CodeStock 2008 Agenda
We've put together one amazing day of technical sessions for developers!
The exact schedule will be posted closer to the conference date, but you can use
this as a guide of the length of the day and the sessions available (see list below).
As with all conference, stuff happens and all times and sessions are subject to
change.
Prize Giveaway
Some of the things we'll be giving away at the end of CodeStock:
Watch this space for more great giveaways!
* all times and events subject to change
Session List
CodeStock Open Spaces
Speaker:
Alan Stevens
Open Space is a way to bring together groups of people interested in a common topic
to have an interactive discussion. In an Open Space session, there may be an expert
who is passionate about a topic presenting to an audience or there may be a small
group of people discussing an idea.
Four principles of Open Space:
- Whoever comes are the right people to be there
- Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened
- Whenever it starts is the right time
- When it's over, it's over
All you need to do is suggest topics onsite that you wish to discuss and participate
in sessions that sound interesting to you. It's the unconference with content
by attendees, for attendees.
SQL Server Performance Tuning 101: A Developer's Perspective
Speaker:
Stuart R Ainsworth
-
Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005
( level:
Intermediate
)
This session will focus on the foundations of performance tuning and database design
using SQL Server, including an emphasis on index selection, constraints, and a
description of performance tools. Some experience with SQL is necessary, but the focus
of this talk is to promote understanding of why some queries will work better than others
(and how you can determine that). May be useful for developers who are moving to SQL
Server from other RDBMS platforms (Microsoft Access, Oracle, MySQL).
Automation with MSBuild 3.5 and Team Build 2008
Speaker:
Steve Andrews
-
Visual Studio Team System
( level:
Beginner
)
Did you know that .csproj and .vbproj files are really MSBuild files? More than build
processes though, MSBuild is a full-featured automation language. It includes structured
control flow, variables, refactorability, error handling, logging, and powerful
extensibility. You can easily integrate MSBuild into your own enterprise processes
and start adding value right away. We'll also look at how Team Foundation Build
extends on MSBuild and adds robust integration with Team Foundation Server.
First Look: ASP.NET MVC
Speaker:
Todd Anglin
-
ASP.NET MVC
( level:
201
)
There is an emerging technology in the ASP.NET world that is going to radically change
the way you think of ASP.NET development, and it's called ASP.NET MVC. In this session,
we'll introduce ASP.NET MVC and explore this new way to think about web application
development. We'll look at how you build a basic ASP.NET MVC application, how you can
use UI "components" in an MVC world, and discuss the pros and cons of switching to MVC.
Attend this session and you'll know everything you need know to get started with ASP.NET
MVC- or know enough to decide to stay with Web Forms. The choice is yours.
Telerik: Develop Smart, Not Hard: Telerik RadControls
Speaker:
Todd Anglin
-
WPF, SilverLight, ASP.NET AJAX
( level:
Beginner
)
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the new Microsoft platforms? Trying to figure out how you
can be productive with these new technologies? This session will show you how Telerik is
building next generation tools that enable you to be as productive with WPF, Silverlight,
and ASP.NET AJAX as you were in the "simpler" days of WinForms and ASP.NET. We will examine
the unique features of the RadControls that enable you to build powerful, rich,
high-performance applications no matter which Microsoft platform you're using. This
presentation is loaded with demos of Telerik's newest controls, so come to learn or just to
see what Telerik is up to. Two full Telerik subscriptions will be given away at the end of
this session.
An Introduction to ASP.NET Dynamic Data
Speaker:
Rachel Appel
-
ASP.NET
( level:
200
)
In this session you will learn concepts and use of scaffolding to create an ASP.NET
dynamic data web site that uses Linq to SQL. We will also discuss dynamic page and
field template creation and customization as well as 3rd party control integration.
10 Open Source Tools You Should Use
Speaker:
James Avery
-
.NET
( level:
200
)
Learn about 10 Open Source .NET tools and how you can use them to write better code,
hit your deadlines, and lose that last 10lbs that you just can't seem to drop with
normal diet and exercise.
Getting Started With WCF
Speaker:
James Bender
-
WCF
( level:
200
)
WCF has been in production for some time now, and many enterprises are using it
productively. But many developers have not yet had an opportunity to learn and use this
exciting new technology. This session will show you the basics of WCF to get you started.
We will create a service, host it and demonstrate it being called with several different
endpoints. An overview of bindings, channels, behaviors and WCF security will also be
provided.
ASP.NET Provider Model
Speaker:
Nathan Blevins
-
C#, .Net
( level:
Beginner – Intermediate
)
ASP.Net providers are one of the most overlooked features of the .Net framework.
Even w/ the onset of .Net 3.5, the provider system is a strong feature of the .Net
framework that can not only save you time but also drastically increase your application's
scalability We are going to look into the concept and design principles behind the
Provider model and then move into writing our own custom providers.
