Followup post on VS 2008 release

What more can Microsoft provide for us developers. To make the learning and adopting transition easy for developers, Microsoft also released Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit at the same day it was released. For those interested in learning, check this out.

The Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit includes presentations, hands-on labs, and demos. This content is designed to help you learn how to utilize the Visual Studio 2008 features and a variety of framework technologies including: LINQ, C# 3.0, Visual Basic 9, WCF, WF, WPF, ASP.NET AJAX, VSTO, CardSpace, SilverLight, Mobile and Application Lifecycle Management.

Link:
Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit

Interesting SOA WCF and ASP.NET case study

I found this really interesting performance benchmark for creating a SOA application based on Windows Communication Foundation (.NET 3.0) and ASP.NET. The application is really cool as they made it interoperable with J2EE IBM Websphere’s Trade 6.1 sample application.

I knew about this information while reading Presentations from the last Microsoft SOA & BP 2007 conference. You can check out Greg Leake’s presentation about .Net Stock Trader App & Interoperability.

Continue reading the following for more information:

.NET StockTrader Sample Application
An End-to-End Sample Application Illustrating Windows Communication Foundation and .NET Enterprise Technologies

This application is an end-to-end sample application for .NET Enterprise Application Server technologies. It is a service-oriented application based on Windows Communication Foundation (.NET 3.0) and ASP.NET, and illustrates many of the .NET enterprise development technologies for building highly scalable, rich “enterprise-connected” applications. It is designed as a benchmark kit to illustrate alternative technologies within .NET and their relative performance.

Links:

.NET StockTrader Sample Application

.NET StockTrader Technical Overview

.NET StockTrader Sample Application Forum

Perspective in Benchmarks - My thoughts on Microsoft StockTrader
(An Interesting Discussion)

Visual Studio 2008 out now!!!

Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 has finally released to manufacturing(RTM). It is now available to download for MSDN Subscribers. This is really exciting for us developers as this can really make us more productive with the numerous wonderful features they have in this release.

 I am also looking forward with the upcoming launch of these products here in Singapore. If I can join the launch, this would be my first time attending a Microsoft launch here in Singapore. With this coming, I just can always remember the last launch of VS 2005, SQL 2005 and BTS 2006 in the Philippines, it was really very informative and we had lots to learn. It was as the same time fun, as we prepared some games for the members and those interested to join the Philippines SQL Server User Group (PHISSUG). I missed those days.

This would still be a long time to wait as I think the launch will be held somewhere Q1 next year. We just wouldn’t know. But I am sure it is worth the wait.

Make sure you also read the links below especially Soma’s blog post and his Q&A with presspass.

Links: Empowering Developers with Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5

Top Ten Reasons to Upgrade to Visual Studio 2008

Somasegar’s WebLog: Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 shipped!

Visual Studio 2008 Trial Downloads

Getting paranoid somebody is playing your saved games. Secure your console.

Well honestly the topic title is just way off. But it is fun so anyways I’ll still use it. Hehehe

Security products now are just really amazing. Imagine the is already a Security service for Sony PS3. Who else did this none other Trend Micro. Just a proud ex-employee. Hehehe

Check this out for more info.

Trend Micro Offers Free Security Service For Sony PS3

Facebook founder billionaire; Facebook Developer Party Singapore

Facebook has really created a big name now. It is gaining lots of interest not only to the social networking fanatics but also to business guys and the like.

Imagine because of its very big user-base and visits daily, lots of web marketing and advertisement business opportunity are found. No wonder the founder, Mark Zuckerberg that own 30 percent of the company became a 5 paper billionaire. This makes him one of the richest 20+ persons. (Or can you say kid? Hehehe :D) (See links for the source and articles).

I just attended yesterday I think the first Facebook Developer party here in Singapore. The event was quite interesting. It was just that I wasn’t able to relate that much to what they were talking as I was still that new with Facebook. I got a bit sleepy and the day was just so tiring at work that’s why I wasn’t able to appreciate it that much. For me, at least, it was a nice experience. I got a chance to know what is happening in Facebook, I will have to try exploring the rich applications there one of these days.

