Make It So! : XAML

Download the PDC 2005 Slide Decks

jld — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:41:00 GMT

Via Sam Gentile, Thom Robbins and Chris Bowen:

The PDC 2005 slides are now officially available for download!
Here is the link: http://commnet.microsoftpdc.com/content/downloads.aspx

PDC 2005 Resources for Non-Attendees

jld — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 05:53:00 GMT

If you are like me, you didn't get the opportunity to go to the 2005 Professional Developers Conference (my own reason for missing the PDC was to save up for the upcoming MVP Summit in Redmond). Want to feel like you've been there? I've compiled a list of resources and downloads to satisfy everyone who missed out:

First, check out the PDC website for general information about the event. You can decorate your desktop with PDC wallpaper (Links: here and here). In fact, the DeveloperPowered website has plenty of bling: IM icons, flair and t-shirt transfers (with sayings such as I Love Code, BOF Bandit, <HOLLYWOOD> and my favorite, Developer Powers Activate (if you have no clue as to the meaning of the last reference, you obviously never watched the Wonder Twins). Grab this collateral before the site goes offline!

Wondering how it was like on the first day of PDC? Here are some pictures at Flikr. First, watch the "Change the World" video (shown before the keynote). You can then watch Bill Gates PDC Keynote (featuring Jim Allchin and Chris Capossela) and the hilarious Napoleon Dynamite parody that was edited out. There are more PDC 2005 videos online - check out this full PDC presentation by Raymond Chen (entitled "Five Things Every Win32 Programmer Needs to Know" - FUN412). Both Channel 9 and Paul Thurrott's 2005 PDC site has some good photos/video/podcast content. Also don't miss this cool XAML demo presentation by The North Face.

All attendees got a little foam Channel 9 guy - you can also get one by sending the Channel 9 team a postcard. What about Windows Vista ballcaps? You can sometimes find them on eBay. Want to buy stuff from the Microsoft Store (including the PDC 2005 DVD)? Check out the Microsoft eCompanyStore website (they appear only to ship to the US).

Next (and most importantly) is content. PDCBloggers.net has some solid information. Also check out the newly revamped Windows Vista website. What about slides? First, download the complete session guide in text format or Excel format. Then search for the presentation slides on Google (and of course, you can purchase my book "Professional WinFX Beta" *shameless plug alert* which sold out at the PDC).

What about the technology itself? You can download the PDC version of WinFX (and associated tools) from the Microsoft website. Want to get Windows Vista? You must currently be a Beta tester or a MSDN (or TechNet) Subscriber to get direct access to the bits. However, there are other channels. For example, the Toronto Windows Server User Group recently held a Windows Vista Install Fest where we gave away the Beta 1 bits to our members! We are looking at doing a second event for Windows Vista Beta 2 later this year. Look out for upcoming Microsoft TechNet and Developer events for other opportunities. Also download Microsoft Max (much cooler than Microsoft Bob).

How a Book Gets Written: Professional WinFX Beta

jld — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 04:15:00 GMT

I just read a fantastic post by Jim Minatel outlining the process of developing and writing Professional WinFX Beta. The entire story is true - it was quite a challenge to keep up with the changes affecting Longhorn at the time. I recently got a physical copy of the book in my hands and I'm really pleased with the results! A huge thanks goes out to Bill Ryan, Ron DeSerranno and Alexandra Young for helping co-write it.

One of the lessons learned is that the success of a book project not only hinges on the quality of writing and the authors but also the support of the editorial team! I'm in the process of updating my source code to work with the PDC version of WinFX (aka the WinFX Sept CTP) - you'll be able to download full working versions of the apps outlined in the book and the updated source code in the near future. I'll post the links once my chapters are ready! (FYI, the code and information in the book is based on Beta 1).

