BizTalk and ALM

One of new enhancements (or improvements) of BizTalk Server 2009 is the developer/team productivity through ALM.

 

I myself am not an expert yet on ALM so I decided to start digging into the subject. The following resources will help me get through this process (I hope):

• Pro Visual Studio Team System Application LifeCycle Management book by Joachim Rossberg;
• Have discussions or ask questions to experts you know, maybe colleagues (I for instance can ask Edward Bakker);
• Microsoft resources;
• Blogs.

I hope this can be helpful to anyone moving towards BizTalk Server 2009 or is going down that path. If anyone has some other suggestions I am glad to hear them.

Technorati: ALM BizTalk Server 2009

Quiet on BizTalk Front

There is a crisis going on and I am starting to feel it. Last couple of weeks have been slow in business (projects) for me. Financial crisis has hit the Netherlands hard. There is hope though some project opportunities are heading my way, so I have to be patient. In the mean time I haven’t been sitting still. I started a with a new study to become a Bachelor of ICT in couple of years. This absorbs a lot of my time nowadays. Also there are some challenges coming up for instance doing a session about BizTalk by Design during coming Application Platform Conference 12, 13th March in Noordwijkerhout.

Technorati:BizTalk

I Yammer

I haven’t talk much lately on my blog about Web 2.0. Recently my company has introduced Yammer into its organization. I never heard about the tool, but it seems to be a twitter clone intended for usage inside an organization. I looked it up with google and found this on wikipedia:

Yammer is a microblogging service launched in September 2008. Like Twitter, it allows users to post updates of their activities, follow others' updates, tag content, and create memes. Unlike Twitter, Yammer focuses on businesses, and only individuals with the same corporate email address can join a given network. (source wikipedia)

Today I joined Yammer and start using it (even installed an application like Tweeterdeck on my machine :)). So if like to know more or use it inside your organization check it out. I think if you like me for instance working for an system integrator and are working with a lot of customers and not so much inside your office(s) it interesting to see/hear/read what is happening (going on). Also if you work a rather large organization it could be interesting to see what is going in other departments. I could probably think like you (reader) of more scenario’s why Yammer could be useful or not. I have just started so I will see how things will turn out and evolve in the future.

Technorati:web 2.0

BizTalk Server 2009 TFS

Thanks to Thiago Almeida blog post I found out there is a video on channel 9 on a demonstration in english, by Johan Hedberg, co-owner of BizTalk User Group in Sweden who demonstrates several aspects of leveraging Team Foundation Server when developing solutions with BizTalk Server 2009. Cool.

Technorati:BizTalk Server 2009

Cloud Computing with Windows Azure

Article in Software Release Magazine (SRM) ‘Cloud Computing with Windows Azure’ is out. Anko Duizer and I have written an the article about Windows Azure, SQL Services, .NET and Live Services that has some overlap to David Chappell whitepaper ‘Introducing the Azure Services Platform’.  It was fun writing the article and I am happy it is out now and the 7th article published so far in different Dutch IT magazine’s last year and a half. On to the next one.

Technorati:Microsoft AzureCloud Computing

Issue 5 BizTalk Hotrod

It has been a while since last time BizTalk Hotrod released an issue, but issue 5 is out now. In this issue you’ll see that BizTalk 2009, Dublin are covered and some articles on BizTalk and SOA management. Go read!!!

Technorati:BizTalk Server 2009

Updated Azure Services Training Kit

Microsoft has released an updated training kit for Windows Azure Services. The Azure Services Training Kit includes a comprehensive set of technical content including hands-on labs, presentations, and demos that are designed to help you learn how to use the Azure Services Platform. The February release includes the following updates:

• 19 demo scripts that walkthrough several of the services
• 10 presentations covering the entire Azure Services Platform
• 3 additional hands-on labs for Live Services

This technical content covers services including: Windows Azure, .NET Services, SQL Services, and Live Services.

After installation one can fire up default.htm page in installed folder (i.e. in my case D:\AzureServicesKit).

Technorati:Microsoft AzureCloud Computing

Amazon Cloud Services

One of Microsoft’s competitors in the Cloud Computing space is Amazon. Through Scott Banwart’s blog I found that there is a series of articles out about Amazon’s offerings. Something for me to check out as soon as I am home.

Technorati: Cloud Computing

Microsoft OSLO updates

I am a bit of the Microsoft OSLO track, but there seems to be an update of OSLO CTP. You should check out Jon Flanders post and one from Alex Thissen. I will try some stuff out soon as I back from my Toronto trip.

Technorati:Microsoft OSLO