Reckless : SOAs

Vinoski is Right (Contract First)

rdias — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 01:32:00 GMT

Vinoski and Tim are right about Contract first. I would expect no less from one of the Fathers of distributed computing. I learned this lesson first hand over eight years ago working with Charles White and Eva Guo on a project at HP. Yes, we built service-oriented systems back then too!

Don Box is giving a talk on Metadata Soup: Contracts, Models, and Types on the Connected Systems Infrastructure Track at Tech Ed this year. There is no doubt in my mind that he will turn this topic upside down

Aaron has been blogging a lot about contract first and proposed a birds of a feather session. Vote for it and attend.

(Clearly I'm at that point where my to do list is too long so I am procrastinating and catching up on the blog roll.)

Indigo Bits for MSDN Subscribers

rdias — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:47:00 GMT

The Avalon and Indigo Community Technology Preview is now available, but to MSDN subscribers only for now. Sells is pushing content about the bits on the Indigo section of the Longhorn developer center on MSDN.

Why Use WS-Security and WSE

rdias — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 07:02:00 GMT

I know you all get annoyed with high level articles, but I felt it was important to get one out there that simply went after the high level benefits of WS-Security and why you would want to use Web Services Enhancements (WSE). I compiled a slew of internal and external discussions and worked with Benjamin Mitchell to get this article written. Tell me what you think. What benefits have you gained? Are they in line with what is compiled in this article?

In my mind, the two most powerful new concepts that did not exist in previous distributed computing infrastructures in the Web Services Architecture is Policy and Message Level Security. I describe policy simply i.e. the ability to describe how you communicate with a services beyond what data to send e.g. your security requirements. As far as Message Level Security is concerned, I love:

the service oriented audit trail - the idea that intermediaries can put information in the message header stating what they have done with the message and then sign that additional information for auditing purposes
the flexibility of choosing what types of tokens you use to sign, encrypt, authenticate, and authorize with
the flexibility of choosing what parts of the message to sign and encrypt with what tokens

What strikes you about Message Level Security and policy?

Indigo and Interop

rdias — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 02:24:00 GMT

Ari talks about the upcoming VSLive event.

Bill Gates talks about Microsoft's commitment to interop.

The reason I came to Microsoft becomes more of a reality with each passing day.

And Scott Woodgate will demo the powerf of our shipping platform at Tech Ed. The full track to be disclosed shortly.

Your Tech Ed Requirements for the Connected Systems Infrastructure (CSI) track

rdias — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 05:31:00 GMT

Tech Ed is closing in and Yumay and I want to know your requirements for the Connected Systems Infrastructure track. What critical talks would you like us to cover? There will be a marriage of solutions oriented talks and feature drilldown talks covering topics like security, management, reliable messaging, transactions, business process management, integration of IBM datacenters, and integration of retail systems. We will be targeting different talks for IT operators, developers, and architects. What critical areas would you like us to drill into? What does the perfect session look like for you? What challenges are you facing? What parts of the technology do you need to learn? Where could you benefit from an expert's advice?

Here is a draft track abstract:

Connected Systems are becoming pervasive as a result of current economic and technological drivers for companies to be more agile, drive down costs, and integrate heterogeneous, globally dispersed systems. New applications no longer live in single process or machine silos. Applications need to be designed to be a part of a connected network of services to build systems that span multiple machines and reach beyond corporate firewalls. Also, in order to increase an organization's agility when responding to market and changing strategic requirements, the information flow between services that carry out these business operations must be streamlined.

The Connected Systems Infrastructure track is designed to help you understand how to design, implement, secure, deploy, and manage connected systems on the Microsoft platform for automating your companies information flow to achieve streamlined operations and greater levels of business agility. Architects, Developers, and IT Operators will learn about our existing and next generation distributed systems technologies for building Connected Systems covering the Windows Server System, Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Framework (ASP.NET, MSMQ, .NET Remoting, Enterprise Services, WSE), business process management with BizTalk Server, integration of IBM mainframe and midrange systems with Host Integration Server, integration of retail systems with Commerce Server, and our unified messaging infrastructure for Longhorn, Indigo.

iPAQ without a phone, why bother?

rdias — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 10:45:00 GMT

That is what I thought when my boss, Dr. Bix, gave me a new iPAQ (yes, ungrateful person). It sat in my office for a few months collecting dust until today when I ripped it open.

So it has a keyboard, so what, it's not a phone and where is the camera.

Well,we are demanding of technology these days.

Have you tried using your phone for email? Well, it ain't that fun after the first one.

One thing I was told by a lady in Singapore is that Sing people text message faster than anyone and they don't even need T9. Someone actually did a test to prove it. Well, I don't type fast enough with T9. My thoughts move too quickly for that single finger typing. I love the keyboard.

Oh man, one more electronic gadget to carry around! Ugh.

Actually, I was really annonyed on this trip not having an instant-on device with my itinerary (.pdf) on it. I also dig the full screen view of my email and the automatic pick-up of random wireless signals all around me while I go from place to place, my home, coffee shop, work, etc. I don't have to power up the computer and watch it sync. I just pause for a moment and take a quick look. I love that while I am cruising around it just automaticcaly syncs up for me. I never wait for new email on the go.