In the meantime, you may want to download the PDC builds of WinFX. Download the WinFX SDK here (rename the file extension from ".img" to ".iso" - 452 MB): http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/4/0/940d82b5-17a2-4473-9d03-63d00e02502d/2.0.50215.322.226.WinFXSDK_idw.img

You can also download different flavors of the SDK (x86, x64 & ia-64) at the following site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C20CC6C8-1F4E-4A5C-BC79-C2FE9ABE69AA&displaylang=en

The WinFX Runtime Components are available here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=FFD636F0-86E9-41E8-9E1C-100A4CC4888F&displaylang=en

The Visual Studio Extensions for WinFX are available here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=EDE1A645-2A53-42E1-8482-3BF1FADADE06&displaylang=en

Once you have installed everything, the next step is to check out the online September CTP WinFX SDK documentation (including great new information about the Windows Workflow Foundation): http://winfx.msdn.microsoft.com/library

I recently gave a presentation at the East of Toronto .NET User group on the Windows Communication Foundation. As luck would have it, my demos failed again! (see this post more background). Fortunately, the talk went well overall - a few of us resumed the meeting at the local Tim Horton's where I finally revived one of my planned demos. In case you are wondering, I followed my own advice from the previous blog entry. Lessons learned: next time, if it's a pre-Beta or Beta technology I will do a canned demo no matter what! The presentation deck will soon appear on the user group website.

A few cool WinFX related items I have noticed over the weekend:

- Channel 9 has an amazing XAML Demo created by North Face:
Here is the video: http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=116327
Here is an explanation on how they did it: http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnlong/html/fluid.asp

- Some of the 2005 PDC slides are available on the web:
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A216.55.183.63%2Fpdc2005%2Fslides

WinFS Beta 1 and Windows Vista Post-Event Resources

jld — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 03:44:00 GMT

WinFS Beta 1 is now available through the MSDN Subscriber downloads. At the install fest last Saturday, I had a comment from one of the attendees that he felt WinFS should be a part of Vista. It appears that gentleman got his wish! You can learn a lot more about developments around WinFS by visiting the official blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/winfs/

You can also look at this WinFS demo video on Channel 9!

Speaking of the install fest, the Toronto Windows Server User Group just received a bunch of photos and resources. The first batch of photos were submitted by Kevin Lewis and are available on the main page of our site: http://www.twsug.com

The second batch of photos (hosted on Flickr) are courtesy of TechNet Evangelist Barnaby Jeans. He also did a podcast which featured a member of Nerds on Site and Valentin IIliescu talking about his chess application. You can download the MP3 and WMA at the following links:

http://media.jeansfamily.ca/MS_Podcast/IT_Pro_Podcast_001.mp3
http://media.jeansfamily.ca/MS_Podcast/IT_Pro_Podcast_001.wma

Windows Vista Install Fest Highlights!

jld — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 04:33:00 GMT

I'm happy to announce that our Windows Vista Install Fest was a smashing success! A very special thanks goes out to Bruce Cowper and the TechNet team for setting up and co-ordinating the event. The Nerds on Site were friendly and a great help also. Bruce announced on stage that this is likely the first public Vista related event ever set up by Microsoft. He also mentioned that Beta 2 is slated for around Christmas and will be a public Beta!

We had over 200+ attendees at the event (a large majority of them Toronto Windows Server User Group members and a good number of TASK members) and we collectively raised $250 for local charities and filled up a Volkwagen beetle with food! There were computers near the event entrance with Avalon-based feedback forms. If you came in with a USB key, you could also pick up a copy of the beta additions for VPC. All attendees received a 3 DVD set direct from Redmond: Windows Code Name "Longhorn" Beta 01/Professional x86, Windows Code Name "Longhorn" Beta 01/Professional x64, and Windows Code Name "Longhorn" Windows Automation Installation Kit. Don't even try contacting Bruce or I for a copy - they ran out like hotcakes! I even took a photo of a rare XBox 360 poster at the event using my phone.

There were great prizes at the event including Windows Vista ballcaps (these are the same ballcaps handed out to Microsofties at the Windows Vista Beta 1 ship event - you can see them on Robert Scoble's photo blog and in different videos on Channel 9), Halo 2, books, backpacks, shirts. Here are some of the highlights: Valentin Illiescu came onstage to give a great demo of his 3D Avalon chess application...I also had a few minutes in the spotlight to promote my upcoming book Professional WinFX Beta. Bruce demoed TweakVista - the "slowed down" animation registry tweak was especially effective.

