March 2008 - Posts
You've heard it. JavaScript is not a REAL programming language.
Well, it is NOW. Programming in JavaScript is inevitable.
And why not.
- It is ubiquitous. (Supported by all major browsers.)
- It supports good Object Oriented Development.
- There is TONS of code out there.
- There is a rapidly growing collection of rich, high quality JavaScript Frameworks and Libraries available.
- It's been good enough to be implemented out of the browser in client technologies like Flash (ActionScript is for all intents and purposes ECMAScript, which is the new name for JavaScript)and SilverLight 1.0)
- And, Server side technologies like Aptana's Jaxer
While I concede that "Web 2.0" technologies like SilverLight 2.0 (Programmed in C#, VB, or any .NET language), and Flash/Flex, and JavaFX have a strong place in the future of the web..... programming the DOM with JavaScript is here to stay.
I think we need to stop trying to avoid JavaScript and start embracing it, even if only for it's universal availability.
Microsoft is embracing JavaScript
- We've added great development and debugging support fir JavaScript in Visual Studio (see links below.)
- We've developed a GREAT set of JavaScript Extensions that are server independent, free, and open. [More Info Here]
- Created a JavaScript friendly controls framework. [ See videos #62, #63, and #64 HERE. ]
So, if your ready to take JavaScript beyond the basics, here are some of my favorites to get you started.
Some Books on JavaScript beyond the syntax !
Some JavaScript Tools
Aptana IDE (A GREAT, free AJAX IDE, great for JavaScript even if you're not doing AJAX)
Antechinus JavaScript Editor
SplineTech JavaScript Debugger
Internet Explorer 8 Beta (With great built in developer tools.)
Some Microsoft JavaScript Links
Microsoft JScript Blog
Microsoft JScript Reference
Video: JavaScript Debugging in Visual Studio 2008
Video: JavaScript Intellisense in Visual Studio 2008
A few better than average JavaScript Web Sites
JavaScript.com
W3 Schools JavaScript Tutorials
JavaScript Kit
Dynamic Drive
I love CMS applications!
I've played with more than a hundred free and commercial CMSs written in VB, C#, PHP, Python, Perl, Ruby, you name it !
It's taken me a while to put Graffiti through it's paces, but I did so last weekend.
Here is a quick list of my first impressions.
PROS
- Install is a SNAP.
- The BlogML import facility imported my hundreds of posts flawlessly.
- The administrative user interface is intuitive.
- It's FAST
- The FREE version is not crippled (just limited authors and a couple advanced features off.)
- Widgets are EASY !
CONS
- Some of the downloadable themes I found were not "seamless" (community provided code varies in quality.)
- I missed the ability to create a completely standalone .aspx page that inherits nothing but the theme, (Plan to try this manually.)
All in all, this has been one of the best "first impression" experiences I've had with a 3rd part ASP.NET application.
Since the free version is REAL and doesn't even require registration to download and install, CLICK HERE and give it a try !
One of my test machines that is still running Windows XP just HUNG while performing Windows Update Today.
At the "Checking for latest updates" page it just kept checking and checking and checking.......
It turns out that it was some bad files. Maybe a prior failed dowload or something.
Here are the steps I used to solve the problem.
Click On Start --> Run Enter Cmd and hit return. At the command prompt and type 'proxycfg -d' (This will clear the proxy cache, don't worry if it complains about there not being a proxy.) Type 'net stop wuauserv' to stop the automatic updates service. (You must do this and it must succeed in stopping the service or your won't be able to do the next step.) Delete all the contents of C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution. Go back to the command prompt and type 'net start wuauserv' to restart the automatic updates. Run Windows update again. Viola !
When you first open an ASP.NET 2.0 website in Visual Web Developer / Visual Studio 2008, VS asks you if you want to upgrade the project to 3.5.
As some of you who are using Microsoft AJAX and who say YES to upgrade to 3.5 have noticed, when you go to run your newly upgraded application (which worked fine before the upgrade), you get build errors !!!
The build error complains that it can't load System.Web.Extensions Version 1.0.61025.0
That's the OLD version of Web.Extensions (AJAX) that works with ASP.NET 2.0.
You'll note a number of references in your web.config file to this old version. Since before the 2008 release wave, MS AJAX was loaded via separate assemblies and since it is now "baked in" to ASP.NET, it's hard for the upgrade tool to know that you don't need the referenced version.
