Hi Devs,

So, it’s that time of the year already where we start thinking about getting the tree out of wherever it’s stored and dusting it off. The town centres are all pretty much in Christmas swing, but you know the best bit, Starbucks have their Christmas drinks on sale.

So, in DeveloperLand the news is sweet, as those of you with MSDN subscriptions will know that Visual Studio 2008 has shipped and is available for download. So, this issue is dedicated to Visual Studio 2008 and what it brings to the party.

So, do we now brand VS2002/2003 applications as legacy? I’ll let you decide on that one.

Something that I have found interesting, apparently C# has overtaken VB.net in terms of popularity. There can only be one reason for this and I have said it before in a number of articles. OneUpManShip, snobbery call it what you will. It’s all in the name that if you use a ‘C’ language you are bound to be considered cleverer than the VB guy in the corner. Well, I use both languages and for me VB Rocks and I think as long as Microsoft keep turning out new versions it always will. Thing we have to remember is that what makes .NET is the framework, and those framework routines are called with parameters that may have slightly different name types but they still do the same job. So, you like the semi-colon at the end of each line?, go on knock yourself out. Both languages produce very similar IL, on today’s multi-ghz, multi-core processors shaving the odd-nanosecond here and there is not going to win you points with your customer. What might though is being able to deliver what they want, that behaves how they want it to and does exactly what you promised, this is what I think we have got the increased ability to do with VS 2008, no matter what your choice of language. Let’s get to it.

So, we need to know how to use this new box of tools so here is a full on training kit of presentations, labs and demos. The topics covered are the latest and greatest too, all the foundations, linq, Silverlight and there’s even a little kitchen cleaner for you web chaps.

Rob Windsor, VB MVP, has a couple of great articles out at the moment. This one is a good kick start into the world of WCF.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-gb/vbasic/bb960413.aspx

His second article is entitled Using Customer Business Objects with WCF. This one is a great follow on to the first as here he discusses working with more complex data with WCF.

These are aimed at new VB developers but personally I like to see how other people code, you can nearly always see a tip or a better way when you see how someone else does something. Have a skip through the various items on this list.

Remember when we moved from VB6 to .net? How massive the framework seemed, yet once you settle in there are just a few namespaces you use pretty much on every application and some you just never seem to use. Well, the latest incarnation of the framework has added a heap of new stuff one of these new features is called LINQ. There are other sets here including working with forms, object binding and interop.

Those fine chaps over at Developer Express have revised the freely downloadable version of Refactor for VS 2008. With over 30 different refactoring features this one is a definite must have in your toolbox.

So, if there was an award for a technology description that gave away nothing about that technology, that award must go to Lambda Expressions. WT? This article from MSDN September 2007 throws a lot of light on what they are and what they bring to the party. I think that Lambda Expressions are going to be one of those technologies that take time to get used to and work with, but in 12 months time we will wonder how the hell we worked without them.

In this article from code magazine is how Ken Getz, a non Microsofty who has a take on Lambda Expressions and how he might use them.

Now then, all you fine conference attendees will remember the conference code-off where a PowerBuilder Dev went head to head with an ASP.NET dev. Well those damn fine boys and girls over at Sybase want to offer you the chance to get involved with PowerBuilder too. All VBUG members will get a 20% discount against any PowerBuilder Enterprise License. Place your orders directly with Sybase on either 0870 2402255 or email europepb@sybase.com

If so have you considered writing that next killer game? Well you can using the XNA Game Studio Express system from Microsoft. Using our beloved developer tools you can get involved in developing games for the best console around, the XBOX 360. Version 2.0 of XNA Game Studio Express is now in beta.

Also, if you have an Xbox, and are interested in forming a VBUG XBOX Devs club, drop me your gamertag and lets see if we can get something happening on XBOX Live.

Every Christmas NORAD, yes that place in the US that looks out for inbound missiles, does a fabulous website and tracks Santa’s journey from the North Pole around the world as he delivers presents. This year is no exception and from December 1st, the countdown begins.

So, you’ve done the spec, developed it, tested it and even written the manual….

http://www.edsquared.com/CategoryView,category,VS+2008+Team+System.aspx

None of us want to get our works ripped off. So we have to protect it as best we can. Remembering that there is no such thing as completely secure, we have to make things hard enough for the crackers to ‘move along’. In this blog, the 2 Ed’s talk about dotfuscator and how to integrate it into team builds.

Well I guess that’s about it for another year. Hopefully I’ll be back in the New Year to report on more good developer stuff. Toys and all.

As always, if you got any thoughts, complaints or issues, just you keep them to yourself, it’s Christmas after all.

No, seriously. Get me here at geoff.hirst@64bitz.co.uk

Seasons Greetings.

Geoff