If you would like to see photos of the event, check out the TWSUG website in the next couple of days. We will also post Bruce Cowper's slide deck and more information. Can't wait for the Beta 2 event! :-)

Windows Vista Unleashed!

jld — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 21:36:00 GMT

Just a few moments ago, I learned that Windows Vista Beta 1 is available on MSDN Subscriber downloads. How cool is that - a week before the launch date that was announced. You can also download the Windows Longhorn Professional Edition Beta 1 Windows Developers Kit.

On top of that, the official Windows Vista website has been updated with a lot of information on a variety of topics including Aero, Security, Reliability and more. Indigo has been renamed to Windows Communication Foundation. Avalon has been renamed to the Windows Presentation Foundation.

If you are interested in developing with Windows Vista, I've written a book called Professional WinFX Beta (alongside Bill Ryan, Ron DeSerranno and the lovely Alexandra Young). Here is the cover and writeup on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/076457874X?v=glance

Check out the new details here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/

XAML Magnifying Glass

jld — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 21:52:00 GMT

At my TechEd 2005 Birds of a Feather, I had an individual ask about a XAML magnifying glass demo. If you are out there reading this entry, here is the link to the demo on Ian Griffiths' weblog (Ian is writing a book on Avalon with Chris Anderson): http://www.interact-sw.co.uk/iangblog/2005/05/29/magnify

WinFX Beta 1 RC Discoveries: Part 2

jld — Thu, 26 May 2005 18:15:00 GMT

To follow up to my previous blog entry, I found a new list of WinFX Beta 1 RC features. Tim Sneath has posted a sneak preview of his MSDN article entitled "A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the May Avalon Beta 1 RC Release". You can download the source document here: http://www.sneath.org/downloads/b1rcguide.doc

Here are some of the highlights from the document:

- Avalon now supports a new Express application model. It uses ClickOnce and sandboxing to create a safe execution environment. AIM (Application Impact Management) is the underlying security model that makes Express possible (you can learn more in this MSDN article). It's nice to see some of the PDC03 features finally emerging from the product. If you happen to be around at TechEd, be sure to drop by my Birds of a Feather entitled "Avalon/XAML vs WinForms". We will definitely be discussing the impact of Express applications during the session.

- Metro documents: the current WinFX build supports Metro, a new document printing specification for the Longhorn client. By digging around a little, I found out that Metro is referred to as Document Packages in the WinFX SDK (the WinFX API namespace is System.IO.CompoundFile). The WinFX SDK has a few basic XAML samples. This is a feature I'll definitely have to find the time to test out. Another interesting tidbit I got from the article is that Metro doesn't require Avalon - it also works on Win32.

- Avalon now supports Adobe Compact Font Format (CFF). Roger Kay (an analyst from IDC) (and others) seem to think that Metro is a "PDF Killer". This will be a topic on the roster for the BOF. I think it's too early to tell but Microsoft has taken an interesting step incorporating Adobe specifications into WinFX.

- Avalon Expander and Status Bar controls. The article contains a nice screenshot of the Status Bar control. It looks great!

I'll be posting later on about the changes in store for WinFX Beta 1 RC based on observations from the API and Tim Sneath's article.

WinFX Beta 1 RC Discoveries

jld — Tue, 24 May 2005 03:56:00 GMT

Last Friday, Microsoft released the first WinFX Beta1 Release Candidate. If you haven't downloaded the build yet, here are direct links for the redistribuable and the SDK in ISO format.

WinFX Beta1 RC
http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/b/0/2b02bca5-1df1-46fd-ae8a-b87dc4d2bf2f/en_avalon_indigo_redist_beta1_RC.iso

WinFX Beta 1 RC SDK
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/4/0/5407D6E4-740E-413E-8E91-EF7AC53A478A/en_winfx_sdk_beta1_RC.iso

While reading the release notes and system requirements, I learned quite a few interesting details about
the build. Namely:

- According to the release notes, WinFX Beta 1 RC supports Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 and works on Longhorn
Beta 1! This is significant since WinFX (Avalon/Indigo) is the most interesting part of Longhorn from a development standpoint.