The Hobbled: There And Back Again, or Code Automation: how I made it from the
presentation layer to the database and back.
Speaker:
Steve Brownell
-
VB.NET, C#, LINQ, SQL
( level:
200
)
Stop writing code, and start writing code that writes code. There's never been more
choices to help you automate the creation of the data object layers immediately above
the database. Writing class factories and data access classes is boring, time consuming
and wastes valuable time with expensive developer resources. This course will examine
two current approaches: using a template engine and programming with the CODEDOM. We'll
also briefly discuss other ORM techniques like LINQ to SQL Classes.
Introduction to AJAX mapping applications with Live Maps
Speaker:
John Croft
-
LiveMaps API, ASP.NET
( level:
100
)
An introduction to ASP.NET AJAX mapping applications with Live Maps will be presented.
We’ll look at the LiveMaps API, how to put dots on maps, as well as how to group map
points and other associated features of LiveMaps.
An Introduction to Castle ActiveRecord, or Stop Writing CRUD!
Speaker:
Michael Eaton
-
.NET, Castle ActiveRecord
( level:
Beginner - Intermediate
)
Nobody likes writing CRUD. After writing an obscene number of methods and stored
procedures you are left with a mountain of repetitive,error-prone,data access code.
Wouldn't it be great if you could spend that time writing actual business logic instead
of being a plumber and writing the same old data access code? In this talk Michael
Eaton will introduce you to an open-source framework called Castle ActiveRecord that
will help you write less data access code and be more productive.
Well, Isn't That Spatial.... (SQL Server 2008 Spatial Data)
Speaker:
Jason Follas
-
GPS, MS SQL Server 2008
( level:
200
)
Thanks to the pervasiveness of GPS data, developers today are being asked to incorporate
geospatial information into their data-driven applications. Working with spatial data,
though, involves using complex geometric formulas that are difficult to implement in
SQL queries. What developers need is a common abstraction layer running on the database
itself that softens the complexity of working with geospatial data, yet is straightforward
enough to incorporate directly into queries to provide spatial-based filtering and distance
calculations. Microsoft introduced two new spatial data types (Geometry and Geography) in
SQL Server 2008 that provide an implementation of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)
standards.
Data Dynamics: Simplicity in Visualizing Numbers
Speaker:
Lucas Hardbarger & James Johnson
-
Analysis and Reporting
( level:
Beginner
)
Tables and graphs are intended to inform people with key information. Unfortunately most
people design graphs with a focus on eye-candy; the underlying information tends to be an
afterthought. Backed with solid research Data Dynamics Product Managers Lucas Hardbarger and
James Johnson present the most effective practices for designing tables and graphs that
enlighten.
Mono and Open Source .NET
Speaker:
Dennis Hayes
-
.NET
( level:
Beginner
)
This session will give an overview of the Mono project, and what programmers can
expect when trying to run their .NET programs on Linux and Mac, and what tools there
are to help them. Including running .NET Web sites on Apache, and will touch on Moonlight,
the Mono version of Silverlight.
WPF - this is not your Mother's WinForms!
Speaker:
Philip Japikse
-
C#, XAML, WPF
( level:
Beginner-Intermediate
)
WPF is the newest shiny penny for developers. Does it make sense to switch from
WinForms to WPF? What’s missing? What works? In a (mostly) code driven session we
will look at where WPF succeeds but also where it makes sense to stay in a WinForms
environment.
Discovering C# 3.0 and LINQ
Speaker:
John Kellar
-
LINQ, C# 3.0
( level:
300
)
Gain an understanding of some of the many features C# 3.0 has to offer. Learn how you can
leverage Language Integrated Query (LINQ) in your applications. This presentation will
demonstrate practical uses of the new C# 3.0 features along with overviews of LINQ to
Objects, LINQ to SQL and LINQ to XML.
Introduction to Grails
Speaker:
Michael Kimsal
-
Java, Groovy, Grails
( level:
Beginner
)
Grails is a “convention over configuration” web framework built on a mix of well known
Java components and the dynamic Groovy language. This session will walk through the
basics of Grails, demonstrating aspects such as the 'domain first' development approach
and Grails' templating technology. While Groovy and Grails are built on Java, no special
expertise with Java will be assumed for this session.
LINQ for SQL - CRUD!
Speaker:
Joe Kunk
-
.Net 3.5, LINQ
( level:
Beginner
)
This session is an introductory look at using LINQ to SQL as an application's data
access layer. We will look at how to easily create custom objects that parallel your
database and create, read, update, and delete data. This session will preview some very
interesting techniques introduced in the upcoming book, "LINQ Unleashed" by Paul Kimmel.
