To SQL or not to SQL : General

VB 6.0 died, rightly so.

Mike Epprecht — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 06:37:00 GMT

Visual Basic 6.0 support died 31 March 2005. Rightly so. Everyone is up in arms. http://classicvb.org/

There is far too much badly architected, badly developed and security-less VB v1.0-6.0 code out there. And it is a risk to every business that is using it.

Now how can a developer not want to move forward, improve on what he/she has written, and at the same time, keep up with the technology boom that put them where they are?

If a VB 6.0 developer can not handle the migration to VB.NET (or better c#), maybe the developer needs a LOT of re-training, or be re-evaluated if he/she is actually good enough for the position held. Developers generally earn a lot of money, but in most cases, they are not worth it.

Yes, a re-write will expose the security holes and the coding monstrosity that was created over the years, but maybe it is good for the IT industry. A good clean out will help drive down costs (those developers who are not productive and competent will be pushed out the industry) and at the same time, sort out all the security flaws that are lying around.

In my opinion, it is time to do a clean sweep. Developers who can not be multi-faceted, not willing to learn the newer languages like c# and Java have no place in this industry. A corporation needs someone who can work on code that runs on the Unix/Linux platforms, and at the same time, pretty and secure UI Windows desktop code (no, I don't believe that Java is the answer to everything, actually, far from that).

Microsoft kept everyone warm and cozy too long. The brutal reality is here. Java is mainstream, c# is getting there, VB has been left behind in the corporate environment. The large corporates have had too much trouble with mediocre VB applications that just don't work in a properly "locked-down" desktop environment.

What about the small company who runs on VB? Well, that same company is still running, now, unsupported Windows 95 and Windows 98. They still will in 2 years time (until the hardware dies and nothing new will run the old Windows). They are not spending 3-5% of turnover on IT. For them, they can wait out this round of development upgrades, and then in 2 years time, get something that works better, and is secure, and will run on Windows Vista/Longhorn.

Maybe Microsoft should not have made VB.NET, as it was trying to be too backward compatible to be really helpful to the average developer. It probably hurt the developer by extending their IT career when they should have left it a long time ago.

VB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0, I started out my career with you, I used your heavily over the years, but I outgrew you. So did Microsoft.

RIP.

Long live c# and SQL Server!

Back from Basta!/SQLCon05

Mike Epprecht — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:36:00 GMT

It was great. The sleepy town of Mainz in Germany, then 600 .NET and SQL Server geeks arrive.

My 2 sessions went well, and had great fun presenting them. I did not get much time to see the others, pity.

I did see Ingo Rammer's “Migrating .NET to Indigo”. Awesome.

Then there was Meinrad Weiss' “SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence”. He had the audience in awe by showing the new features in SQL Server 2005 and a great product called DeltaMiner. Jaws dropped when this BI tool from Bissantz & Company was shown. I have never seen such a simple UI and the graphic rednering technology to look at data was just best of the best.

All in all, a good conference.

Swiss Vodka - xellent

Mike Epprecht — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 05:16:00 GMT

A Russian Colleague living here in Switzerland told me about Swiss produced Xellent Vodka 6 weeks ago. She swore by it.

So, the next day I went and bought a bottle, went to friends for dinner, put it in their freezer and 4 hours later, I took the bottle in my grip and promptly finished half of it over dinner (I was greedy and would not share). The next morning I had no hangover and promptly had a bit more. I swear by the stuff, it is very good. Pity it is not available as a small bottle for me to keep on me during those long meetings or when I am getting cold whilst waiting for the tram here in Zurich.

It is not cheep, but it is very good. I rather pay with my wallet than pay with a hangover and since I am really only a vodka drinker (ok, under duress a beer will do, or a very decent Cognac), I think the best will only do.

Have a look at their site http://www.xellent.ch

http://classicvb.org/

Mike Epprecht — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 03:28:00 GMT

http://classicvb.org/

Visual Basic 6.0 support died 31 March 2005. Rightly so.

There is far too much badly architected, badly developed and security-less VB v1.0-6.0 code out there. And it is a risk to every business that is using it.

Now how can a developer not want to move forward, improve on what he/she has written, and at the same time, keep up with the technology boom that put them where they are?

VB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0, I started out my career with you, I used your heavily over the years, but I outgrew you. So did Microsoft.

RIP.

Long live c# and SQL Server!

Windows Server 2003 SP1 RTM

Mike Epprecht — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 15:50:00 GMT

At last, Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003 is out. Good news. More security.

Download page. At 337'230 KB, it is a big one. Windows Update has it too.

Newsgroups will wake up soon to it.

Google Watch

Mike Epprecht — Tue, 11 Jan 2005 18:22:00 GMT

(Probably I will now drop off the Google ranking for even posting this)

There is a little web site out there, telling you all about BigBrother/Google.

Very interesting reading. Gets me wondering, why do non-US search engines seem to shrivel-up and die. Maybe they get "helped" out of business by the NSA because they refuse to become puppets?

I only use the search engines to look up postings in the newsgroups (microsoft.public.*), for anything else, I seem to only find paid-for advertising.