- This build supports Infocards (Microsoft.InfoCards namespace in SDK). The Release Notes explain how
to launch the Digital Identity control panel applet (very cool). If the Digital Identity window does not appear
after you install WinFX Beta 1 RC, then type the following at the command prompt: net start "InfoCard Service"

- WinFX Beta 1 RC contains a new speech framework called SpeechFX. You can learn more about it on
Robert Brown's weblog: http://blogs.msdn.com/robertbrown/archive/2005/05/23/421085.aspx

- This new build supports video (as outlined in the Release Notes). So far, it can render WMV (encoded
using Windows Media Video 8 or higher) and WMA. AVIs, MPEGs, JPGs and WAVs may or may not work
(I'll have to test it at one point - if anyone beats me to it, be sure to reply to this blog entry).

- Beta 1 RC breaks some of the Avalon naming conventions. However, Valentin Iliescu was quick on the gun
and managed to update his XAML chess application at lightning speeds. Nice work Valentin!

- According to Lori Pearce posting in the windows.developer.winfx.avalon newsgroup, the online WinFX SDK will be updated within the week. Here is a direct link: http://winfx.msdn.microsoft.com/

* Update: Drew Marsh is maintaining a Beta 1 RC Change Log Commentary.

* Update: Tim Sneath has posted a document on the new features of Beta 1 RC.
http://www.sneath.org/downloads/b1rcguide.doc

If anyone has any other information about new features in the build, be sure to post a comment!

TechEd 2005: Top 10 Fun Things to Do at TechEd

jld — Sun, 08 May 2005 11:18:00 GMT

I just finished my schedule for TechEd. It was incredibly challenging trying to narrow down what sessions to attend, what time slots to staff the Author/Publisher Community Lounge and bookstore and my BOF. There is such a huge selection of great topics to choose from and so little time to see it all (that's probably why they send each attendee a set of DVDs!)

In the process of planning, I came up with a top 10 fun things to do at TechEd (in reverse order):

10) Community Cabanas: Chat with the MS Product Teams and MVPs face to face
Details: http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2005/communitycabanas.mspx

9) Authors’ Reception and Book Signing: Get your Tech Books signed, meet famous authors and win prizes!
Details: http://www.msteched.com/content/events.aspx

8) TechEd Store: Buy MS and TechEd merchandise
Details & Hours: http://www.msteched.com/content/agenda.aspx

7) TechEd Jam Sessions: Watch illustrious developers/authors/bloggers sing and play instruments!
     Details: http://www.msteched.com/content/events.aspx
     Preview: Don Box singing at PDC03 - http://www.developers-association.org/review.aspx?f=donboxshow

6) CommNet: Surf and blog anywhere at the conference!
     Details: http://www.msteched.com/content/faq.aspx#12

5) Birds of a Feather: Chat and debate informally with your peers (plug: be sure to visit BOF013
    XAML vs WinForms for an engaging chat on Avalon and the future of Windows Forms!)
    Details: http://www.msteched.com/content/sessions.aspx

4) See SteveB speak: He is quite an entertaining and dynamic speaker
     (you can look at pictures I've taken of SteveB on my website)
     Details: http://www.stormpixel.com/news/msphotos/
                 http://www.msteched.com/content/speakers.aspx

3) Microsoft Virtual Labs: Try out tons of MS software over lunch.
Over 100 hands on labs!
Details: http://www.msteched.com/content/sessions.aspx

2) PC Gaming on souped up AMD PCs: Tournament or Solo
You can win an Alienware Gaming Box!
Details: http://www.msteched.com/content/events.aspx

1) Universal Studios Attendee Party: Free rides, free food and drink.
Details: http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website

TechEd 2005 Birds Of a Feather: Avalon/XAML vs WinForms

jld — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 06:10:00 GMT

I just got word that my Birds of a Feather proposal was accepted! A special thanks goes out to Stuart Celarier (the TechEd 2005 BOF Chair), INETA, Culminis, Microsoft and to everyone who voted.

