Inside Visual Studio - Chapter 4 (Macros)

Visual C++ 2005 Beta is Almost Here Maybe Rome wasn't built in a day, but Quake II and PowerPoint running on .NET were. Did you know you could recompile your existing MFC, ATL, COM and Win32 C++ applications with /CLR and start extending them right away with the .NET Framework? The C++ team has been very busy in Visual Studio 2005. The language has been streamlined for .NET development and type system unification without giving up an ounce of Standards conformance.... Bring on your best C++ questions on our next-generation tools!

Internet Protocol Security for Microsoft Windows Server 2003
The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system includes an implementation of the Internet Engineering Task Force's Internet Protocol security (IPSec). IPSec, which is also included in Windows 2000 and Windows XP, provides network managers with a key line of defense in protecting their networks. IPSec exists below the Transport layer, so its security services are transparently inherited by applications. IPSec provides the protections of data integrity, data origin authentication, data confidentiality, and replay protection without having to upgrade applications or train users.

What C++/CLI gives us?

• Elegant syntax and grammar -This gave a natural feel for C++ developers writing managed code and allowed a smooth transition from unmanaged coding to managed coding. All those ugly double underscores are gone now.
• First class CLI support - CLI features like properties, garbage collection and generics are supported directly. And what's more, C++/CLI allows jus to use these features on native unmanaged classes too.
• First class C++ support - C++ features like templates and deterministic destructors work on both managed and unmanaged classes. In fact C++/CLI is the only .NET language where you can *seemingly* declare a .NET type on the stack or on the native C++ heap.
• Bridges the gap between .NET and C++ - C++ programmers won't feel like a fish out of water when they attack the BCL
• The executable generated by the C++/CLI compiler is now fully verifiable.

Waaay off topic, but my friend Steve Stricker is tied for the lead in the Houston Open. Way cool!

Update: He ended up tied for 19th.

Steve Stricker       T19   69-70-77-70    286    $52,611.11

Not a bad paycheck for a weekend of golf. :)

Xbox Live was down yesterday for a makeover and they've published a page with information about the new features coming to the service. The cool new thing that's available now is Voice Message with Friend Requests. Voice mail for XBL? Cool! Here's a list of upcoming features...

Tsunami: The Inside Scoop on the Xbox Live Update

Voice Messaging with Friend Requests: Available now. Read more about it.

MSN Messenger Integration: Coming in late May.

In-Game Voice Messaging: Available when games that support it hit shelves.

Teams: Available when games that support it hit shelves.

Competitions: Available when games that support it hit shelves.

Title-Managed Online Storage: When games that support it hit shelves.

Information about code that attempts to exploit PCT in SSL
Microsoft is aware of reports of code available on the Internet that seeks to exploit certain issues addressed in our April 13 security updates. This so-called exploit code affects the Private Communications Transport (PCT) protocol, which is part of the Microsoft Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) library.

[Coding Contest] Most Useful/Innovative VS.Net Add-in/Macro (and some huge prizes)
So here's the deal. We hold a contest. It will be called “Most useful Add-in/macro for visual studio .Net” You send me your submissions (including code) and according to who wins, we give out some prizes. The judges: Mike Gunderloy, Frans Bouma, Rory Blyth, and myself.

Writing Add-ins for Visual Studio Come and learn how to customize and enhance Visual Studio to make it a tool for just you...