VS.NET 2005 Beta 3? Why?

Some people argue that VS.NET 2005 should get a Beta 3 before RTM. I disagree: there are CTP builds for the people who want to see progress, and above all:

VS.NET 2005 Beta n IS STILL BETA SOFTWARE

Requiring a Beta 3 of VS.NET 2005 suggests production work is done with VS.NET 2005 Beta 2. Well, I never understood that, but alas, some people have no choice as they say. Despite the situation you're in, you're working with beta software, and a Beta 3 won't change that. As with everything that's in beta: it's buggy, and not reliable, by definition., otherwise the version would have been called RTM and it would have been released to use already.

If you run into problems with such a beta product, you should have expected that. After all, it's beta software.

Posted Wednesday, July 27, 2005 12:22 PM by FransBouma | 9 comment(s)

To all 3rd party control vendors: push MS to release hotfix 887818

I've had it completely with Microsoft's Hotfix policy for VS.NET 2002/3. This is the most lowest form of support you possibly can get. What's the problem? Well, the (in)famous 'Cannot copy assembly <Referenced Assembly> to file <Current Project Output Folder>\bin\Debug\Release\<Referenced Assembly>.dll. The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process' error.

The thing is, Microsoft already fixed it in October 16th, 2004. That's right, almost 9 months ago. Please see the details of this crappy bug and its fix here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;887818

My problem is that I have to support my customers who run into this error sometimes with our assemblies. They have it referenced in 1 ASP.NET application but still get this error once in a while. I'm pretty fed up with telling my customers there is a fix but they can't receive it from me because I'm not allowed to distribute the fix. That's right, I have it right here on my harddrive.

So, I'm pretty close to distributing the fix to my customers so they're happy and this stupid bug won't happen to them. But it's better if Microsoft does this. The fix is already available, all they have to do is to make it a public download. Perhaps if all ISV's who sell / distribute signed assemblies which are used in ASP.NET applications (as that's the problem, the assemblies can't be signed apparently) and which aren't in the GAC push MS to release this hotfix, we ALL are better of.

After all, it's been 9 months since the fix, for crying out loud! Microsoft support? Don't make me laugh. Take this: in Open Source land, this wouldn't have happened: either the fix was distributable, or the fix was already in the core downloadable product. Microsoft, if you want to win from Open Source so badly, start by supplying fixes to the developers who are still on your side.

Posted Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:54 AM by FransBouma | 13 comment(s)

Another Must Read (tm) Article from Eric 'I told ya!' Sink

If you're an ISV, want to become one, or just want something really valuable to read, just go over to Eric Sink's latest entry: http://software.ericsink.com/articles/Game_Afoot.html

No questions necessary, just read it. And again, and again and.. ... and again.

Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:10 PM by FransBouma | 1 comment(s)

TechEd 2005 ended. It was a blast!

TechEd Europe 2005 is now officially over, it was a great event, I had a wonderful time! . Being on the stand of Ask the Experts was great, and a lot of fun.

Today I met again a lot of interesting people. Too bad I couldn't make it to Roy's sessions (once it was full, the other time it was stress all over here due to a bugfix that needed deployment) so maybe next time, Roy! Besides my daily technical discussions with my good friend Jeroen vd Bos, I met Paul Gielens and Alex Thissen, and we had great in-depth discussions about everything IT. These are the great things of being at TechEd: you can discuss on a high level with people about topics they are specialist in and you want to know more about. . I also had more time to show the new LLBLGen Pro designer in development to Dion Olsthoorn of Macaw.

It was also great to finally meet Ingo Rammer! Too bad we didn't have much time to have a long chat, but nevertheless meeting him in person was great!

It was a great week, although I didn't attend a lot of sessions. . One session which was the session for me was the DSL tool session yesterday (thursday). It will change the landscape of tools for developers as we know it today forgood. Currently it's still an MS research project, though it will be released early next year. A toolkit definitely worth looking out for! .

Posted Friday, July 08, 2005 9:29 PM by FransBouma | with no comments

TechEd 2005, so far

TechEd 2005 has been great so far. Met a lot of interesting and nice people, like today for example Andres of DeKlarit, we had a great chat .

Yesterday I met one of my favorite Irish .NET developers, Marcus MacInnes. Great guy, I hope to have another chat with him later this week.

Working on the Ask the Experts area is great too, today a lot more people came to the booths to ask questions. Keep them coming! . Tomorrow is my birthday (35 already!) and I'll attend to 2 sessions only: the panel discussion with Roy Osherove, to finally meet him (I wanted to enter the Chalk and Talk session of Roy but it was full), and the DSL architecture course in the afternoon to see what the DSL capabilities are, as it looks promissing.

Posted Wednesday, July 06, 2005 11:07 PM by FransBouma | 1 comment(s)

No software patents in the EU!

The EC has decided the software patent rule won't be finalized, which means that there won't be a ruling for software patents in the EU. Great news!. Read more about it here

Posted Wednesday, July 06, 2005 11:00 PM by FransBouma | 1 comment(s)