Server and Tools Launch

Today Microsoft took a major step forward in making it easy for developers to build powerful applications with the release of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008.  If you didn't make it to the launch event in Los Angeles or in a city near you, then you can always go to the web launch site.

Windows Server 2008: This product is packed with developer goodies: IIS7, Windows Communication Foundation, Powershell, Cardspace, Active Directory, and many more.  And of course the latest release of our virtualization technology.  Industry pundits call virtualization the next disruptive technology.  It's certainly fascinating from the point of view of how it affects business models as well as architectural topologies.

Information Week also had a nice story on the developer outreach efforts from people here in building 18 and throughout the world.

SQL Server 2008: In addition to the new set of performance and scalability features that accompany every release of SQL Server, this product offers new features that make SQL Server the ideal data platform for applications composed of software + services.  I intend to write more about SQL Server 2008 in these pages over the coming months.  In the meantime follow developments in Roger and Zach's blogs.

Visual Studio 2008: Of all the things to like about this product the one that has me fascinated the most is by far LINQ.  I love the notion of unifying objects, tables and XML under one programming model.  Eric has written extensively about LINQ and he has been patiently explaining to me the virtues of functional programming.