My Entry into the blogosphere
Well folks, now that the EntLib book is signed, sealed, and delivered, I know longer have a legitimate excuse for not blogging. So this begins my journey into the realm of the blogosphere.
I guess it makes sense to begin this journey by answering questions that some of you have asked me about the book. The most common questions are "where can I get the code" and "why is this book on EntLib 1.1. and not 2.0?"
I'll take the easy one first :-). You can now find the code on this page or at the Addison-Wesley site for the book . Please let me know if you have any questions with the code; I am more than happy to help you out if I can.
Now, the harder question. "Why is the book primarily about EntLib 1.1 when EntLib 2.0 has already been released?" Believe me, this was not an easy decision to make. A primary reason is that it took me a long time to write the book and, as a novice to authoring a book, I had no idea how much more time it takes get a book published than it does to click 'Post' on this blog and have it immediately available. The book was actually complete prior to EL 2.0's release. Still, that is no excuse because I had more than enough notice and information to create a 2.0 book before the release.
The truth is that there are two reasons the book is primarily about EL 1.1. The first is that both I and the publisher believe that there is a need for such a book. I still visit many customers that are still using EL 1.1. Even if they are using .NET 2.0 many customers are still working with the July 2005 version of EntLib. And many still have questions about it. If the book were only on 2.0 then all of these folks would not have the book to use as a reference.
Additionally, many of the concepts behind Enterprise Library have remained the same. The primary purpose for Enterprise Library 2.0 was to align it with the .NET 2.0 framework. Not to redesign. Without question, the primary change between 1.1. and 2.0 is in the way configuration is handled (and thus the inclusion of ObjectBuilder). The patterns that are used in the Enterprise Library blocks still remain primarily the same.
Lastly, to revamp the book for 2.0 would have taken more time. IMO, the book was already long overdue. So, in the end, the publisher and I agreed that the book would not be delayed to incorporate EL 2.0.
Still, I know that there are many who want a 2.0 book to explain how configuration has changed with the introduction of ObjectBuilder and the enhancements in the .NET framework, how the Data Access Application Block and Logging Application Block have been enhanced, and to explain the depracations that have occurred within the Security Application Block. I think the book can be revamped for a second edition that focuses on these changes. It would probably take a couple months of writing (and editing). If you also believe such a revision is valuable, please let me know. It will really come down to whether Addison-Wesley believes there are enough folks out there that would buy such a book to justify the cost of producing it.
Well, I hope that provides some answers to the common questions about the book. I hope this blog will take on a life of its own and I will let it run however you folks gear it. My latest ventures have been deep into the innards of VSTS and TFS so I plan to do some blogging about that (unless you folks would rather hear about other stuff). I'm also (obviously) a HUGE proponent of the p&p artifacts, so I'm always jazzed to talk about those too.
