Microsoft Unveils Next Version of Visual Studio and .NET Framework

terrycl — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:19:00 GMT

Microsoft has 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).

Microsoft provided 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.

Microsoft indicated that customers 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

New VSTS / ALM features include:

•	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.

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.

Click HERE for the full press release and HERE for Somas blog on the topic.

There has also been a lot of press coverage on this announcement: CIO, eWeek, Information Week, InfoWorld, ZDNet, The Register, SD Times

VSTS Team Foundation Server (TFS) Market Research

terrycl — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:46:00 GMT

Object Consulting, a VSIP / Inner Circle partner and developers of Process MeNtOR, have been surveying attendees at TechED events to gauge the uptake of Visual Studio Team System (VSTS) – and in particular, Team Foundation Server (TFS). The results of their latest survey for Tech ED Barcelona makes for interesting reading and can be found here.

Object’s interest in tracking the uptake of VSTS relates directly to their integration of Process MeNtOR (an end-to-end software development methodology for organisations of all sizes) and TFS. An evaluation version of their integration, branded as Process MeNtOR TeamGuide, is available for download here.

Process MeNtOR TeamGuide is an excellent example of the extensibility of VSTS – and is unique in its approach to providing a composable and editable range of methodologies to suite the project at hand and it's leverage of the process infrastructure available within VSTS to maximise team performance and extend the value of VSTS beyond the immediate development team.

Visual Studio, VSIP Partners and more ...... : VSTS Team Foundation Server (TFS) Market Research

Microsoft Unveils Next Version of Visual Studio and .NET Framework

VSTS Team Foundation Server (TFS) Market Research