Shared Points for SharePoint : Visual Studio

New Version of SharePoint SiteConfigurator Feature Released!

Stian Kirkeberg — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:37:39 GMT

We have just released a new version of the SharePoint SiteConfigurator feature on codeplex.com.

In this release we have focused on some new features and making sure the build is stable. This involved some refactoring as well as splitting the project in three parts, one for the code and logic, one part for the feature and one test project. This new structure will make it much easier and faster to reuse the project from farm to farm.

As the release notes states, we also focused on:

split VS project in two for easier maintenance and upgrades
added Type Mock project (simply remove that project from the solution if you don't use it)
rewrote log functionality
added verbose logging option
fixed disabling of web part toolbar (still some minor issues here)
made the complete solution independent of it's features names.
Added provisioning of files and make it possible to choose welcome page based on xml parameter
Added support for links with parameters in AddQuickLaunchLinks
Created support for QuickLaunchHeading and
DeleteQuickLaunchHeading elements.
Rearranged and refactored the main project
Fixed some bugs

Enjoy the new release and please give us feedback so we can improve it further!

Microsoft Cuts Prices for Visual Studio 2008 Tools

Stian Kirkeberg — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:55:28 GMT

Microsoft cuts prices on the VS packages. For more details see: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Application-Development/Microsoft-Continues-to-Delight-Developers/...(read more)

Unit testing SharePoint code

tommyo — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:15:00 GMT

In some projects lately I've been faced with the question about how to unit-test SharePoint code. I've been experimenting with unit testing in Visual Studio 2008 and particularly testing SharePoint code. What do I mean by "SharePoint code" ? I mean server-side...(read more)

Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.0

Stian Kirkeberg — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:28:02 GMT

Reveals extensive enhancements for simplified application life-cycle management, provides sneak peek at all key focus areas for Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.0.

REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 29, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today provided the first look at the next version of its developer tools and platform, which will be named Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.0. Microsoft described the next release through the following five focus areas: riding the next-generation platform wave, inspiring developer delight, powering breakthrough departmental applications, enabling emerging trends such as cloud computing, and democratizing application life-cycle management (ALM).
Today’s announcement included an in-depth look at how Visual Studio Team System (VSTS) 2010 (code-named “Rosario”) will help democratize ALM with a unique solution that brings all the members of a development organization into the application development life cycle, and removes many of the existing barriers to integration. Additional details on the other focus areas will be disclosed over the product development cycle.
“With Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.0, we are focused on the core pillars of developer experience, support for the latest platforms spanning client, server, services and devices, targeted experiences for specific application types, and core architecture improvements,” said S. “Soma” Somasegar, senior vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft. “These pillars are designed specifically to meet the needs of developers, the teams that drive the application life cycle from idea to delivery, and the customers that demand the highest quality applications across multiple platforms. You can expect to hear a lot more about Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.0 in the coming months.”
Democratizing Application Life-Cycle Management
Today, much of application development remains siloed throughout the enterprise, leading to decreased productivity and lengthy product development cycles. With VSTS 2010, Microsoft is taking the next step forward in giving individuals and development organizations an advanced solution that enables them to integrate effectively and build and deliver high-quality applications.
This includes new capabilities that make it easier for all contributors on the software team to participate throughout the life cycle — from the core developers and testers to the wider team of project managers, designers and business analysts. Highlights include the following:

• Modeling tools. With VSTS 2010 Architecture, Microsoft will enable both technical and nontechnical users to create and use models to collaborate and to define business and system functionality graphically. The new version supports both Unified Modeling Language and Domain Specific Language support, so development organizations will have the right tool for right job. The new modeling capabilities in VSTS 2010 are a core part of the larger Microsoft modeling platform, which will also include the “Oslo” repository, tools and language.
• Improved efficiency throughout the test cycle. With VSTS 2010, Microsoft has made a significant investment in testing features and dramatically simplifying the tools required to integrate testing across the life cycle. New features include the ability to eliminate nonreproducible bugs, fast setup and deployment of tests to ensure the highest degree of completeness of test, focused test planning and progress tracking, and ensuring that all code changes are properly tested.
• Substantial improvements in collaboration capabilities. Microsoft has made major investments in the capabilities and scalability of Team Foundation Server (TFS) including significant improvements that allow teams to configure and adopt any flavor of Agile development processes. Teams can track and trace work more easily with richer linking of work items enabling hierarchical work item relationships. In the source code management system, TFS now provides visualization tools for tracking changes across branches and into the production build. VSTS 2010 also introduces workflow-based builds that catch errors before they have a chance to affect the rest of the team or, worse, enter production. Finally, administrators will find dramatically simpler TFS deployment and management.

