Sol 3

VS 2008 and .NET FX 3.5 SP1 (Beta)

Keith Barrows — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:40:45 GMT

ALT.NET?

Keith Barrows — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:29:23 GMT

Do you know what happens when you read blogs? You mine expands, dude! Like Woaoooo... Something Scott Hanselman posted caught my attention. He posted about Alt.Net . I am now searching out all things ALT.NET to make sure my head was wrapped around the ideas in a way that makes sense to me. Pass the word... Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

Using multiple config files in one application

Keith Barrows — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:23:00 GMT

I'm supporting an ASP ( Application Service Provider ) style application for my company. Instead of putting each client's settings into a single config file, I wanted to have the main config file point to each clients configuration. After a bit of digging, I came up with a solution that works. I don't know if it is the best solution but it does work. My main config file now looks like: <? xml version ="1.0" encoding ="utf-8" ? > < configuration > < configSections > < section...(read more)

Latest build of the ASP.NET MVC source on CodePlex

Keith Barrows — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:17:00 GMT

Come and get it! If you are a MVC developer and really want to dig into the core of MVC then go directly to CodePlex and get the code ! Scott Guthrie has a LOT more details on his blog. Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

DDD Ireland

Keith Barrows — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:48:15 GMT

Looking for events? Are you in Ireland on May 3rd? What better way to spend a Saturday than at an event with some funny charismatic notable characters like Plip and Sussman ! With Plip's permission I've duplicated his blog entry for this event . Developer Event? Ah go on, go on, go on. Check it out at www.DDDIreland.com Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

Getting started for the long haul...

Keith Barrows — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:19:13 GMT

I've worked in everything from startups to multi-billion dollar companies plying my trade as a software engineer (head geek, architect, tester, developer, business analyst, janitor, etc). There seems to be 2 defining characteristics that define successful ventures and flailing ventures. One is the individual doing the work and the other is documentation. How do you go about picking someone to work for you? Is it a gut feeling or is it an in depth interview process. It's always...(read more)

ASP.NET MVC Source Code Now Available

Keith Barrows — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:04:41 GMT

Scott Guthrie just announced the availability of the ASP.NET Model-View-Controller source code. And believe me when I say this - the ASP.NET team is doing their darndest to make sure this works for you . Our plans are to release regular drops of the source code going forward. We'll release source updates every time we do official preview drops. We will also release interim source refreshes in between the preview drops if you want to be able to track and build the source more frequently....(read more)

Microsoft Mix 08

Keith Barrows — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:54:27 GMT

If you did not make it to Mix 08 this year the keynote speeches are now available online. If you don't know what mix is you may want to take a look at: Microsoft's Mix Website The Mix08 Conference Website del.icio.us Tags: ASP.NET , Event Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

ASP.NET Wiki (Beta) has just launched

Keith Barrows — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:10:59 GMT

Scott Hanselman just announced the launching of the ASP.NET Wiki (Beta). If you are wondering why a Wiki this is what Scott has to say: "To provide a targeted, categorized, human-hand-edited, and living Wiki for finding answers to ASP.NET questions." If you have some great content on your blog that is not in there, get it in there. :) del.icio.us Tags: asp.net , wiki Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

Humor for the week

Keith Barrows — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:34:13 GMT

Every once in awhile I get videos, jokes, etc that I just need to hang onto. So, hopefully you don't mind if I share them out here. :) YouTube - A Caper about Copper Clappers YouTube - dumb blonde american: are you smarter than a fifth grader Quote of the Day: Who in their right mind would ever need more than 640K of RAM!? --Bill Gates, 1981 del.icio.us Tags: Humor Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

Notice of violation

Keith Barrows — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:58:39 GMT

My wife and I grew up with and owned dogs pretty much our whole lives. We've been in our house for 20 months and have had 2 dogs that moved in with us. All of a sudden they have become a nuisance to "someone" in the neighborhood. We've had the cops at the house now twice. Now, we live on a shy 1/3 acre lot with similar sized lots around us. We have one lot to the north (long side of property line) which is not moved into yet, one lot to the south of us with...(read more)

Making the single box and multiple box disappear

Keith Barrows — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:49:33 GMT

I don't keep up with all the latest trends, breakthroughs and buzz in every corner of the industry. Wish I could! I've been a fan of Virtual PCs for quite awhile. While they have their pain points they allow one to have a complete environment separate from the physical PC it runs on. Virtual Server does the same for Servers (and you can run Virtual Server on a PC for those really complex environments from your client.) Microsoft and VMware are the two leaders...(read more)

Windows Live Writer and multiple machines

Keith Barrows — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:02:00 GMT

I recently started using Windows Live Writer and have pretty much fallen in love with it. I also operate on a couple of computers throughout each week. I've poked around a few forums looking for a solution as WLW is not portable ( yet ). I was pointed to a blog entry by Dave Donaldson which gives me a partial solution. By using FolderShare I am able to keep my drafts and posts synched as well as my templates (see image). I won't go through the setup again as Dave did a fine job of that already. For...(read more)

