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Getting Started with Github

Git is a Distributed Source Management system.  

In order to understand the underlying ideas behind Git, please see Scott Chacon's excellent introductory video.

Below is hands-on tutorial on Getting Started with Github by AzamSharp.

To get started simply: (or see Roger Dudler's link) 

1. Establish a free account on Github.com
2. Install the local client software - Git
3. Create a new repository in the cloud
4. Create a local repository
5. Place a public key on both server and client
6. Learn 5 Git commands (init, add, commit, push, remote)

Simple Guide

Agile Project Management Tools

What is Agile?

After reviewing the multitude of Agile Tools, Pivotal Tracker appears to meet the requirements.  The online Project Management tool is free for personal, small project management and it completely web based.  Other tools included:

• QuickWick on Github
• APMT for Scrum Open Sourced on CodePlex
• Agile Planner 
• Review site Agile Tools
• Airgile
• Other CodePlex solutions
• The Agile Scout tool review site
• Smartbear
• PlanThatApp

And a tool called Bug Genie for tracking bugs.

Jargon: Iterations Sprints Self-Organizing Scrum Agile Cross-Functional Generative-Rules Daily-Meetings Scrum-Manager Project-Owner Team Backlogs Tasks Iron-Triangle Velocity

Working with Microsoft WCF

In working with the Microsoft .NET WCF Services it does require a bit of a learning curve, along with trial and error.  Here are some of my notes on the topic:

• I found it works best to create my WCF Service stand-alone with a new WCF Service Library.  That way I could use the WcfSvcHost from F5 to unit test the Service before including it on my SilverLight application.
• I open the IIS manager and select the top level web site, then perform a right click "open" to locate the proper place to insert the clientaccessproxy.xml (which I test with a wide open version)
• I used the WCF Configuration Editor instead of editing the XML by hand.  However, for some reason the WCF Editor doesn't always appear in the right click context menu for the *.config file.  In those cases, I had to actually go to the "tools" menu and specifically select the WCF Editor, then simply close it.  Afterwards, it appears in the context menu (weird).
• I had to always remember to update the "Web Service Reference" frequently, as changes to the WCF Service aren't reflected in the Reference.vb/Reference.cs file until an update is performed.
• DNRTV.com has wonderful videos to help you learn the tricks and techniques for .NET development, including WCF and SilverLight.
• I would run the debugger from both the client side in the XAML code and on the server side with the .XAP and WCF code.
• For some reason the MIMETYPE for all the SilverLight file types need to be specified in the root web site.
• I used the EventViewer and IIS log files quite frequently for debugging.
• I used the commandline "aspnet_regiis" from the C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework version folder to verify proper ASP.NET configuration.

I've run into many, many gotchas during my recent dive into the WCF/SilverLight world.

Some of these links help with examples and explainations:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/818364?wa=wsignin1.0

https://wiki.servicenow.com/index.php?title=Microsoft_.NET_Web_Services_Client_Examples

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/xb5th1ba(v=vs.80).aspx

http://petarvucetin.me/blog/2008/06/7-hidden-gems-tools-everyday-wcf-wf-developers/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb332338.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb924407.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ericwhite/archive/2010/05/11/getting-started-building-a-wcf-web-service.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa347733.aspx

http://carvingcode.blogspot.com/2010/04/creating-wcf-web-service-with-vs2010.html

http://www.tugberkugurlu.com/archive/getting-started-with-asp-net-web-api-tutorials-videos-samples

 dgp

YQL for Web Data

The web is your own personal database.  All the information is out there, you simply need an efficient way to access it.  YQL is the Yahoo Query Language and goes a long way toward bring your data directly to you in a well structured format.

So how do you get started in YQL and do you need to be a programmer?  Let's start here: try grabbing some stock quotes.  Sure, it looks a little imposing with angle brackets and keyword tags, but play around with it -- test it, give it a go.

Yes, the data is out there and someone might already have your data in a YQL table -- check it out.

