Topic:  ASP.NET Web Part Development for SharePoint

Custom Web Parts can be coded to run on ASP2 Web pages, WSS v3 Web Part pages, or both. Editor Controls (known in WSS v2 as Tool Parts) are used to manipulate the values of built-in and custom properties that facilitate customization at design time and personalization, by the end user, via the browser, at runtime. Todd will explain in depth all the options you have to create custom Web Parts in 10 easy steps.

Speaker:  Todd Bleeker 

Todd has architected many solutions for small and large corporations. For instance, in 2003 Todd architected the software that Air Canada uses to track its roughly $30 million of annual in-flight cash sales. Todd helped the State of Minnesota webify and manage over 40,000 pages of systems documentation using SharePoint Team Services. Todd implemented, on behalf of Microsoft Consulting Services, an MCMS POC for the Bank of Montreal. Todd also presented on Web Services and MCMS at TechEd.

Topic:  Model View Presenter (MVP) Notes

The Model View Presenter (MVP) is more than the next release of the Model View Controller (MVC) design pattern. The MVP addresses some frustrating shortcomings of its illustrious predecessor, such as, testing user interfaces and playing nicely with ASP.NET. This presentation explores both the theory and application of this "new and improved" user interface pattern.

Speaker:  Tom Fischer

Tom Fischer helps Magenic (www.magenic.com) clients design and build applications using Microsoft tools and technologies. And when not consulting he occasionally writes about the lessons learned using Microsoft tools and technologies.

Topic:  An Introduction to WPF/E (Windows Presentation Foundation / Everywhere)

WPF/E delivers rich, cross-platform, interactive experiences including animation, graphics, audio, and video for the Web and beyond. Utilizing a subset of XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language)-based Windows Presentation Foundation technology, WPF/E will enable the creation of content and applications that run within multiple browsers and operating systems (Windows and Macintosh) using Web standards for programmability. Consistent with Web architecture, the XAML markup is programmable using JavaScript and works well with ASP.NET AJAX.

WPF/E provides a great way to get up to speed with XAML and the Windows Presentation Foundation. See how easy it is to get a rich media experience up and running in a web application today.

Speaker:  Doug Nelson

Doug is the Practice Partner with ILM. He provides expert application development services for a growing number of clients with a primary focus on solving complex business problems. These applications developed are based on a Sql Server backend database with a web based front-end. He has been doing web development since 1996, transitioning from CGI applications to classic ASP and on to ASP.Net. In addition to the web development, these applications also support WinForms and Pocket PCs. He has extensive experience implementing truly distributed applications involving windows services, message queueing and web services.

Topic:  Space-Based Architecture and the End of Tier-Based Computing

Most business applications are architected using a tier-based approach (presentation, business logic, data tier). The emergence of powerful and new commodity HW and the introduction of SOA/Grid architectures touts the promise of achieving true linearly-scalable systems at a lower cost. However, as we shall see in this presentation, these new platforms and architectures are not aligned with the existing tier-based approach, which is by definition centralized and static. During the presentation, a new approach will be introduced - Space Based Architecture (SBA). It is basically a combination of Distributed Caching, SOA and Grid concepts combined into a single coherent architecture optimized for high-performance data-intensive applications, which transforms existing tier-based applications into linearly and dynamically scalable services. Towards the end we will also discuss a real-life example of a financial application that was built using the SBA. We will explore the patterns used to achieve this goal and explore how it can be applied to other applications with similar requirements.

Speaker:  Owen Taylor 

As Director of Technical Communications with GigaSpaces Technologies Inc, Owen translates the new architectural concepts and technical capabilities of space-based solutions into accessible formats so that technologists can adapt them rapidly into their environments and gain their maximum benefit. Owens’ areas of expertise include J2EE design patterns and performance tuning of J2EE applications.

Topic:  Utilizing Software Factories in Software Development 

Developing software is complex, time consuming and often repetitive. As a developer you want to get away from the monotony of doing the same thing over and over and focus on the logic and implementation of the application. As an architect you want to ensure that your development team is following best practices and building quality software. This presentation will discuss the suite of tools that enable you to build Software Factories that can drive both guidance and automation. It will also discuss advantages and disadvantages of utilizing software factories, the options you have for defining guidance and automation, the process for customizing existing factories and what to think about when building your Software Factory.