CLRing Your Head: Looking at Alternative Languages
Speaker:
Amanda Laucher
-
Ruby, F#, .Net
( level:
200
)
This session is presented together by Joe O'Brien & Amanda Laucher
What is the deal with all of these new languages surfacing? Why should you spend the time
to learn a language when it isn’t in your job description? What benefit do you get by
investing in something that might take off, versus something that is tried and true? What
are our mainstream CLR languages currently lacking? This is where F# and IronRuby come into
play.
From currying, passing code around as data, mathmatical-based algorithms that make
concurrency a breeze, to features such as message passing, IronRuby and F# give you two new
ways of thinking about algorithms. In this talk, Amanda and Joe will walk you through the
mental differences that F# and IronRuby bring to the traditional .NET developer. They will
show you how, by spending time in either or both languages, you will change the way you think
and improve the way you solve problems in any language.
What's your next language going to be?
Getting Dirty with Custom httpModules and httpHandlers
Speaker:
Chris Love
-
ASP.NET
( level:
200
)
Getting intimate with how ASP.NET works allows you to control your application from
start to finish. I will show how to leverage both httpModules and httpHandlers to show
how to control the behavior of and ASP.NET application. There will be practical examples
of implementing both technologies you can take away and start using today.
New features coming in ASP.NET
Speaker:
Wally McClure
-
ASP.NET
( level:
100
)
This session will cover new features that are being introduced in the ASP.NET 3.5 SP1
timeframe These items include: ADO.NET Data Services, AJAX History, Silverlight 2.0,
and ASP.NET Dynamic Data. We will look at the basics of each of these technologies.
Much ado about testing
Speaker:
Jeff McWherter
-
Testing, Data, Web, Windows
( level:
200
)
Recently you may have heard terms such as TDD, BDD, Mocks, Stubs, MBUnit and Nunit, but
what do they all mean.
This session will introduce the basic concepts and tools used for creating automated
tests. This session is targeted at Windows and Web developers who are looking to learn
the basics of testing.
Red Gate: SQL Server and Developer Tools
Speaker:
Jeff McWherter
-
SQL, Data
( level:
Beginner
)
Since 1999, Red Gate Software has been developing ingeniously simple tools that simplify
the business of working with SQL Server and .NET. Tools, which include SQL Compare,
SQL Backup and ANTS Profiler, have become industry standards for developers and DBAs
worldwide. This session will give a brief overview of all the SQL Server and Developer
tools Red Gate has to offer.
SQL Server 2008 for Developers
Speaker:
Sam Nasr
-
SQL Server 2008
( level:
Intermediate
)
SQL Server has been around for many years with each version bringing more features,
and for 2008 it's no different. The current beta version has many new features
specific for developers aimed at producing more efficient code. Some of those
features include Table Value Parameters, Hierarchy ID, and Grouping sets. Attend
this session to be prepared when SQL Server 2008 is released later this year.
Soft Skillz: They aren't just for humans anymore
Speaker:
Brian Prince
-
Biology
( level:
200
)
As Brian transitions into his new role at Microsoft, he looks back at 15 years of
being a developer, consultant, and business leader. He will talk about the skills and
wisdom that you need to be happy and successful.
C# Variety Show
Speaker:
Dave Redding
-
.Net, C#
( level:
200
)
Let's face it, Technology is boring to the non-technologist. How many of you run home to
your significant other and say "Ooh OOH Guess what I learned today…" I'm guessing at this
point you get "That's nice dear, what's for dinner?". Well, let's change that. If you really
want something to talk about, come listen to Dave Redding explain how his wife's only job is
to fetch beer from the fridge using Yield Return, or about how Mom and Dad give Kid a
personality disorder since he's a Singleton. This talk will cover a wide variety C# and
Software development topics, ranging from Design patterns to C# specific implementations.
I guarantee you'll see more references to Beer than you ever had in any other technology talk.
SharePoint Developer Survival Guide
Speaker:
Doug Ware
-
SharePoint
( level:
100
)
This talk is for people who are getting started developing with SharePoint.
It is not an introduction to SharePoint, but instead covers tools you should have in
your arsenal, tips for setting up your development environment, how to read the logs,
and how to configure your sites for debugging.
What's this XNA thing I keep hearing about?
Speaker:
Chris Williams
-
XNA
( level:
100
)
This session will cover what XNA is (and isn't) along with how to build a game for
Windows and XBOX 360. We'll spend some time talking about what's needed to develop with
XNA 2.0 and do some demos, write some code, etc. We’ll also cover what you get in the new
XNA 3.0 CTP.
LINQ Migration Strategies
Speaker:
Jim Wooley
-
LINQ
( level:
300
)
So you've heard about LINQ and want to start using it? In this session we will briefly
overview LINQ. Then we will explore ways you may be able to use LINQ in your current
applications. Whether your data is stored in a database, housed in XML structures or
represented with in memory objects, LINQ will reduce the time and effort needed to
manipulate this data.
Infragistics Session
Speaker:
Infragistics
-
.Net, Java
( level:
100
)
Session on Infragistics controls and products.