Sajee's WebLog

Brian Harry will be speaking live at the June NYC VSTS User Group meeting.  Brian is one of the architects of Team Foundation Server so this is a great opportunity to hear what’s coming in the 2010 release as well as ask questions about Team System 2008.

Registration information here: http://nyc-vsts-ug.com/Upcoming.aspx

Hope to see you there.

Incycle Software will be providing a a seminar on managing the data tier with VSTS on May 21st.  Details are here:

https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=137891

The VSTS Rangers released the Visual Studio Team Test 2008 Quick Reference Guide on CodePlex yesterday.    It looks to be a pretty useful resource for web and load testing using the Team System toolset.

Many teams are either using or considering using Scrum as the basis for their software development process.   TFS’s extensible process support has templates (1,2) for Scrum.  If you’re interested in learning how to apply Scrum with TFS, Accentient, a well known VSTS partners, has a new training course on the topic.

One of the best ways to understand the capabilities of VSTS is to see it in action.  These videos range from overviews of VSTS to specific product feature areas:

http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/Msdnvsts.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=odall

Some of the videos are based on VSTS 2005 but the concepts should apply to VSTS 2008.

Additionally, Notion Solutions has provided these on-demand webcasts:

http://www.notionsolutions.com/training/Pages/VSTSVideos.aspx

Notion Solutions, a premier VSTS partner, has released a number of additions to TFS:

• Notion Timesheet - Classic timesheet features fully integrated with Team System.
• Notion Work Organizer - Manage work items and documents from a single, easy-to-use interface.
• Notion Work Planner - Plan iterations and releases based on real teams, real schedules, and real conflicts.
• Notion Work Item Control Library - Enable hierarchical Work Item relationships.

I’ve heard numerous requests for Timesheet capabilities so this should be a welcome addition to many teams.  Details and video demos here.

You may have heard that VS 2010 will have an improved UI.  The last CTP showed some of the work but you’ll see more of the polish in upcoming releases.  Here’s a preview. 

Probably not as funny as Bill & Ted, but a lot more worthwhile, are Bill & Peter’s roadshow, coming to a location near you.  The last two events of this series will be in Long Island and Stamford, CT.  This is a great way to network and gain exposure to the latest Microsoft technologies.

Notion Solutions, a long time VSTS Partner, is providing a series of introductory VSTS webcasts.  Please join if you want to learn about or refresh your memory about VSTS.

Notion Solutions – Visual Studio Team System Webcast Series

Visual Studio Team System 2008 Overview

1/29/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 2/19/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

3/12/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 4/2/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 4/23/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

5/14/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 6/4/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 6/25/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

Team Foundation Server - 2008 Overview

2/5/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 2/26/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

3/19/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 4/9/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 4/30/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

5/21/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 6/11/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

Visual Studio Team System 2008 Developer Edition Overview

 2/5/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 2/26/2009 - 3:00:00 PM

3/19/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 4/30/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 5/21/2009 - 3:00:00 PM

6/11/2009 - 3:00:00 PM

Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Professional Edition Overview

 2/12/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 3/5/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

3/26/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 4/16/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 5/7/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

5/28/2009 - 1:00:00 PM 6/18/2009 - 1:00:00 PM

Visual Studio Team System 2008 Tester Edition Overview

2/12/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 3/5/2009 - 3:00:00 PM

3/26/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 4/16/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 5/7/2009 - 3:00:00 PM

5/28/2009 - 3:00:00 PM 6/18/2009 - 3:00:00 PM

If you’re curious about the benefits of ALM, Tallan is hosting a free workshop in the Microsoft NYC office on 2/20/2009 that can help you understand the benefits on ALM & VS Team System. 

Wish you could’ve attended one of the most important PDCs ever but couldn’t?  Well, now you get a second change.   From December 9th thru February 19th, the Microsoft Developer Conference will be coming to a city near you.  The MDC is a condensed, one day conference that delivers the essence of PDC 2008.  It’s a great opportunity to understand ground breaking technologies that will impact how you develop and deliver software in the coming years.   Don’t miss it.

For those of you in the NY area, I hope to see you on January 20, 2009 at the Marriott Marquis.

Get more information here and register.

Our second meeting is on Tuesday 10/28 @ 6pm at the MS NYC office.  The topic will be TFS version control. 

Register here.

http://weblogs.asp.net/stephenwalther/archive/2008/10/21/essential-visual-studio-tips-amp-tricks-that-every-developer-should-know.aspx

Lots happening in the VSTS World:

1. VSTS Development Edition and VSTS Database Edition have been merged.  That means, when you purchase either one, you also get the other one.  If you currently own either edition, you may be eligible to get the other.  This is a great value and the winners are developers! 
2. The upcoming TFS Powertools look incredible.  I think this is possibly the best release ever of the Powertools.  TFS users are going to love it.
3. Check out the VSTS section of Channel 9 for previews of what’s on tap for VSTS 2010.
4. Information on how to use VSTS & Sharepoint is starting to rollout.  Watch this space.

Tallan, a Microsoft VSTS Inner Circle Partner, is hosting a free two day seminar on how to adopt VSTS as the basis for your Application Management Strategy.

“Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) synchronizes business goals and IT investment priorities, provides valuable insight into the software development lifecycle at each stage of the process, and can enable organizations to get the most value out of their IT investments. Companies like yours that have embraced ALM have already realized greater productivity. With VSTS and TFS, Microsoft has the tools to help you adopt ALM and realize the benefits.  This intensive two-day workshop will show you how.

Adopting Application Lifecycle Management is brought to you by Tallan and Microsoft. The workshop will be held from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM on October 7^th and October 8^th at the Microsoft NYC Office at 1290 Avenue of the Americas  6th Floor New York, NY 10104.  Meals will be provided.

To register, reply to this email, use the link below or call 860.368.3082

http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=130795”