So aside from a phone, what is it missing? A KILLER APP! Microsoft, on my Christmas list, I have the following:

Smart Client Application that allows me to do my expense reports on the iPAQ

Do you think that Santa's elves in our IT department will hear me?

Next year this time, I am hoping for an IT Showcase of a Smart Client that connects to secure Web services in our finance department. That way I wont have to spend 6 hours of precious Microsoft time filling out expense reports for reciepts that are 2 weeks old in a language I don't speak and so therefore have forgotten what they are for. If I had a Smart Client I could store and then forward my expenses on as I go. Or do them on the plane in between cities. It's brainless work that I don't want to be doing the day I get back in my office.

But really, the next generation smart client should be on your cell phone with a point of sale reader.

"Would you like an electronic or paper receipt with that miss?"

"Thanks, I will scan it electronically into my phone."

Or better yet...

"Would you like to pay for that with your credit card, your debit card, or your cell phone?"

"Thanks, I like one bill, I will use my cell."

-- Web Services, Ah! --

Come to think of it, someone should build me this demo, and I promise to try and work you into a talk at Tech Ed. Connecting those systems....

Tech Ed: BPI and Connected Systems

rdias — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 22:46:00 GMT

Believe it or not, Tech Ed planning has begun. And I have a question for you. The Connected Systems track last year was very successful. There is a discussion on marrying the content from that track and the BPI track (Think BizTalk and Host Integration Server). What are your thoughts? What problems are you facing? How would you like to see the solutions presented? What did you like/not like about the track last year?

Let us know.

P.S. It blows me away that the one that I thought would be the last standing bachelor is getting hitched and now thinking of where he and his new partner may raise children... You know who you are. Congrats Mr C.V. Here is to your current and future happiness!

Do I know what you are doing?

rdias — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 02:08:00 GMT

Blogging has always lead me to find out about things I didn't already know about. So I figured I would throw this out there...

I track numerous projects for current WSE customers to help drive product direction, customer evidence, etc. There are some really awesome use cases out there span numerous usage scenarios. Almost every day I learn of a new usage scenario/project.

Do I already know about the projects you are working on? Touch basis with me and give me a heads up. I have numerous upcoming marketing events coming up that I plan to leverage customers in. I can't make you any promises, but if you have a compelling story to tell, let me know so that I can help create visibility for the work you are doing. If you shy away from visibility, that is fine too, having a dialog is a great way to provide datapoints on how the techology is being used and drive future product direction. In the end, it can never hurt to have a dialog with the product team to get confirmation or guidance on your project plans.

Tell me what I don't know and remind me even if you think I already know.

MTOM is now a Candidate Recommendation at the W3C

rdias — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 20:16:00 GMT

Gudge is the man! Thanks for all your hard work. Check out some of his early implementation code and samples.

MTOM (Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism) is now a Candidate Recommendation.

Are you doing WSE work? Better start dialoging with Chris Keyser

rdias — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 02:18:00 GMT

Chris is doing a lot of real implementation work with WSE! He just started blogging, and his content is already intense. We have him slated for a formal article on MSDN for using SCT with virtual endpoints. In the meantime, he is seeding you with knowledge today. Get into the dialog.

What do you identify as?

rdias — Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:20:00 GMT

Is there such as thing as a Web services developer?

What do you identify as? A SQL dev or a SQL Server dev? Information Systems dev? VB, C#, or Java? J2EE/EJB developer? MSMQ or MQSeries?

Do you identify as a distributed systems developer?

Why? I am curious to know if you would benefit in a trade show that was 100% dedicated to distributed systems development on the Microsoft platform. How do you build services for mulitple client technologies - Smart Client, Portals, Business Processes, and Services?

What primary motivations drive you to a show?

DevCon Selling out Quickly

rdias — Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:35:00 GMT

We have had the registration site up for the Dev Con for a week now, and we are already more than half way full.

A shameless plug for our co-sponsors. If you are looking for formal training on XML, Web Services, or the CLR, sign up for the PluralSight Campsight event.

Jorgen and I in an interview with Web Services.org

rdias — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 13:14:00 GMT

Here is a slice of some of Jorgen's and my thoughts on MS and Web services.

What is the Dev Con?

rdias — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 13:11:00 GMT

XML and Web Services Technology to fill your head and possibly make it burst
1 track
1 room
1 chief ~~anta~~ protagonist - Chris Sells
16 speakers from across the industry
130 devs and architects working on XML or Web Services based solutions (If you are lucky and smart, that would include you, the attendee)

See you in Oregon!

P.S. Don't forget the 3 people helping to put this event together in their spare time --

THANK YOU Sarah Jamieson of Microsoft and Bill Williams of PluralSight! ;)-

WS-Eventing implementation

rdias — Tue, 15 Jun 2004 19:35:00 GMT

There are numerous folks out there doing some really kewl stuff with the WSE 2.0 bits. Savas for instance has been doing work with Grid computing and now has an implementation of WS-Eventing coming down the pipe. What are your business needs? Have you given us your WSE 3.0 wish list?