Speaker:  Shannon Braun

Shannon Braun is an independent consultant and founder of Sysknowlogy, which provides consulting and development services using Microsoft technologies. Shannon focuses on assisting corporations adopt Microsoft technologies and has helped companies solve business problems with Microsoft .NET, BizTalk, Commerce Server, SharePoint, WPF and Web Services. Shannon has served as a member of the .NET Partner Advisory Committee, Microsoft Architecture Partner Board, Microsoft Architecture Advisory Board and is currently a member of the Visual Studio Partner Advisory Board and a Microsoft Solution Architect MVP.

Topic:  Are your Web Services SOA-Ready?

Service-Oriented Architecture and Web Services go hand-in-hand. That doesn't mean that any old web service is a good web service when you move into the world of SOA. We will explore some of the developing guidelines for Service Oriented Architecture and attempt to answer some of these types of questions:

• What do we really mean when we talk about messages and SOA?
• Is Loosely-Coupled the opposite of Tightly-Coupled?
• Is WS* as hard to use as it is to spell?
• 2.0 - 3.0 : Matryoshka dolls? or More of the same?
• WCF. All we need is another acrynomn from MS -- Right?
• Will I learn anything new or just eat some pizza?

Speaker:  Todd Van Nurden

Todd Van Nurden is a Microsoft Principal Technology Specialist focusing on Microsoft's SOA and BPM platforms. Todd is a Developer/Architect by trade with 15 years of experience including work with DARP (Defense Advanced Research Programs) on the Autonomic Logistical Systems.

Topic:  BPM, Workflow, and Business Rules

InRule Technology is a member of the Microsoft Business Process Alliance, a select group of 10 ISVs focused on creating solutions that further enhance business process management (BPM) enablement on the Microsoft platform. Jeff Key, a Technical Product Manager for InRule Technology and Microsoft MVP, and Theresa O’Neil, VP of Business Development, will present a practical session that includes real world use cases, code samples, and a demonstration of integrating business rules with applications. This educational session will include discussions of:

• Defining BPM and its Value
• BPM Technology Components
• Workflow for Efficiency
• Business Rules for Agility
• BRE Considerations and Selection Criteria
• InRule Architecture and Demo
• Q&A

Speaker:  Jeff Key, InRule Technology

Jeff’s knowledge of Microsoft .NET and his contributions to the Microsoft user community have earned him Microsoft MVP status. His leadership as a technical product manager has helped InRule Technology deliver the leading business rule engine for .NET: InRule™, and has helped spearhead the development and release of InRule for Windows Workshop Foundation and InRule for BizTalk Server.

Topic:  Heard about LINQ? Come and see its capabilities

If you thought Generic collections were impressive, wait until you see Language INtegrated Query (LINQ) which adds query and set operations, like SQL statements first class citizens in .Net languages like C# and VB. How many times have you been faced with a large collection of business objects and need to extract or perform operations on a subset of those objects? This presentation will explain LINQ and show how to implement queries that allow traveral, filters and projection operations in a direct yet declarative way in .Net. 

Speaker:  Doug Nelson, ILM

Doug is a Practice Partner with ILM. He provides expert application development services for a growing number of clients with a primary focus on solving complex business problems. These applications developed are based on a Sql Server backend database with a web based front-end. He has been doing web development since 1996, transitioning from CGI applications to classic ASP and on to ASP.Net. In addition to the web development, these applications also support WinForms and Pocket PCs. He has extensive experience implementing truly distributed applications involving windows services, message queueing and web services.

Topic:  Getting Database Schema Under Control with Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals 

Microsoft Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals delivers a market-shifting database development product designed to manage database change, improve software quality through database testing, and bring the benefits of Visual Studio Team System and lifecycle development to the database professional. Team Edition for Database Professionals enables you to get and maintain control of your database schema by taking database development offline and allowing you to develop database assets the same way you develop applications today. It includes features such as unit testing, test data generating and database comparison to improve the overall quality of your database development efforts. If you’re using Microsoft SQL Server and you’ve ever deployed a mismatched set of application code and database assets or if the answer to the question “How do you know what version of a stored procedure is running in production?” is “We look at the production database,” then you need to attend this session.

Speaker:  Bill Maurer, Microsoft

Bill Maurer is a Developer Technology Specialist with Microsoft Corporation responsible for assisting customers in understanding Microsoft’s Visual Studio Team System ALM toolset. His 25+ years in the software industry include 22 years as a developer and 4 years as a .NET Developer Evangelist. When not working with developer tools, Bill enjoys computer gaming and getting out on the lake with his family.