Is there a MSN Search lobby group out there too?

MS IT Forum 2

Mike Epprecht — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 22:26:00 GMT

Copenhagen is blowing and cold....but still fun.

Networking with MVPs and MS staff is the order of the day....and partying with them at night. Wireless bandwidth until you have downloaded the whole internet and answered all newsgroup questions.

MOM, SMS, ISS, HIS, WMI, .NET, SQL, MMC.....all day long. I think I've heard more TLA's to last a week in just one day.

Listened to BillG live this morning. 2005 will be a very busy year for product releases, so hopefully early 2006, all the large corporates will move to the new versions. Windows Server 2003 R2 (2nd release of Windows Server 2003) will be interesting, depending on what features make it into the final product.

My conclusion on BillG's presentations: SteveB entertains you, BillG informs you. I heard SteveB talk in April 2004 at the MVP Summit. That was a seriously moving experience. This was the 2nd time is saw BillG live (last year in South Africa).

MS IT Forum

Mike Epprecht — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 02:20:00 GMT

Off to MS IT Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Listen to Bill Gates on Tuesday morning, meet fellow MVP's, get MVP Speaker's Training, see what else everyone is spinning about SQL Server 2005.......

Death by PowerPoint is not expected as there is enough material to cover, maybe a demo or two.

It is currently colder in Zurich than it is in Copenhagen, so it will be like a holiday. Yes, 5 to 10 degrees difference means a lot at -2 degrees Celsius.

Danish beer seems to be famous.....well...time to prove everyone right or wrong.

Into the forest....

Mike Epprecht — Mon, 25 Oct 2004 03:31:00 GMT

At last!

In am back into doing my Orienteering. Today I got of my lazy butt and ran an event in North-Eastern Switzerland. Yes, I did run a short course, and came last....but what do you expect if you weigh 124kg? (I am 1.97m / 6' 7" tall so I am virtually proportionate)

What is Orienteering? Well, it is navigation of foot with a map and compass. I've been doing it for 20 years....and I am getting slower every year. It gets me out from behind my keyboard, into the forest, watching pretty young-ish ladies run past me. Even the 60 year olds were running faster.

Now I am happy again...a bit more fulfilled.

I have been quiet....

Mike Epprecht — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 16:45:00 GMT

Yes, I have been very quiet lately, but with me moving to Zurich and starting the new job, I've been totally snowed under.

I am getting time again to answer the questions in the Microsoft Communities. I think I sufferred from withdrawl symptoms.

Today I got an e-mail from my new MVP lead here in Europe. I have been re-awarded my MVP status for 2005. That is great news.

Windows XP SP2 RTM'ed

Mike Epprecht — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 07:39:00 GMT

At last, Windows XP SP2 is out.

It is available on MSDN for subscribers as an ISO image, and will start to show up on Windows Update and other Microsoft Download sites in the next few days.

Patch time!

BUT, security is really improved, so, if you did not follow windows guidelines on application development, your application may break. Get it and test your application before your customers complain!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/security/productinfo/XPSP2/default.aspx

Update:

Full network install available for all to download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

The place for all SP2 information:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/winxpsp2.mspx

Sun thinking of buying Novell

Mike Epprecht — Tue, 03 Aug 2004 06:23:00 GMT

Stay with me.....

Novell owns Mono (Implementation of the Microsoft .NET CLR for Linux and UNIX and other *nix derivatives).
Sun is thinking of buying Novell.
Microsoft and Sun love each other again.
IBM and Sun don't love each other.
IBM is weening it's customers of Red Hat Linux onto SuSe.

So, Sun buys Novell, who owns Mono.....Sun has .NET, and at the same time, IBM looses SuSe Linux.

This is getting fun.........Microsoft and Sun made up in time!

And, here is Sun's Jonathan Schwartz Blog on how IBM is in a pickle.

Zurich, here I come.

Mike Epprecht — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 02:09:00 GMT

I will be moving to Zurich, Switzerland shortly to take up a permanent IT position at one of the banks as a database administrator.

No, I am not going to be making Cookoo Clocks, Chocolate or Cheese, but rather looking after Millions of Stock Market transactions that may make or break the world economy.

Easy...no sweat. I will be looking after SQL Server on Windows and Sybase on Unix.

Everyone asks me, but why Sybase?

Well, there is nothing wrong with Sybase. It is a good and stable database environment and it is the forefather on SQL Server. Eventually Sybase may get replaced, but that is not an option now. Why mess with a system that is working?

My preferences of current scalable and stable DB's:

SQL Server
Sybase
DB2
Oracle (That Larry guy just does not sit right with me).

MySQL does not even make the list........I much prefer a company putting it's name on the line when I trust a critical system to it.

Set Microsoft on Fire: Linspire

Mike Epprecht — Tue, 27 Jul 2004 23:15:00 GMT

Very good promo using a parody of the Doors “Light my Fire“:

http://images.linspire.com/RunLinspireSong/RunLinspire.swf

Fair marketing IMHO.