Just recently we've been looking into using one or more of the code blocks that are available from Patterns and Practices. Because of the work that was needed to integrate the different blocks, we decided to wait for the new release of the enterprise library. I just received an email from Pascal with the news that MSDN Patterns and practices just released the new/public version of the Enterprise Library; quite a bit sooner than we had expected.

This release should integrate the following blocks: “Caching Application Block, Configuration Application Block, Cryptography Application Block, Data Access Application Block, Exception Handling Application Block, Logging & Instrumentation Application Block, and Security Application Block“.

Download can be found here.

How long would it take for the /.-mobs to find Robert's blog? http://weblogs.asp.net/rmclaws/archive/2005/01/08/349242.aspx

One of quotes he didn't mention, is actually the reverse of the argument that is often used to explain why Microsoft products receive so much 'attention' from hackers:

"I think it's unlikely that we'll see hackers rush to exploit this vulnerability," Emm said. "After all, Firefox has a much, much smaller install base than IE, and it's likely that hackers will continue to pay more attention to (IE) instead."

Somehow I don't expect an agreement on what the best/safest/fastest browser is, will happen anytime soon.

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/events/pdc/ for details on the next PDC.

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=31050

The video gives a nice impression of the amount of work that is being put into building the next version of SQL Server. It's kind of weird seeing the testing of the SQL Server UI filling an entire lab. When you think about it, the UI really is an important over the overall solution that SQL Server offers.

I think #2 is the best one:

http://www.theserverside.net/cartoons/Top10_NET_Thankful/Top10_NET_Thankful.swf

New version of FxCop available at http://gotdotnet.com/team/fxcop/

Major features of this release: 

• Simplification of report xml.
• New Fix Categories: Each message is marked to indicate if the suggested fix will constitute a breaking change for previously shipped code.
• User Interface Improvements: windowing behavior has been made more consistent
• Auto Update: Sign up to get notified when a new version of FxCop is available.

New Rules:

• Design
  • Avoid excessive parameters on generic types
  • Collections should  implement generic interface
  • Do not declare static members on generic types
  • Do not expose generic lists
  • Do not nest generic types in member signatures
  • Enums should have zero value
  • Generic methods should provide type parameter
  • Members should not expose certain concrete types

Tired of having to explain why you're not using technology that “can run on any platform“? Then this will be a nice break.

Rocky's comment on the article at enterprise-architect.net is spot on. The main tenent in SOA is that we can assume very little about the services we interact with.

The only thing that is shared between services is the contract. Making assumptions at build-time beyond this, are bound to limit the usability of that service later on. Trying to change an existing system so that it can cope with a distributed scenario, seems similar to adding other fundamental features like security.

When done as an afterthought, it will take dramatically more effort and it will also be more prone to inconsitencies in it's implementation.

I spent the better part of the afternoon trying to get my new router (a WRT54G) to connect to my ADSL-modem.

The ADSL-modem (Alcatel Speedtouch Home) uses PPTP to setup a connection to the provider. And the router - as I've learned this afternoon - does not support PPTP very well. (Read: ... at all)

The solution I ended up using, was tweaking the ADSL-modem in such a way that it doesn't require PPTP anymore for the connection. It now logs on by itself and only requires a static IP-address on the internal side.

Tweaking the modem and changing the network settings took less than 10 minutes.

Lessons learned:

• Don't recommend non-technical users to buy a new router.
• Don't try to get the WRT54G to use PPTP

Note to self: when using a CA that you have created yourself, make sure that the Machine Account has access to the CA-certificate.

Errors that you'll encounter are:

• 0x800B0109
• HTTP Error 403.16 - Forbidden: Client certificate is ill-formed or is not trusted by the Web server.
• The page requires a valid SSL client certificate Your client certificate is untrusted or invalid. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)client certificate is used for identifying you as a valid user of the resource.

Jeffrey Snover explains the principles behind the new Windows shell aka Monad. (video) Next week they'll post the 2nd part of the interview; that will probably contain some demos. If you can't wait that long: Jeffrey also appeared on the .NET-show.

Update: demo is now available

Take a look at the possibilities of designing an UI with WinForms and Visual Studio 2005. Click here for the video. Developer productivity is cranked up another notch.

Now combine this with a SmartClient-scenario where the WinForm-app is started using a href/exe. What would be the reason of using a browser-based application anymore?