objectiF Visual Studio .NET Edition

While looking for a UML Application I stumbled across objectiF, a software development UML tool from microTool in Germany.  I dowloaded the Visual Studio .NET Edition, objectiF 7.1 and it's way cool.  I've been playing with it all weekend.  I recommend going through the tutorial first.

objectiF integrates with Visual Studio to automate development based on UML and principles of Model-Driven Development – MDD.  There's several variations that allow software development in C#, C++, Java, BPEL, XSD and WSDL.  The .NET Edition is for C# and VB.NET development in Visual Studio 2005, 2008 & 2010.  There's even a version for Eclipse.

I had to open the Template Projects Solutions (.sln) and upgrade them to Visual Studio 2010 to get them to work right.  My only complaint is some of the buttons and menus haven't been translated from German to English. Try it!  microTool has some other software development products available. 

Download objectiF and try it out for yourself.

Great CSS Reference Site from the World Down-under

A common problem developing for the web is working with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and jQuery.  They both go hand in hand.  In order to be productive with jQuery you need to be good with CSS.  It can get very tricky!

I just stumbled across a site in Australia. (My daughter's favorite spot.) They have an awesome site about CSS.  It's well organized and broken down into simple terms.  I'm impressed.  See for yourself at: CSS at  http://css.maxdesign.com.au/ and their main site is at http://www.maxdesign.com.au/.  It's a great reference for those using jQuery, CSS or both.

Why use Content Delivery Networks (CDN) like jQuery, YUI & Microsoft?

Wow, it's been awhile since I blogged!  I've been attending a lot of events and learning as much as I can. Like Windows Azure, jQuery, MVC and more.  As far as JavaScript script files, I followed what Douglas Crockford (Yahoo) suggested and minimized my JavaScript script files and served them from my server.  That included libraries like jQuery and YUI.  Well, that's a bad idea.

Becasuse of caching, both on the server and in the browser, there's a faster way.  Common Javascript script files such as the libraries for jQuery, YUI and Microsoft's AJAX provide better end performance when the source URL is used.  URLs like "http://ajax.microsoft.com/ajax/jQuery/jquery-1.4.2.js" are cached by both the server and the browser.  Now, If I followed my old way, my files probably would not benefit from the caching, so my pages would load much slower.  That makes sense, right?

Meta Tag Generator for Microsoft Office Live Small Business

I finally finished my Meta Tag Generator for Microsoft Office Live Small Business. The Visual Studio 2010 Web User Control Project is available as a download at http://bit.ly/aQpd0d.  It was a little frustrating debugging the JavaScript because Visual Studio or IE (I'm not sure which.) doesn't always clear the JavaScript cache.  The only way to ensure the correct code is executed is to keep renaming the .js files. I wish I could figure out how to reproduce the problem to report it as a bug.  The other irritating problem is Visual Studio renames the Control ID (element ID property) at runtime. That would break the JavaScript.  But, I found the ClientIDMode property for the control in the properties form.  Just set it to Static and the IDs are not renamed. 

Visual Studio's Intellisense for JavaScript also seems to be incomplete. Aptana Studio (Open Source) does a much better job for writing JavaScript.  Even Netbeans offers better support for JavaScript.

HTML5 and the Future of the Web

I went to a very informative Meetup at Microsoft San Francisco last night. (May 11thh)   I'm new to HTML 5 and didn't realize that some browsers already support some features.  The presenters were Brad Neuberg from Google, Giorgio Sardo from Microsoft, Redmond and Peter Lubbers, from Kaazing.  Brad's presentation was great!  He had cool examples, overall presentation style, clear explanations, great vision delivery. Check out Brad's video presentation of HTML 5.

IE 9 was demonstrated by Giorgio with comparisons to other browsers.  IE 9 looks cool and uses hardware for performance acceleration. I think I heard a IE 9 CTP version will be available in about 8 weeks. (about June 7th, but don't quote me.)  IE 6 RIP! Test drive Internet Explorer 9.

Peter went over the major improvements included in HTML 5.  To me the most impressive new feature is the addition of Web Sockets and how they can be used.  But that just one of the many improvements.

I think the main problem is going to be implementing the new features while still supporting older browsers. 