The old way of downloading web information used what is called a screen scrapper or some other form of parsing the HTML from a web page.  The problem here, if the web page changes, the data access is broken.  Or you could grab a spreadsheet like format, like the Yahoo stock quotes in CSV format and use a programming environment like the Windows .NET framework to parse the data in a proprietary fashion.

Now you can get the stock data using a standard YQL approach.

Other sources of information:

• Gurchet-rai.net
• YQL on StackOverflow
• Andy Edinborough's Post
• Jarloo here and here.
• And the old way on CodeProject.

Node.JS

Jesse Liberty Podcast @JesseLiberty with Glenn Block @gblock on Node.js

Video from Microsoft Channel 9



What Node.js brings to the JavaScript table:

• Servers
• Asynchronous
• Small footprint
• Large 3rd party support

Azure

Jesse Liberty

Cloud Cover

Media Temple

WordPress with PHP and MySQL

Create New Azure Website http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/

Software Development

Two "Must See" Software Development presentations.

A useful State-Of-The-Art session by Josh Graham of ThoughtWorks and Amanda Laucher.

Data Analysis

Info Graphics

My May Podcast Highlights

Software Engineering Radio had a very interesting interview with Andrew Brownsword on Modern Game Design and Development.

Very poignant and brusk interview with Ayende Rahien on the topic of Criticism on This Developer's Life.  Then I went back to episode 1.0.9 on Management to hear about leaving the developer's mindset and enter the world of meetings.

Buck Woody gives an insightful interview on Deep Fried Bytes.

Glenn Block of MEF fame is interview on .NET Rocks about his work in the WCF Community on CodePlex.  He clarifies the definition of the word RESTful.

Freeman Dyson is in his late 80's, yet is mind is sharp while his speech is slow.  He discusses a range of topics on science and economics with the host of EconTalk Russ Roberts.  And don't forget the see The Fight of the Century rap video.

Little Green Men

Robert Martin can sound like a Martian at times, but his words and insight are quite interesting and relevant.

IDEs

• WebStorms

VB.NET -- Checkerboard in PictureBox

    Private Sub CheckerBoard()
 
        Dim rect As New Rectangle
 
        ' create a Graphics object to draw into it
        Dim pbox As Graphics = PictureBox1.CreateGraphics
        mSquWidth = PictureBox1.Width / CDbl(mCols)
        mSquHeight = PictureBox1.Height / CDbl(mRows)
        rect.Width = mSquWidth
        rect.Height = mSquHeight
 
        Dim r, c
        For r = 0 To mRows - 1
            For c = 0 To mCols - 1
                If ((r + c) Mod 2) = 0 Then
                    ' create a Graphics object to draw into it
                    pbox.FillRectangle(Brushes.Azure, rect)
                    pbox.DrawRectangle(Pens.Pink, rect)
                Else
                    pbox.FillRectangle(Brushes.BlueViolet, rect)
                    pbox.DrawRectangle(Pens.Red, rect)
                End If
                rect.X = c * mSquWidth
                rect.Y = r * mSquHeight
                ' create a Graphics object to draw into it
                pbox.FillRectangle(Brushes.BlueViolet, rect)
                pbox.DrawRectangle(Pens.Red, rect)
            Next
        Next
 
    End Sub
 

Color Palette

The color palette was a little tricky, when using the Forms.ColorDiaplog control and custom colors.  The custom color list must be integer, but you can't use the color.toargb.  The work around is

dim intColor = Microsoft.VisualBasic.RGB(color.R, color.G,color.B).ToString 

for each color in the custom list.  I'm not sure if the list is fixed at 16 colors, but when I assign custom color to a list of 50 colors the dialog only displays 16 custom color.  In addition, the return color list is only 16 colors.

It helps to read up a bit on the Windows Color Model.

Another pitfall was attempting to turn the custom color integer list back into windows colors.  You will be tempted to use the obvious

c = Color.FromArgb(intarr(idx))
routine, but no, you must use

c = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromOle(intarr(idx))