Event Details
Have you ever had to work with a legacy codebase? Designing new functionality on existing applications can be daunting. There are always differences between the original design and the current implementation. The new Architecture tools within Visual Studio 2010 help you to understand the application you have, design new functionality you need, and validate that your design and your implementation do not deviate. Join us for a look at the new code visualization, UML, and architectural validation tools which allow you to model domain-specific problem domains and maintain proper control and visibility of your software systems.

About the Speaker
Cameron Skinner joined Microsoft in 2005 and is currently a product unit manager on the Visual Studio team. He is responsible for overseeing the Visualization and Architecture capabilities found in Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate. Prior to Microsoft, Mr. Skinner was the CTO and chief architect of application development tools for Embarcadero Technologies. Earlier in his career, he served as CTO for Advanced Software Technologies. In his limited spare time, Mr. Skinner enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, Crossfit, and playing his acoustic bass.

When
Friday, April 30, 2010 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CT)

Location
Microsoft Office - Memphis 6465 North Quail Hollow Suite 200 Memphis TN, 38120

Registration
http://cameronskinner.eventbrite.com/
Note: Seating is limited

Unfortunately, our speaker who was lined up to speak at this month's meeting had to cancel at the last minute, so we will NOT meet this Month.

We look forward to seeing you again in April!

Join us for a sneak peek at some of the new capabilities in Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2010, a landmark release of the premier development and testing toolset for Windows®, Web and Cloud development. 
 
Microsoft has made significant investments to improve the Testing/QA tools in Visual Studio 2010.  The Next Generation Testing Event is your exclusive opportunity to experience the incredible power and capabilities these new tools bring to the QA and testing process.  At this event, you'll get a comprehensive overview, as well as a deep dive, into the range of new tools and how they can enable you to improve the way you develop and test software on the Microsoft platform. 
 
This will be an invaluable opportunity to learn how to take software development to the next level with Visual Studio 2010's new testing features

Event Agenda

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Audience
Software Testers

QA Professionals

Developers

 

 

Prizes and Give-a-Ways
Attendees will have a chance to win a new Zune HD!

 

Register for a date & location near you! 

Click the appropriate registration link below OR call 1.877.673.8368 and reference the Event ID.

 

 

Topic & Speaker

Silverlight and WCF in Line of Business Applications
For this presentation, we'll look at how leveraging Silverlight and WCF will produce more viable Line of Business Applications within a Rapid Application Development Environment. We'll accomplish this by taking existing code, apply strategies using pre-defined Business Entities to generate applications that leap frog current industry accomplishments. Other things of note during this presentation are Security concerns and how to address application integrity, inherent data binding within Silverlight, and tips/tricks/caveats that affect performance and reliability.

Chris Nicholson
Chris is an IT professional with 14 years experience developing custom, innovative business-driven applications for high-performing companies. He is able to leverage multiple platforms and languages and a strong database background to help businesses accomplish strategic objectives. He also possesses a demonstrated ability to nimbly create solutions that streamline the user experience in complex business processes. Chris' ability to creatively design easy-to-implement systems to meet the most challenging business needs enables Helix to deliver clients genuinely innovative solutions.

Agenda

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Sign in; Networking; Free Pizza (provided by RHT)
6:30 PM - 6:40 PM - Tool of the Month
6:45 PM - 6:50 PM - Announcements
6:45 PM - 7:55 PM - Feature Presentation
7:55 PM - 8:00 PM - Raffle

Location

New Horizons
4775 American Way
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 375-1533

Topic & Speaker

Fun with Scripting – AJAX with ASP.NET Client Controls and jQuery
Join us for this session to have a little fun with Javascript - and no, that wasn't a typo! Specifically, we'll explore how to build reusable, cross-browser ASP.NET AJAX client controls that invoke web services to dynamically update content on an ASP.NET page, thus bypassing expensive postbacks and improving the responsiveness of our web application. We'll also compare this technique to another very popular technique for adding AJAX functionality to web applications utilizing the jQuery library so you can decide the best way to add dynamic functionality to you web applications. This will be a full hands-on, code-building session with very few slides so don't miss it.

Ron Cundiff
Ron Cundiff has over 15 years of experience in the software development industry, and is the founder of Sheer Velocity Corporation, a company specializing in custom software development, technical training, and technical content creation for software developers. He can be reached at ron@sheervelocity.com.