I'm off to the S.F. Bay Area JUG Roundup at Oracle for some information, networking and lots of fun. . .

SQL Server Express Revelations (SQL Server 2008)

Much to my surprise, I didn't know that SQL Server Express (*.mdf) files are compatible with regular SQL Server 2008 Databases.  Related problems concern "Personal.mdf" and "aspnetdb.mdf" and "club.mdf" and other files that are common with ASP.NET examples.

I always thought SQL Server Express files were stand alone data files.  So, I never bothered with them.  As I was trying to get a standard SQL Server installation to work as if was a "aspnetdb.mdf" database for log-in functions. I found a solution. Much to my surprise, I could attach "aspnetdb.mdf" in SQL Server Management Studio just like a regular SQL Server database. From there, scripts can be created and reused to meet your needs.

This is cool because you can convert databases back and forth using SQL Server Management Studio.

Oracle vs Microsoft/Sun

As a developer, long ago I was a big fan of Oracle's RDMS.  In those days I used it on a VAX/VMS Cluster of servers.  As PCs became popular, Oracle offered a Developer's Version for a low price and it was easy to install.  I used that for awhile. When Oracle started jacking-up prices, industry moved to other products.  Me too!  I became a big fan of Sun, Microsoft and Intergraph.

As the industry evolved, companies like Sun & Microsoft drove prices down.  Eventually developers could get software for free, or almost free.  Even now, most of Microsoft's development tools and server products are free for developers, students and small business. You do have to sign-up for some sort of program.  Like: DreamSpark, WebsiteSpark, BizSpark or Microsoft Business Partner.  Or, you can subscribe to MSDN and get almost everything.  Sun's products and supported products were also free, and most still are free because of Open Source.

Now that Oracle owns Sun and is merging Sun's products into Oracle's product line things are starting to change.  For example: in order to license the Solaris operating system, you now have to buy a service agreement from Oracle.  Although it's still free, Oracle's development environment provides a slightly outdated database server called OracleXE.  There's some other tools and a web server that goes with it.  Cool! Right?  Well, not when it takes 3 or 4 days to get everything to work correctly with Eclipse and Visual Studio. 

When I was a VAR (Value Added Reseller) for Intergraph software & hardware, Sun always supported me even though I wasn't their representative. Silicon Graphics wouldn't give me the time of day.  We all know where they went!

I predict that Microsoft, Google and Open Source are going to be the main players in the long run for software.  I'm with Microsoft and Open Source.  And, I'll miss Sun.

Cloud Connect was so, so.

I spent half the day at Cloud Connect in Silicon Valley.  The Keynote speakers were good, and on-time.  They had some enlightening points like: Conflicker is the biggest Cloud operation that spans 230 countries. Hmm?  The Expo was mostly IT (not Developer) stuff.  And, it was very small.  This was, however, the first Cloud Connect so I expect next year will be much better. Overall, for the first time, it wasn't bad.

Some things just aren't right!

I broke my USB printer cable.  No big deal. Right?  I went to Walmart ($15.99), then Best Buy ($29.99) and OMG,  I didn't want to make a down payment on the store.  I finally found one for $1.99.  The amazing thing is they were all made in China. So much for my rant!

Try Windows Azure Platform for a chance to win stuff.

Check out Code Project for the details about trying out Windows Azure Platform and see first hand what Cloud Computing is all about.  You could win one of three Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbooks in the process. For complete details: http://www.codeproject.com/Competitions/396/Try-Windows-Azure-in-March-and-Win-a-Netbook.aspx. Good luck!

New Cloud Computing Developers Group in San Francisco, CA

Recently started by Bruno Terkaly of Microsoft, the Cloud Computing Developers Group focuses on hands-on coding for Cloud platforms. The goal is ultimately for members to share best practices and innovation.  It's also about sharing code and building applications that run in the cloud. The first meeting is March 22, 2010 at Microsoft in S.F. Check it out.

Microsoft's location at 835 Market Street is easy to get to by BART. Just get off at the Powell St. Station and go upstairs.  The entrance is right there at street level.  Look for the U.C. San Fancisco sign.  It's the same door.  Microsoft is on the 7th floor.