CodeStock 2008 Developer's Conference

CodeStock's mission is to bring the best and brightest code experts to East Tennessee for a one day conference open to all developers. This is not a trade show with slick salesman giving prepared demos - this is a gathering of real programmers learning about the latest in technology from each other. Sign up now to learn how you can join us for CodeStock 2008!

Speakers and Agenda

We have lined up 30 sessions, a keynote address by respected author and MVP Jeff Prosise, and a place to hang out with speakers and attendees in open spaces style. Check out the list of amazing sessions by awesome speakers. I will be speaking on ASP.NET Dynamic Data, catch it here.

Registration

Registration is open! You can register for CodeStock 2008 now, and reserve your seat at the greatest developer's conference Knoxville has ever seen!

 

It looks like this will be Philly.NET's BIGGEST EVER code camp.  Check out these stats, sent from Bill Wolff:

· 590+ registered, expect close to 450 attending
· 8 rooms like last time
· Park on the west or north side, north (back of building) is closest to the common and session rooms
· Attendees and speakers must register, all get a badge, speakers get a shirt (please wear it!)
· Several of the partners will have a table for the day, stop by and say hello
· There will be empty attendee bags and a few tables full of goodies
· Volunteers (see below) should start showing up at 7:30 to set up
· We have three high school kids for the day to handle food, trash, and heavy lifting
· The first session is at 8:30
· Lunch is earlier this time – 11:30, Primo Hoagies
· Afternoon snack are hot soft pretzels
· Closing and raffle happen at 4:50 in the common room
· Volunteers are always welcome to help clean up
· The speaker party immediately follows (5:30-7:30) at the Bent Elbow
· Evaluations will happen online this time using SharePoint, results will be posted in less than a week
· Attendees can win one of three Zunes by completing evaluations

 

My session is "An Intro to ASP.NET Dynamic Data".  You'll get the basics of ASP.NET Dynamic Data in about an hour.  You should be able to be up and building some apps w/it after sitting in the session.

 

Friday starts my Tour de' PA, when I leave for the Bloomsburg area then head over to Philly on Saturday then Harrisburg on Sunday.  What a weekend it's going to be!

 

Thanks to everyone who came to the launch, especially those folks who stayed for the last session of the day when Lindsay and I presented. We were the last session in the afternoon and by then everyone is just darn tired after a full day of sessions and excitement!

Below I've compiled a list of some questions from attendees that I think were great questions worth sharing:

Question: What type of applications are best suited Sync Services

Answer: Here's some programs that would fit nicely - field service, CRM apps, anything for sales folks, trade show management & leads, or any desktop app where you do not or can not have constant connectivity. 

Question: Is it really that easy to share your project with designers, even a desktop app using xaml?

Answer: Why yes it is!  You saw the demo after all!

Question: Can you use Microsoft Access with Sync Services to create a local database cache?

Answer: No, you cannot.

Question: Is Sync Services available for file systems?

Answer: Yes (link below)

Question: Is it possible to add an amination to a xaml form in Visual Studio 2008 or must you use Expression Blend?

Answer: Yes, you can use VS2008 but I'll warn you - the storyboards are much easier w/Expression Blend, as you'd need to hand craft the XAML in VS08, there's no storyboard control. (see link below)

Resources:

Sync Services Whitepaper

Sync Services for File Systems

XAML for Storyboards

 

Wheck out all the great webcasts available!  There's a ton, and definitely something for every developer!

(Hat tip: material below copied from the MSDN Webcasts blog)

Zain Naboulsi Presents Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Overview Webcast Series

Microsoft Developer Evangelist Zain Naboulsi presents a series of webcasts providing an overview of Visual Studio 2008. Zain’s webcasts are always highly informative and very entertaining -- some of the most popular developer webcasts that we have. Here is a list of Zain’s webcasts through April which include developing in Visual Studio 2008 with Windows applications, WPF, Office System, WCF, Workflow Foundation, Linq and Click Once.

MSDN Webcast: Overview of New Tools in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

Join us as we take a look at the new tools that come with the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development system and explain how they can impact your world. Often, we do not have time to explore just what a great tool Visual Studio 2008 is. Much like the Microsoft Office products, we tend to only use a small percentage of what is available. In this session, we look at some of the key tools and describe why they are important to you.

3/13/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada) | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: Overview of New Features for Windows Applications (Level 200)

Are you a Windows application developer? Then this session is for you! Here we take a fresh look at how the functionality in the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development system empowers Windows developers and helps them create better applications.

3/14/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration:90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: Windows Presentation Foundation Tools in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

What is the big deal with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) anyway? Here we take a brief look at why WPF is cool and how Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 makes writing WPF apps even cooler. So grab the beverage of your choice and let's hang out with WPF.

4/4/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: 2007 Office System Interoperability with Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

Like the 2007 Microsoft Office system? Like Microsoft Visual Studio 2008? Well, just like chocolate and peanut butter, we blend the two together to show you the creamy richness of Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO). You have heard about it and seen it in grainy videos (just like Bigfoot), but now you can experience it all for yourself. Come join the fun!

4/10/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Tools in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

What is the big deal with Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) anyway?  Here we take a brief look at why WCF is cool and how Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 makes writing WCF applications even cooler. Let's sit by the virtual seashore and bask in the glow of great WCF tools!

4/14/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: Workflow Foundation Tools in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

What is the big deal with Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) anyway? Here we take a brief look at why WF is cool and how Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 makes writing WF applications even cooler. So put down that copy of MSDN Magazine for a little while and let's see some real excitement with workflow!

4/15/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: LINQ Features in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

Think you have heard all there is to know about Microsoft .NET Language-Integrated Query (LINQ)? Think again! In this webcast, we dazzle and amaze you with our staggering array of wondrous tools to make your LINQ experience a memorable one!

4/16/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: Database Features in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

Like working with data? The Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development system comes with many new and improved data tools. Who could say no to those cute little controls? Join this webcast for the ultimate database tools experience that you can have without a laser light show!

4/17/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time | Duration: 90 Minutes

MSDN Webcast: ClickOnce with Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

Does ClickOnce mystify you? In this presentation, learn to publish Windows-based applications to a Web server or network file share for simplified installation. Let's talk about ClickOnce and how it can make your life easier!

4/18/2008 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)| Duration: 90 Minutes

Zain’s Visual Studio 2008 Webcast Archive:

MSDN Webcast: Overview of New Classes in the .NET Framework 3.5 (Level 200)

With the release of the new Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 there are a lot of new features to learn. In this session, we take a high-level look at the myriad new classes and show what some of them can do for you today.

MSDN Webcast: Overview of New Designers in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

In this session, we take a deeper look at some of the key new features in the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development system. In this lesson, we look at the many new designers that come with the product. Designers are the key to Rapid Application Development and here we illustrate how to accelerate your coding efforts.

MSDN Webcast: Overview of New Features in Visual Studio 2008 (Level 200)

In this webcast, we discuss some of the key new features that make the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development system great! Join this high-level overview of the product as we focus on the philosophy behind the new features and demonstrate how they compare to Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.

More Visual Studio 2008 Webcasts: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/msdnvs2008.aspx?tab=webcasts

Visual Studio 2008 Virtual Labs: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/msdnvs2008.aspx?tab=virtuallabs

Visual Studio 2008 Developer Center Home: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vs2008/default.aspx