November 2008 - Posts
For a long time, .NET developers are looking for Chart Controls functionality in .NET framework natively. As an answer to that, Microsoft recently released a cool new ASP.NET server control - <asp:chart /> - that can be used for free with ASP.NET 3.5 to enable rich browser-based charting applications.
The Chart controls for .NET 3.5 can downloaded from the following location. It has the chart controls for both Win Forms and ASP.NET applications.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=130f7986-bf49-4fe5-9ca8-910ae6ea442c&DisplayLang=en
There is also a Visual Studio 2008 AddIn to support these chart controls. The Chart Control Samples and Chart Controls Documentation are also availalbe.
Many customers requested app arch guide 2.0 team of Microsoft for smaller, more focused guides. As a result, Microsoft created a series of application architecture pocket guides based on Application Architecture Guide 2.0. Each guide is focused on a particular topic.
Microsoft prioritized topics based on customer demand. Some customers wanted a focused guide on just the Agile Architecture Method, while others wanted a focused guide on the particular type of applications they build (Web, Rich Client, ... etc.)
Application Architecture Pocket Guides
Here's the initial set of pocket guides from Microsoft:
I got an update from Paul Andrew that, Visual Studio 2010 Tools for SharePoint Announced was announced at Tech Ed EMEA recently. Check out Paul Andrew's Blog for more details on VS 2010 Tools for SharePoint
http://blogs.msdn.com/pandrew/archive/2008/11/10/visual-studio-2010-tools-for-sharepoint-announced-at-teched-emea-developers-2008.aspx
What is the WCF REST Starter Kit?
WCF is the framework for building services across the Microsoft Platform providing a rich set of features for building SOAP and REST services in .NET. The WCF REST Starter Kit simplifies development of REST services adding new features and guidance tightly integrated with ASP.NET and the existing WCF release in .NET 3.5 SP1.
These features include:
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Caching
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[WebCache] attribute provides fully integrated ASP.NET caching
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Security
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Implement common REST security scenarios beyond simple HTTP authentication
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Forms post
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Create services that accept inputs from simple HTTP forms
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Content negotiation
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Templates include built in support for XML / json content negotiation
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X-http-method-override
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Demonstrates how to tunnel PUT/DELETE over environments where these HTTP verbs are not allow by using the X-http-method-override
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Error handling
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Web Exception provides an exception model over the HTTP status code model
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Automatic help page
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Generates an ATOM service document describing your service
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Conditional GET/PUT
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Demonstrates how to implement conditional GET/PUT operations
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Also includes Push style streaming, Type based dispatch and Semi-structured XML support
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The starter kit also includes guidance in the form of templates to help users quickly create Restful services
- REST Singleton
- REST Collection
- ATOM Feed
- ATOM Publishing Protocol
- XML / HTTP (POX)
Where can I learn more?
Watch a video on endpoint.tv or try out a hands on lab:
Ramp Up program (www.MyRampUp.com) has just launched a brand-new learning track: SharePoint for Developers, Part I.
Ramp Up is a free, online, community-based program that can help users save time in learning Microsoft technology. The easy-to-access content (provided by subject-matter gurus) is specifically tailored to the Ramp Up program, and offered in a variety of forms (whitepaper, v-lab, codecast and slidecast). This SharePoint track, along with the other currently offered tracks (eg, Visual Studio 2008), teaches the important skills in a guided path, making the learning process easier and more efficient. Currently, there are no assessments in the program, so it's quicker than ever to graduate and receive the reward (25% off on certification and 50% off on e-Learning - only for graduates of Ramp Up).