It was really nice to meet a lot of interesting people there. Got to meet few pinoy guys from Microsoft. Some old acquaintances and few new. And got a chance to meet another pinoy guy from NY who develops real facebooks app. (Got to try them. But need to look for them first. Hehehe)

A lot of these guys are really into Facebook application development. I have been made aware of the infinite possibilities that one can do to earn or just make people have fun through this event. Twas nice meeting all of you guys.

Links: ValleyWag - Mark Zuckerberg the 5 billion man

Valleywag - Facebook takes Microsofts money

Carl the programmer rockstar video

He just doesn’t just do talkshows (DNR) and keep us well informed in .NET. He can also entertain us with his talent in music. I’m sure most .NET Developers would know Carl Franklin of dotNetRocks.

Here is a sort of MTV he recorded. It is his own rendition of Steely Dan’s Home At Last. See how talented he is. This is one cool video. Enjoy!

Here is the link:
http://perseus.franklins.net/homeatlast/

PS: You need silverlight to play this.

Source: Scott Hanselman - Carl Franklin does Steely Dan’s “Home At Last” via Silverlight HD 720p

A Joke about a job in consulting

I just really like it that I thought I need to share it. Enjoy!

◊ One day the manager calls the consultant to talk about the time sheet report…

Manager: You charged us on Wednesday for 19 hours, but you were here for only about 9 hours on Wednesday.

Consultant: Well, of course. Look, it is very detailed. I was here from 9:00 to 18:00, right?

Manager: Right.

Consultant: And because we left without a good solution, I kept thinking about it in the car, and when I walked the dog. You see, it is the entries for 18:00 - 19:30 and 20:00 - 20:45. From 19:30 - 20:00 I had dinner, I didn’t charge you for that.

Manager: Nice of you. And the other 8 hours? 22:00 - 06:00 ?

Consultant: Well,when I walked the dog, I finally had a vision, everything came together in a moment of brilliance, and I could see the solution in my head. All I had to do is connect some little pieces and it would work.

Manager: Oh, so you did an all nighter?

Consultant: Ha? Of course not. I went home thinking about the idea, and then I went to bed and slept on it for 8 hours. ◊

Source: Ayende @ Rahien - The Consulting Game

Tech jobs in US Salary Survey 2007

Well, although most of these numbers are for US statistics, we can still get an idea and see the dream of what we may earn if we worked there. Here is an article I got from Informationweek on their 2007 Salary Survey. Along with it is is the gallery What IT Pros earn: 20 charts from our salary survey.

Another interesting article is [What countries pays IT Managers the most?].  Check it out. They also have some information on experienced IT professionals and not just IT managers.

These numbers hopefully would encourage future software engineers or IT pros (our current students) to still take the IT path as a lot has already changed now on the perception that a career in IT industry now is risky and job stability is degraded by outsourcing. Cheers!

Beta News: Windows Server 2008 RC0 and Windows Vista SP1 Beta

Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate with Windows Server virtualization - Viridian was released yesterday. Windows Vista SP1 Beta is also being released to testers now. I hope they release the Vista SP1 now on time. I have long been waiting for it.

Download Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate here.

Sources:

Windows Server Division Weblog - Windows Server 2008 Rc0 Released!

MS Press: Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 Ready for Customer Review

Music Tripping: Bisrock songs through imeem!!!

Hastang lingawa nako! Nga naa di ay ing-ani nga Bisrock songs diri sa internet! Makapa wala ug mingaw ba. Lingaw kaayo ang mga messages sa kanta. Hehehe

Akong mga paborits kay ang:

Simply Filemon - Inday
1107- Charing
1107- Utot

Hala suwayi ninyo ug paminaw.

Translation: What excitement got into me! Didn’t know there are such Bisrock songs here in the internet! Just hearing these songs, can ease homesickness and loneliness. The message of the songs are really amusing and fun. Hehehe

The list is one of my favorites. Check it out!

Here it is embedded for your easy access. (Apologies. I don’t know what is the problem with wordpress editor. But it is not allowing me to embed it. Just access it thru this link.)

By the way these songs are on my local dialect Bisaya (commonly used in Central & Southern part of the Philippines). For a brief background, here is wikipedia for you: Cebuano Language Wikipedia. But if you are bisaya like me, read this bisaya version of it instead. Hehehe