Agenda

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Sign in; Networking; Free Pizza (provided by RHT)
6:30 PM - 6:40 PM - Tool of the Month
6:45 PM - 6:50 PM - Announcements
6:45 PM - 7:55 PM - Feature Presentation
7:55 PM - 8:00 PM - Raffle

Location

New Horizons
4775 American Way
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 375-1533

Topic & Speaker

Open Forum
This month, we're planning on trying something a little different. I've received questions and topic requests from many of you that lead me to believe that the group would benefit from sharing our knowledge which each other.

The plan for this month is to first eat some BBQ together catered by Corky's - sponsored by Robert Half. While we eat in the common area, we'll gather a list of your questions and topics you'd like to discuss. These topics could be anything related to .NET development or the user group. Keep in mind that the best topics are ones that are likely to be interesting to a broad audience, but we'll accept all topic nominations.

Come prepared to participate - contribute either a question, a topic, a comment, or all the above.

Agenda

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Sign in; Networking; Free Corky's BBQ (provided by RHT)
6:30 PM - 6:40 PM - Tool of the Month
6:45 PM - 6:50 PM - Announcements & Ground Rules
6:45 PM - 7:55 PM - Open Forum
7:55 PM - 8:00 PM - Raffle

Location

New Horizons
4775 American Way
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 375-1533

See you there!

Colin Neller
MNUG President

Expression Blend 3
Microsoft Expression Blend 3 is a user interface design tool developed and sold by Microsoft for creating graphical interfaces for web and desktop applications that blend the features of these two types of applications. It is an interactive, WYSIWYG front-end for designing XAML-based interfaces for Windows Presentation Foundation and Silverlight applications. It is one of the applications in the Microsoft Expression Studio suit.

In this presentation, John will walk through the Blend 3 Integrated Development Environment, create a Silverlight media player, and if time permits, discuss and demonstrate the new SketchFlow prototype tool.

 

John Stagich has 25 years of IT experience. For the last three and a half years he has worked as a Microsoft .Net/SQL contractor in the Memphis area. He also operates his own business: Stagich Software Consulting.

John has a master's degree in computer science from the University of Kentucky and is also a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) in Web Client Development. Here is John's contact information:

John Stagich
Work: 901.248.1748
Cell: 901.219.9266
www.JohnStagich.com
www.JohnStagich.com/blog

Sandcastle [Download]
Have you, your co-workers, or your employees needed to create useful MSDN-like documentation? This is why we have Sandcastle. Simply put, Sandcastle is a tool to extract the XML comments ("///") within your code to produce MSDN-like documentation.

In the talk, we will approach this subject as more of a tutorial so you can take this knowledge directly to your day job and start producing top-notch documentation. At the end of this presentation, the attendees will be able to install the tools for creating documentation, configure their projects to create XML documentation, document their code for sandcastle, and create documentation using sandcastle.

Chris Byerly has been a developer in the Memphis Metropolitan area for a long time as well as a regular attendee of the .Net user group. He has worked for companies like Transaction Graphics, Inc. and Data Communication Corporation. Currently, he is a contractor with TekSystems as well as the webmaster for On Location: Memphis (The Memphis International Film Festival).

As a developer, he enjoys working on web-based applications as well as libraries. He also seems to find the Windows 7 commercials with Kylie very funny.

Meeting Location
New Horizons
4775 American Way
Memphis, TN, 38118

ASP.NET Firestarter – Cincinnati – Oct 17 - http://cinnug.org/specialevents.aspx

GR Give Camp – Grand Rapids – Nov 13-15 - http://grgivecamp.org/

SharePoint Saturday – Cleveland – Nov 14 – http://sharepointsaturday.org

Professional Developers Conference (PDC) – Los Angeles – Nov 17-20 – http://microsoftpdc.com

ATTENTION: This month's date and location are not our normal meeting day or location

Location: Emerge Memphis

516 Tennessee Street
Memphis, TN 38103
901.312.7700

Date: TUESDAY, September 29 @ 6:00 PM

Topic: Windows Mobile 6.5 Development

We're really excited to announce a barcamp style event, called WinMoDevCamp, for the upcoming Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 OS!

The event inspired by BarCamp, SuperHappyDevHouse, and MacHack, iPhoneDevCamp and préDevCamp to develop applications (local and web based) for mobile devices that run the Windows Mobile 6.5 Operating System.

Attendees will include mobile developers, web developers, .NET Developers, UI designers, and testers, all working together. Development projects will include both solo and team efforts. While some attendees will wish to work solo during the event, we encourage attendees to team up, based on expertise, to work in ad-hoc project development teams. All attendees should be prepared to work on a development project during the event.