The session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at 7:45 PM - if you are interested in Longhorn, mark your calendars!

If you are unfamilliar with a Birds of a Feather, it's simply an active discussion among peers. Don't expect any presentations, lectures or breakout sessions (if you are interested in the breakout session, check out the TechEd website: http://www.msteched.com/content/sessions.aspx)

Here is a recap of the session abstract:

Avalon/XAML vs WinForms

Avalon is the new graphical programming interface developed for the upcoming Windows Longhorn client and server. Included in Avalon is XAML, an XML based markup language for creating Smart Client applications. How does XAML measure up to AJAX? Should WinForms be gradually phased out? Join us for a lively discussion on the future of the Windows graphics API.
Intended Audience: Developer
Submitted By: Jean-Luc David, Stormpixel Solutions

Hope to see you there!

Vote for my Longhorn Birds of a Feather Session for TechEd 2005!

jld — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 05:09:00 GMT

There is only two days left for the TechEd 2005 BOF voting. You can vote on this page (and you don't necessarily need to attend the conference to vote): http://www.msteched.com/cfp/bofvoting.aspx

My entry is fourth from the bottom and entitled "XAML vs WinForms":

Any votes would be greatly appreciated!

March 2005 "Avalon" and "Indigo" Community Technology Preview

jld — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 06:08:00 GMT

If you want to play with the March 2005 "Avalon" and "Indigo" Community Technology Preview, head on right over to the MSDN Subscriber downloads website (FYI, the .iso file is 444 MB). You have a few options once it's installed - you can try coding everything command line like Sam Gentile. Or opt to use the February CTP of Visual Studio 2005.

Next, you need documentation. A really good place to get started for all things Indigo is the Longhorn Developer Centre. David Chappell has written a really nice primer to get your head wrapped around the new concepts. Then head on over to the FTPOnline website for Indigo webcasts from VSLive! (I'd highly recommend looking at the Steve Swartz/Don Box webcast with a soup to nuts overview of Indigo. Don also has a very informative weblog with great tidbits of Indigo here and there).

XAML 3D Chess

jld — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 06:49:00 GMT

Last January, I gave a presentation on XAML to the Metro Toronto .NET User Group. I had the fortune of meeting Valentin IIliescu at the presentation - he is currently in the process of converting his chess application to XAML. It's great to see active Longhorn developers in the Toronto area.

He recently transformed a 2D chess game to 3D XAML! It's one of the most compelling XAML apps I've seen to date. He also created a proof of concept mapping application that's quite cool.

Check out and download his application (with source code) here: http://www.valil.com/avalon/
His blog is available here: http://spaces.msn.com/members/viliescu/

Demo Disaster Recovery

jld — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 10:39:00 GMT

In the last little while, I've started getting more opportunities to speak. As a result, I've experienced for the first time the much talked about and dreaded "demo meltdown". Two days in a row no less! Fortunately, the presentations went extremely well despite the technical issues.

Issues ranged from Active Directory authentication problems, slow (to non responsive) VPC sessions, Internet dependent demos in rooms with no Internet or dial up access, code that just stops compiling or rendering on
your system (even though it worked the day before!), missing projectors and cabling, ect. Pretty amazing.

Which leads to the question - why do demos fail? It's easy to blame the computer or the technology. But having pondered it a bit, I think there is definitely a human element to the problem.

Here are a few demo disaster recovery strategies I've figured out:

Prepare weeks in advance, test the demos on a daily basis and make sure you don't make any significant changes to your presentation computer (ie install/uninstall software, ect)
Create canned demos using screenshots and/or interactive Macromedia presentations
Store your presentation and code on an external USB Key in case your laptop decides to go south minutes before you present.
Prepare several backup demos in case one fails. Then you can fall down the stairs and still end up landing on your feet
Don't rely on slides or demos. Be prepared to stand in front of a crowd and speak. Don Box advocated this approach on his Channel9 video on technical presentations.

Obviously, the key concepts around these strategies is pre-planning and organization. If anyone has other ideas or thoughts, be sure to post them.