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Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Beta & SQL Server 2008

A quick heads up to let you know that VS 2008 Service Pack 1 is now available (links below). It typically takes a couple of months from this point before we'll see a final release. This Service Pack includes new cool feature: ADO.NET Entity Framework Read More...

The Entity Framework vs. The Data Access Layer (Part 1: The EF as a DAL)

In Part 0: Introduction of this series after asking the question "Does the Entity Framework replace the need for a Data Access Layer?", I waxed lengthy about the qualities of a good data access layer. Since that time I've received a quite a Read More...

Entity Framework Links for April, 2008

During the past month, Danny Simmons let us all officially know that SP1 of VS 2008/.NET Framework 3.5 will be the delivery mechanism for the Entity Framework and the Designer, and that we should see a beta of the entire SP1 very soon as well. No release Read More...

The Entity Framework vs. The Data Access Layer (Part 0: Introduction)

So the million dollar question is: Does the Entity Framework replace the need for a Data Access Layer? If not, what should my Data Access Layer look like if I want to take advantage of the Entity Framework? In this multi-part series, I hope to explore Read More...

TSPUG Presentation: Using Visual Studio 2008 for Developing SharePoint Workflows (and other stuff)

Last night I gave a presentation to the Toronto SharePoint Users Group on using Visual Studio 2008 to build SharePoint Workflows. I also covered a little bit on LINQ to SharePoint and WCF/WF integration at the end. Attached are my slides. Enjoy. Read More...

Building Composite Applications at Toronto SharePoint Camp

This past Saturday, I gave a talk at the Toronto SharePoint Camp on building composite applications. I started talking in general requirements terms of why composite applications are useful, what they are, and what are the platform requirements - it naturally Read More...

Toronto Architect Forum, this Thursday

This coming Thursday, Microsoft is hosting the annual Toronto Architect Forum at their offices in Mississauga. The target audience is architects that are *not* in the financial service industry. Here's the agenda: 8:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast and Registration Read More...

Are you an aspiring architect?

I guess by the very definition of an architect, you would have to have aspirational qualities. Mohammad Akif & and Dave Remmer, Architect Evangelists with Microsoft Canada are putting on a series of web casts just for you. Check them out.... Architecture Read More...

Building Cathedrals, Bazaar's, and Mystery Houses

Almost since software development has been a profession has the practice of software development been compared to the construction industry. In this sphere of analogy, I often use the contrast in the process of architect cathedrals against the evolution Read More...

Are we still talking about Stored Procedures vs. Dynamic SQL?

Rob Howard and Frans Bouma still are. And I guess, I am now too. Let's summarize a few of the facts from these counter points: Any form of pre-compilation or cached query plan arguments are moot betweem SQL and Procs. Rob has some outdated information Read More...

Class design considerations for extension methods and anonymous types

One of my readers was watching the DNRTV episode I did on LINQ recently and had this question: At some point, when you're explaining object initializers and anonymous types, you say something regarding extension methods, like how they could be used with Read More...

When is a database oriented as a service?

Do you consider your database as a service? It's worthwhile to review the tenents of a service oriented architecture . The first two tenents above are probably the most relevant to my question. If you do all of your data access through stored procedures, Read More...

Why the VSTS Logical Datacenter Designer (er, Deployment Designer) Sucks

I've had this question in many of the VSTS bootcamps I'm teaching across canada. “From my Application Diagram, how do I create a deployment diagram that shows my web application and database being deployed on the same box“. So I posed the Read More...

More Class Designer Productivity Potential: Batch Editing.

Daniel Moth says that he's not excited about the properties box in the class designer and would prefer to use the code editor to make those kinds of changes. It may not be obvious but one of the things you can do with that properties pane that you can't Read More...

Modeling as a Productivity Enhancer in Visual Studio Team System

It's been a theme for me over the past couple of weeks where people have mentioned that they can't afford the time to do modeling. If you've done a lot of UML modeling, you know what I'm talking about. But it doesn't have to be that way. Now just to ward Read More...
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Barry Gervin