Attendees will be able to:

• Learn about the upcoming platform, the roadmap, and the launch program.
• Create new applications for the Windows Mobile Platform.
• Migrate existing mobile applications from the iPhone, Blackberry and Palm Pre to the Windows Mobile Platform
• Create applications to support Windows Enterprise Applications
• Learn about Race To Market Challenge, a contest for mobile developers where someone could earn fame and big prizes.
• Eat a good dinner.

Bring your laptop, loaded with VS 2008, a Windows Mobile 6.1 SDK Refresh and Windows Mobile 6.5 DTK. Otherwise, follow along on a friend's laptop, or just listen along.

Speaker: Jon Box joined Microsoft as an Architect Evangelist with 20+ years in software development in 2006. He has worked in a variety of environments and languages that include COBOL, Assembler, Clipper, C, C++ (Borland, ATL, MFC, Win32, COM/DCOM), VB5/VB6, and .NET. Before joining Microsoft, Jon was the Microsoft Regional Director for Memphis and a Microsoft MVP (Solution Architect). He also spent the previous six years employed at Microsoft partners doing training, course development, writing, presenting, consulting, and management. Jon co-founded the Memphis .NET Users Group, presented at past DevDays and TechEd, gave MSDN webcasts, and spoke at other Microsoft and INETA sponsored events. In addition to several whitepapers on MSDN on .NET and mobility, Jon co-authored Building Solutions with the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework back in 2004. He also served as the Mobility Editor for the ".NET Developers Journal". Now, Jon lives to help architects leverage the Microsoft platform to build game-changing system innovation. Jon has a more detailed bio on his MSDN blog, Out Of The Box.

Custom Webpart development for MOSS

Writing webparts is not as easy as it should be, so getting the most reuse out of the webparts I build is one thing always on my mind! In this presentation I will cover how to develop webparts that leverage common webpart communication interfaces and how to build reusable custom editorparts. These powerful topics can help you develop webparts that will more easily integrate with Microsoft’s out of the box gallery of webparts and other third party webparts. Also developing custom editor parts can make your webparts easier to use and provide a richer user experience at configuration time. So get ready to get your hands dirty and write some code as we look under the hood at how to build truly reusable webparts.

 

Pat Converse is a Group Manager for Avanade. His focus is on the design and delivery of advanced Solutions and Products built on the .NET platform. Over the past several years he has focused on delivering custom MOSS, Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) solutions built using the .NET 3.0/3.5 Frameworks for the Oil/gas and mortgage banking industries. 

Mr. Converse has worked in the Information Technology industry since 1998. Mr. Converse has developed products and solutions for a variety of industries (Oil and Gas, Healthcare, Insurance, Asset Management, Food Service, Industrial Materials, Government, Banking, etc…). He is experienced in several development methodologies including Microsoft Solutions Framework, Agile Development (XP, Scrum, and Lean), and Ration Unified Process. Mr. Converse normally serves in the Solution/Product Architect, Team Lead, or Senior Developer role.

.NET development, Design Patterns, application frameworks and application integration patterns leveraging various tools (SOA, ETL, Biztalk) have been Mr. Converse’s technical focuses. He has recently taken a keen interest in Software Factories, Software Guidance, and larger scale development automation techniques.

Internet Explorer 8 for Developers

The Windows Internet Explorer 8 browser makes it easier to explore and interact with the web. Did you know that there will be a new standards mode by default? While it can easily be turned off, knowing the potential to impact this may have on many sites that have been crafted around various features in past versions is a good idea. Attend this session to learn which current practices you need to change and how the new standards mode affects your development techniques and your existing sites. We review tools that are built into Internet Explorer 8 to help developers debug and create Web pages. We also discuss Web Slices, Accelerators, and Search Suggestion – all of which are key new features in this latest release.

 

Ron Cundiff has over 15 years of experience in the software development industry, and is the founder of Sheer Velocity Corporation, a company specializing in custom software development, technical training, and technical content creation for software developers.  He can be reached at ron@sheervelocity.com.

It’s official.  Memphis now has a SQL Server User’s Group.

