If you have already signed up for the Visual Studio 2005 beta 2 experience, then you probably have been playing around with the tools for some time now. Just in case you have come up with a killer little app during this time, I thought I would let you know about a competition that's being run looking for cool applications to use as part of the Visual Studio 2005 launch. The prize is $50K - so it's well worth the effort!

There are a number of different categories and different ways to win (e.g. some of the finalists will be MCPs, one will be for the community entry). I've included the competition catergories below, but if you want to find out more details about the rules, check out http://www.csdevcompetition.com/.

If you are interested, you have to enter a description of your project by Wednesday, August 30th, and final date for the application is September 15th. One application will be selected from each category to join the SQL Server, Visual Studio and BizTalk product teams at the Joint Product Launch, where the winners will be announced at a special dinner the evening before the launch.

All IP and code will be retained by you - but there is an option to go for a community prize, which would mean you have to post your entry on http://www.gotdotnet.com where it may be downloaded and used by other customers for no charge.

Good luck with it!

Official Competition Rules

The Connected Systems 2005 Developer Competition, sponsored by Microsoft Corporation and CMP Media (“Sponsors”), is a skill based competition intended to highlight and reward creativity and programming excellence using SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk 2004/2006.

Design Requirements

Entries in the competition will be judged in one or more of the following categories:

1. Best extension of a SQL Server database using functionality provided by the CLR in SQL Server 2005
   1. The addition of a hosted version of the CLR in SQL Server 2005 opens many new possibilities for application developers. If your application uses the SQLCLR to achieve functionality that previously would have been difficult or impossible to achieve, then you are eligible to participate in this category.
2. Best integrated application using XML in SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005
   1. This category is open to developers leveraging the power of XML both at the client and in the database. If your application takes advantage of the new XML features in SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005, then you are eligible to participate in this category.
3. Best Application using the Business Intelligence features of SQL Server 2005 (Reporting Services, Integration Services, Analysis Services)
   1. SQL Server 2005 includes a host of new and updated Business Intelligence functionality. If your application utilizes the reporting services, integration services or Analysis Services features in SQL Server 2005 to add enhanced functionality, then you are eligible to participate in this category.
4. Best Tool to provide additional functionality to SQL Server 2005 that is not already included in the product
5. Best Occasionally Connected Smart Client Application using SQL Server Data
   1. This category is open to applications built using Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 that consume SQL Server data but continue to work regardless of whether they have a connection to the database.
6. Best integrated/SOA application utilizing SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, BizTalk 2004 or BizTalk 2006
   1. Service Oriented Architectures are fast becoming a key mainstream application architecture. SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk can play an important role in an SOA application. If your application is an SOA design and uses the SOA features (Service Broker, Web Services etc) of any of the products you are eligible to participate in this category.
7. Best extension of a video gaming experience using Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005
   1. This open-ended category is designed to appeal to developers with a passion for video games. E.g.
      1. The Halo 2 RSS Excel Writer is a great use of developer technology to help Halo 2 players analyze and improve their game by consuming aggregate post-game carnage report data.
      2. The incredible modding community swelling around HalfLife 2 and other extensible game engines.
   2. If your application uses Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 to create a cool way of extending an existing video game, then you are eligible to participate in this category.
8. Best Information Worker solution using more than one Office System application and Visual Studio Tools For the Microsoft Office System 2005
9. Best Microsoft SmartPhone application using Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server Mobile Edition
10. Best use of Managed DirectX, Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server Express
11. Best Visual Studio 2005 PowerToy utilizing SQL Server Express
12. Best extension of Visual Web Developer and the Personal Web Site Starter Kit. Application must consume a publicly available Web Service
13. Best sample demonstrating key product functionality not already included in the BizTalk Server SDK
14. Best adapter not already supplied by Microsoft or adapter vendors such as IWay
15. Best implementation of a generic pattern (for example request/response) on the BizTalk Server platform