Planet SCM

Just found some really cool content on the Microsoft profile on Facebook for those learning to create applications for the Web and Windows using the free Visual Studio 2008 Express products. Sam used to work with me on my previous team. It looks like he's really enjoying his new gig.

Free Software, Free Learning: Visual Studio 2008 Express

At Microsoft the word 'Express' equates to 'Free' and Express Editions can be downloaded and used by anyone. With Visual Studio Express, you don’t need to be a seasoned programmer to explore your creativity. Check out the Coding4Fun blog for ideas…
Watch and Discuss

Podcast
Sam Gazitt discusses his favorite features of Visual Studio 2008 Express. This is the overview of VS but contains features that are not in the Express editions…there should be a non-pro version of this on the podcast site. I also cover popfly and samples that we ship as part of Coding4Fun.
(WMA 2MB) | MP3 (6 MB)

Getting Started
Jacqueline Russell walks through step-by-step instructions for downloading, installing and first project.My First Windows Application Video (WMA) or My First Web Application Video (WMA)

Program Now: Video How Tos
Create a C# WPF Application Video (WMV) | Article
Create a C# Windows Form Application Video (WMV) | Article
Create a C# Console Applcation Video (WMV) | Article
Writing Queries in C# (LINQ) Video (WMV) | Article

Facebook | Microsoft

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One of the books I added to my permanent collection earlier this year is Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter) by Garr Reynolds. This was around the time I attended VizThink, which filled my head with ideas of how presentations can be more compelling and engaging experiences. In March, Reynolds spoke at Google and the video of that presentation is available for online viewing (Found via a blog I was reading last night, but I can't remember which one).

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We're launching a new series of Team System instructional videos on MSDN:

Get videos designed for Visual Studio Team System. Learn about how organizations can ensure greater predictability and quality early and often throughout the development process.

Source: "How Do I?" Videos for Visual Studio Team System

The first two videos, How Do I: Customize TeamPlain? (aka Team System Web Access) and How Do I: Create Custom Work Items in Team Foundation Server? are available for download in several formats for playback on your favorite device (including iPod and Zune).

What other videos would you like to see?

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Some excellent excerpts from David Platt's keynote at SD West this year on Why Software Sucks.

• Why Software Sucks: Geeks Drive Stick Shift Cars (2:01)
• Why Software Sucks: Geeks Think You Want To Use It (3:16)

Consider subscribing: Techrant, or purchasing the book:

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We have some videos coming soon of interviews we shot with S. Somasegar, Anders Hejlsberg, Brian Harry, Scott Guthrie, KD Hallman, and Brad Abrams for the Defy All Challenges site. Here's a mix video that'll give you a taste of what to expect.

Video: Defy All Challenges Mix

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If you haven't seen Sandcastle before, take a look at this taped session from the MVP Global Summit earlier this month. 

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with several MVPs as a part of the Microsoft Global MVP summit. My team held sessions around MSDN Wiki and Sandcastle. The session for Sandcastle was very interesting and most of the Windows Help MVPs attended the session. Rob Chandler video taped the session on Sandcastle and posted it at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/robert.w.chandler/SandcastleVideo?authkey=sUo23QwaU-c. Please see the attached Powerpoint slides used at this session. Thanks Rob for attending and doing this.

Source: Sandcastle : Video of Sandcastle session from MVP Global summit

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Last year, I blogged a few times about a CodePlex project J.D. Meier was working on called Guidance Explorer (see my posts tagged with Guidance+Explorer). I thought Guidance Explorer had faded into patterns & practices history, but the reports of its demise were greatly exaggerated.

Take a look at this post from J.D. on using Guidance Explorer to mine and customize the growing body of Visual Studio Team System guidance underway in patterns & practices. As is becoming the fashion, he has a short video that shows you how.

If you are a hunter and gatherer of guidance, you'll want Guidance Explorer.  Watch Video: How To - Personalize Team System Guidance with Guidance Explorer to see how you can use Guidance Explorer to build a custom collection of guidance from our Visual Studio Team System Guidance project.  If you haven't used Guidance Explorer before, or it's been a while, you're in for a surprise.  Seriously.

Source: J.D. Meier's Blog : New Video: How To - Personalize Team System Guidance with Guidance Explorer

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