Please join us for our first meeting

When:     Thursday, March 19th, at 6:00 PM
Where:    New Horizons
               4775 American Way
               Memphis, TN, 38118

Topic: SQL 2008 T-SQL Enhancements

SQL Server 2008 offers a host of new and enhanced features, many of which are targeted towards developers.  This makes SQL Server development more interesting than ever before.  New capabilities include support for Spatial Data, Sparse Data, and Filtered Indexes.  Enhancements include new T-SQL items such as new DATE/TIME data types and the long-awaited MERGE statement.  In addition, many existing subsystems, such as Service Broker and the SQL CLR, have been improved as well.  (Wait until you see what has been done to SQL Reporting Services!)   Come see Jerry give an overview of a handful of these new features, as well as a deep-dive into the T-SQL enhancements.

Speaker: Jerry Dixon

Jerry Dixon is an Application Development Consultant with Microsoft.  He works as part of their Premier Support organization in Memphis, Tennessee, helping clients get the most out of the Microsoft development platform.  Over the past 20 years he has led development projects for a number of enterprise, mid-level, and small business organizations. While he has fulfilled multiple roles as an infrastructure designer, database administrator, and software developer, he specializes in XML, SQL and ASP.NET. He is a past President of the Memphis .NET User Group, and is a frequent presenter at developer events around the region. Jerry holds the following Microsoft certifications: MCSD (VB 6.0 and .NET), MCDBA (SQL 2000), MCSA (Windows 2000 and 2003), MCSE (Windows 2000), MCAD (.NET), and MCT.
In his spare time, Jerry works with stained glass and takes Martial Arts classes.  (He has a Blue Sash in Kung Fu, and a Brown/White Belt in Karate.)  He also enjoys wood-working and computer gaming.

For more information, Contact:
Dan Evans: Dan.Evans@mem-pass.org
Alvin Ramard: Alvin.Ramard@mem-pass.org

If you wish to attend, please register for the event on the CodeZone website and use the following "Access Code": MEM-PASS-Member

Attendance is free and pizza is provided.

Topic: NHibernate
Tired of writing CRUD? Codegen or not, there's got to be a better way! NHibernate is the most excellent port of Java's Hibernate to the .NET platform offering flexibility and versatility to give you time to solve the problems you are paid to solve. We looking into extending the framework, configuration, mapping, concurrency, and solutions to the most common CRUD scenarios.

Speaker: Phil Japikse
Phil has been working with .Net since the early days, and developing software for over 20 years. Specializing in application architect and agile methodologies, Phil helps clients with eCommerce sites, shrink-wrapped and/or internal Smart Client/WPF applications, coaching teams in their transition to agile, and also teaches classes on Test Driven Development, Patterns and Practices, and various additional topics. Phil is an active member of the .Net community, serving as a director for the Cincinnati .Net User's Group and Software Architecture SIG, speaking throughout the Heartland for Code Camps and User Groups, and nationally at conferences such as VSLive. A Principal Consultant with Pinnacle Solutions Group, Inc. (www.pinnsg.com - a Senior level firm specializing in Custom Software, BI, and eCommerce solutions located in Cincinnati, OH), Phil is an avid .Net Application Architect, Developer, Speaker, and Trainer. Phil is also a contributing author for www.NPlus1.org, a site by architects, for architects. Phil currently holds MCSD.Net, MCDBA, and Certified Scrum Master certifications. Phil also serves as a Firefighter/Paramedic/Instructor for the local fire department and volunteers for the National Ski Patrol. You can follow Phil on twitter via www.twitter.com/skimedic and read his blog at www.japikse.blogspot.com.

Topic: Introduction to DotNetNuke, and enhancements in version 5
DotNetNuke is an open-source Web Application Framework/Content Management System idea for creating and deploying projects such as commercial websites, corporate intranets and extranets, online publishing portals, and custom vertical applications. As the leading open source web application framework based on Microsoft ASP.NET (VB.Net) platform, it has been downloaded and installed hundreds of thousands of times. In this presentation, we will go through the basic features and functionality of DotNetNuke, and then discuss the enhancements in the recent release of version 5.0.

Speaker: Brian Swanson
Brian Swanson is the founder of Purple Ant Software, a software and website development firm based in Memphis, TN. Starting off programming in Turbo Pascal, progressing through Clipper, Delphi, and then into .Net development, he's been developing software for fun or as a profession for 15+ years. Brian has been focused exclusively on .Net development for the past 7 years working on projects either as an employee or a consultant for small start-up Internet companies up to Fortune 500 companies. He holds the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator for SQL Server, and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer for .Net certifications. Brian has recently been added to several of the DotNetNuke module projects as a team member. Check his blog out at http://www.purpleant.com/Blogs/BrianSwanson/tabid/64/Default.aspx