“The application life cycle is an integral part of today’s business. Regardless of core competencies, all organizations are driven by software that is created and customized to deliver a competitive advantage,” said Theresa Lanowitz, founder of voke, inc. “Enterprises that invest in an ALM solution can decrease their total cost of ownership of applications in their IT portfolio, and bring about a global approach that is an integrated and expansive system consisting of people, processes and technology. This global approach to ALM facilitates collaboration and takes the risk out of software development to produce predictable and reliable results for an optimized business outcome. Solutions such as VSTS are poised to take advantage of market opportunity by offering an application life-cycle platform to help enterprises realize this ROI benefit.”
In another move to increase integration across the life cycle, Microsoft also announced that VSTS 2010 will provide a unified VSTS Development and Database product. As a benefit to existing Software Assurance (SA) customers, those who currently own Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition or Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition will receive all the following products starting Oct. 1, 2008, for free:
• Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition
• Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition
• Visual Studio 2005 Team System for Software Developers
• Visual Studio 2005 Team System for Database Professionals
The products will be available to SA customers through their normal Microsoft Developer Network channel. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa.
More information about Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.0 is available at http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9537302.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors:If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/sep08/09-29VS10PR.mspx

Microsoft Expression Studio 2 Ships, Advancing Superior Developer and Designer Collaboration

Stian Kirkeberg — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:39:55 GMT

Press release:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/may08/05-01Expression2PR.mspx

Expression Web 2 adds support for PHP and Adobe Photoshop import based on customer feedback.
Expression Blend 2, in addition to Silverlight support, adds vertex animation and an improved user interface with a new split design/XAML view.
Expression Design 2 adds improved exporting functionality including the ability to export slices.
Expression Media 2 is a robust digital asset management solution for photographers and other creative professionals. It adds support for the latest file formats including RAW, provides geotagging functionality, and is supported by Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Office for Mac 2008.
Expression Encoder 2 is now a core offering of the suite. It allows creative and Web professionals to optimize almost any type of video content quickly for publishing on the Web, either in streaming video, rich-media advertising or other Web 2.0 projects.

Features:

http://www.microsoft.com/expression/features/Default.aspx?key=studio

Stop reading and go download the trial!

Silverlight 2 Beta 1 is available!

tommyo — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:37:00 GMT

Download the Silverlight tools beta 1 for Visual Studio 2008 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E0BAE58E-9C0B-4090-A1DB-F134D9F095FD&displaylang=en

More info at:

www.silverlight.net

Heros happen here

Stian Kirkeberg — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:32:59 GMT

Guess you have heard about the Heros happen here campaign? Seen their daily comic? Worth a peek! :)

Microsoft Issues Web Access Tool for TFS

Stian Kirkeberg — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:07:00 GMT

The power tool, dubbed Team System Web Access, is based on technology that Microsoft acquired in March from DevBiz.

Team System Web Access (formerly known as TeamPlain) is a Web interface to Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server.

Feature Overview

Add new work items or edit existing ones
Work with any type of work item, including custom ones
Add new work item queries or edit existing ones
View, download, upload, check-in and check-out documents on SharePoint team portal
View reports, export as PDF or Excel
Browse source control repositories, download files, view changesets, diffs, histories, and annotated views
View build results, start or stop builds
Search for keywords in work items

The tool is available on: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2105C9EE-565E-47B9-A5AC-9A8FF8A07862&displaylang=en