allowed to talk on the cell phone while driving. I literally pulled off to the shoulder of the highway because I just had to call Michele when I finished listening to tell her how blown away I was by the show. To put things into perspective, I have been working with WSE and WS Security for about 1 1/2 years and have finally started digging my teeth into Indigo. So I have some context to what she is talking about. However, since I work with so many different technologies, I am sometimes very sadly a "Jack of All Trades, master of none". And I do not use the term "master" lightly here. Michele is absolutely and solidly a master of these technologies. Her knowledge is so deep. She is not just about "how to" but also about who, why and when. She understands how these technologies fit into the bigger picture, not just about interop, but architecturally, historically and with a very knowledgeable eye to the future. Michele constantly amazes me - almost every time she opens her mouth.

I remember the reaction from the VTdotNET user group when she spoke there last fall. It was the same. Most were not familiar with her so they saw this beautiful blonde get up to the podium and might have expected some cute little drag and drop session in ASP.NET. It was fun to watch their faces, both the men and the women, as Michele opened up the guts of ASP.NET and explained to everyone how it worked. Here is one VTdotNetter's reaction, caught on his blog.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 10:05:47 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Paul Litwin, who is the Conference Chair for ASPConnections which is a subset of the entire DevConnections conference, has a blog about coordinating a conference. It is a lot of work. As a speaker I can add that we are asked to submit abstracts long in advance which in this era of evolving betas is quite a challenge. In fact, we had to submit abstracts right after PDC when things like LINQ and Atlas and SO much more had been shoved into our brains, yet, it is very important to keep the bulk of talks to technologies that developers can use currently or very soon. It is an interesting challenge to balance because it is really fun to work with the latest and greatest and show off that you are so bleeding edge, but it is also important to remember that not everyone is interested in the bleeding edge or even prepared for very advanced talks.  I love to play both sides of the fence: fiddling with the bleeding edge, but also trying to make sure that people don't get left behind on the basics.

DevConnections is an amazing conference and I am really proud to be speaking at my 3rd one in a row next month in Las Vegas as well as to be listed among a very  impressive roster of experts and fantastic presenters. It is also very nice because they take such great care of the speakers and make it so that all we have to think about is doing a great session.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 9:42:46 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Channel 9 has a funny post on CTP Madness. It refers to the huge variety of CTPs (Community Tech Previews) and other betas, RC (release candidates) etc of the conglomeration of .NET development tools out there right now: VS2005, SQL Server 2005, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Presentation Foundation, Atlas, LINQ, and so on and so on. The biggest problem that people have been having since PDC has been [read more...]

[A DevLife post]



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 9:28:53 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
rut roh - Maryam is blogging. watch out! This is one "cut to the chase" smart and witty chick. How else do you think anyone manages to keep Robert in line? Maryam rules.

Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 9:09:56 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Sheesh - just found out by way of another blog that Charles Petzold is writing a blog  about the process of writing his Avalon book. If you start now, you can easily catch up!



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Friday, October 07, 2005 8:34:01 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
 Monday, October 03, 2005

SQL, Access, Crystal and more.

Go to the job search page at www.vtstatejobs.info and filter on Developer to get this and a few other positions to show up

Application Deadline on this is 10/14/05



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 1:09:48 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
Monday, October 03, 2005 1:03:51 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Vermont Courts

More info on their employment page

 



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 1:02:02 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

This would nto be a bad place to have to go every day - the beautiful Shelburne Farms.

Information Technology Administrator

Shelburne Farms is looking for someone to blend their network management experience with our educational and environmental mission.  We have a 50+ user network across multiple locations, with plans for growth.  We are willing to provide a flexible work arrangement for the right person who can provide outstanding network, telephony, help desk, and web support. 

Qualified candidates will possess strong technical knowledge, exceptional interpersonal skills, and the desire to become part of a dedicated team at a complex and dynamic non-profit organization.

 more info



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 12:59:19 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Synergy is growing again. You can read here about how much I love this company that I have worked with in the past.

Here is a link to their jobs page listing their current developer opening.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 12:57:31 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 

Casey has been writing absolutely brilliant stuff on his blog for a long time - working out interesting ideas and writing about it. Though I was thrilled that he won one of the Channel 9 trips to PDC, I personally feel he does not get the recognition that I think he deserves. So this blog post of his: "Go code something, my a55"  was of great interest to me.



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 11:38:07 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
The improvements to usability for ink in the Vista UI are wonderful. I wrote about them here. However, as many tablet geeks know, the Toshiba M4 drivers don't support glass too well. I did hack glass onto my machine but it totally wrecked most of my tabletpc functionality.

Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 10:43:09 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
I was looking into possibly flying to Harrisburg PA from Burlington. US Air flies there by way of their hub in Philadelphia. The fare for my travel date was about $550 - $600. I considered just doing the one leg to Philadelphia and driving the other 100 miles. The fair from Burlington to Philadelphia was over $1000. It is the same flight that I would be on if I flew to Harrisburg. I will never understand this stuff! Thank goodness for travel agents.

Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 9:37:14 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
 Sunday, October 02, 2005

CoDe Magazine will soon be putting out a special focus issue on Tablet PC and Mobile PC Development. There will be articles on a wide range of Tablet PC and Mobile topics by Billy Hollis, Dr. Neil Roodyn, Carl Franklin, Markus Egger, Larry O'Brien, myself and others.  

This is one of their "CoDe Focus" issues and you can get one for free by signing up here.

 



Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Sunday, October 02, 2005 9:01:23 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  | 
Lake George in the Adirondacks is somewhat local to us. It is a specatular lake that is very big and has many personalities. The town of Lake George is at the southern tip of the lake and is a major tourist town spring summer and fall. This is shocking news. Elderly people, some in walkers and wheelchairs. Today was such a beautiful day. The lake was calm. It shouldn't have happened.

Don't Forget: www.acehaid.org
Sunday, October 02, 2005 7:58:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #     |  Comments [0]  |