So..... In your web.config change all the 1.0.61025.0 version references to 3.5.0.0 (unless you are using some CTP or Futures Version)
If you are using the AJAX Control Toolkit there is still a bit of work to do.
You will now get this error on your Toolkit Control instances.
Download the version of the AJAX Control Toolkit that is built for ASP.NET 3.5
Note: There are separate versions for ASP.NET 2.0 projects and ASP.NET 3.5 projects.
If your are running Windows Vista, Right-Click the .zip file, select properties, and "Unblock" the file.
Then unzip the files to the location of your choice.
Make sure the Visual Studio Toolbox Tab that you create for the controls is with the 3.5 version.
Now you need to upgrade your project to use the new tool kit. The easiest way to do this is to let Visual Studio do it for you.
SWITCH TO SOURCE VIEW and drag and drop any Ajax Control Toolkit control into your page.
When you get this dialog SELECT APPLY TO ALL ITEMS and click yes.
Then delete the control you just added.
Visual Studio will have updated your controls reference and you should now be good to go !
AJAX World was a great confirmation for me. AJAX, RIA, or whatever term you use to describe this "new" way of building web applications is here to stay.
Relative to Microsoft, here are a few of my big take-a-ways.
- Security matters even MORE than it has to date.
- Web Development frameworks like ASP.NET that facilitate secure development are crucial.
- Interest in Microsoft Silverlight is reaching a feverish level !
- Alpha Geeks (even the ones who aren't exactly MS fans) are digging the new stuff in IE 8, especially the developer features.
Thanks to everyone who attended my sessions. Having spent so much of the last 10 years focused on web security it's great to see the interest and awareness continue to grow.
Below are links to both my PowerPoint decks and all my code, including all the security code I showed you. I don't think I've ever released the security stuff before.
WARNING: This code is NOT finished code. I don't even suggest it's "good" code. It's stuff I assembled for illustrative purposes. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK and don't include it in your production applications. All standard disclaimers apply ! :)
ASP.NET AJAX Security [Demo Code] [PowerPoint Deck]
ASP.NET AJAX Patterns [Demo Code] [PowerPoint Deck]
Please joind me for these 2 webcasts this Thursday and Friday. VWG is a cool FREE set of tools to accelerate your ASP.NET AJAX and Silverlight Web Development. Guy Peled, CTO of Visual WebGui is joining me and he will build applications live during the webcats.
Click below to register - attendance is FREE !
Live From Redmond: Visual WebGui: An Enterprise AJAX application in 20 minutes.
It is all about simplicity: Simplicity in programming next generation complex AJAX application that makes the productivity difference. In this Webcast we will demystify Visual WebGui. We will build a fully blown application in less than 20 minutes, and strip off the covers, showing you how you can cut your development cycle by as much as 90% . Visual WebGui is open source, so you can dive into the code. Throughout the webcast we will demonstrate that while VWG enables rapid application development (RAD) , the developer is free to create custom controls, wrap third party controls , invoke HTML resources and interop with standard ASP.NET applications like DNN and others, all in a matter of minutes.
3/27/2008 11:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)| Duration:60 Minutes
Live From Redmond: Visual WebGui: Silverlight for line-of-business application.
In this webcast we will "light up", in minutes, the fully blown line-of-business application that we built in our previous webcast adding the rich look and feel of Silverlight as well as its enhanced performance. You will see how we accomplish this by a "push of a button". We will demonstrate how to make WinForms controls available to your web application and how you can style your UI by using fully enabled Expression Blend. The outcome is a very light footprint client, unaffected by application size and weight, and as a bonus, secured by design. You will be shown how you can, extend, invoke, interop and customize your application using Visual WebGui.
3/28/2008 11:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)| Duration:60 Minutes
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About the Live From Redmond series. This series of Live Meeting presentations are designed specifically for the community by members of the Microsoft product teams. The presentations are all done by actual team members working on the specific technology, and are a great way to hear from and ask your questions directly to the product team.
I've known Scott for almost 10 years but when he hired me a few years ago I had no idea how much work he gets done.
Apart from managing the teams that deliver a dozen products for Microsoft, he travels and speaks everywhere, writes these detailed blog posts, and seems to know everything that's going on everywhere. (Like if the www.asp.net site if down for 40 seconds in the wee hours of the morning.)
Well, I've finally figured it out !
Check out this rare photo that PROOVES Scott Guthrie is actually triplets !!!
This explains ALOT !
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