Book Review: ASP.NET Data Presentation Controls Essentials

Keith Barrows — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:10:47 GMT

While this is not a book for beginners in the ASP.NET world I found the book to be very informative. Joydip Kanjilal has taken a section of data handling and display, dug into the internals and brings it to the pages of his first book. Even though I've been in the ASP.NET world since it's inception I've never been a strong UI type developer. With this book I have the essentials for using Win UI data display components. Now, for the little nits: While all the bits and parts...(read more)

Send To and RegSvr32

Keith Barrows — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:33:37 GMT

My new job requires work with Classic ASP which means registering DLLs. Glad I remembered this little trick: Open the Send To folder in Windows Explorer (usually C:\Documents and Settings\[yourName]\SendTo on an XP box) Create a shortcut and point it to C:\[windows]\system32\regsvr32.exe Give it a title like "DLL Register" Change the icon to something that makes sense to you Now, you can navigate to any registerable DLL, right click on it, Send To, Register DLL and it will do that...(read more)

California lab claims step toward developing valuable stem cells

Keith Barrows — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:19:07 GMT

Scientists say stem cells from cloned embryos could provide a valuable tool for studying diseases, screening drugs and, perhaps someday, creating transplant material to treat conditions like diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. With a Type 1 Diabetic son, and several friends who are diabetic I found this article hesitant yet promising. One of our (son's) slogans at home is "I stick myself until something better comes along." Don't have to like it or dislike it. It is...(read more)

.NET Framework Library Source Code is now available

Keith Barrows — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:15:00 GMT

Scott Guthrie announced the release of the .NET Framework Source Code ! Scott Hanselman has an excellent post on how to step through the Framework source as well as a caveat on 64-bit installation. Another fantastic source on how to actually step into the Framework code is Shawn Burke's blog on configuring Visual Studio for Debug . You will need the Visual Studio 2008 QFE for this. del.icio.us Tags: Debugging , VS2008 , WinFx Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it!...(read more)

SCA: My wife's first scroll

Keith Barrows — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:51:22 GMT

My wife is known as Lady Gwentliana filia Iohannes in the SCA . She is very interested in the Arts and Sciences portion within the Society. A little while ago she had the opportunity to do the coloring of a scroll. This is a back scroll for Mistress Roisa, a Laurel of the Society. It awards to her the right to be a Companion of the Rose of the Kingdom of the Outlands . I think she did a wonderful job! del.icio.us Tags: sca , scroll , A&S Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! |...(read more)

English 101

Keith Barrows — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:29:26 GMT

It's been a few, hmmmm, decades since I took an English writing course. In my job I've done tons of technical writing and that is still very strong. However, I am quite rusty at writing the standard English paper. So, to help me knock off the rust I am starting to do book reviews. To keep it interesting, for me at least, I'll be reviewing books of a technical nature as well as leadership and relationship books. I may eventually bite off some fiction and other "light"...(read more)

Denver is having a Big Event

Keith Barrows — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:42:07 GMT

It's been quite awhile since I made a Microsoft Event. This one coming up at the end of the month has 2 tracks and both of them look excellent. But don't rely on my word, check it out yourself at the Microsoft Events Site . Below is the agenda per the MS site: The Big Event! Do you miss the old Dev Days events? Do you wish that you could attend a TechEd or PDC, but don’t have the time or budget to get to one? Well the Big Event is for you. Come spend a day with us as we delve into developer and architect...(read more)

New job

Keith Barrows — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:28:32 GMT

I am close to finishing my first week at a new place. I've hired in full-time to take on a team management role which includes classic ASP as well as ASP.NET (2003, 2005 & 2008). From what I understand so far we need to finish stabilizing the classic ASP app while we roll the app into a .NET application. The app was acquired when the company I work for bought a local company and brought them "into the fold". :) One of the benefits is the company's desire to ensure...(read more)

SCA Awards for Kyle

Keith Barrows — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:55:22 GMT

My son Kyle has received several awards over the last 4 years in the SCA. Here are they are: The artwork done in these are phenomenal. I am so proud of my son and what he does and how he handles himself. Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

Anti-Military Chicago Lawyer Vandalizes a Marine’s Car

Keith Barrows — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:26:17 GMT

I realize this is not tech related - but I really need to get this out. This type of stuff really chaps my hide. I am glad that the story is getting around and the lawyer in question will face charges. This is what really gives the lawyer folks a bad name. As with anything, it only takes an extremely small handful of bad apples to make the whole lot stink. del.icio.us Tags: USMC , Personal Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)

Wii + Virtual Reality...

Keith Barrows — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:30:07 GMT

This is a really slick trick to add a new dimension to gaming - and other applications! Using the infrared camera in the Wii remote and a head mounted sensor bar (two IR LEDs), you can accurately track the location of your head and render view dependent images on the screen. This effectively transforms your display into a portal to a virtual environment. The display properly reacts to head and body movement as if it were a real window creating a realistic illusion of depth and space. By Johnny Chung...(read more)

Testing Live Writer

Keith Barrows — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:53:34 GMT

I wanted to test out how easy it might be to add photos, like this Christmas house. del.icio.us Tags: Personal Looks like I can add maps too. Our house is pretty much dead center - and it looks like a satellite image from 18 months ago. Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!...(read more)