Mark Groves' Weblog: PDC

PDC05: Heading Home

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 18:40:50 GMT

Well the PDC is just about over. It was a great time, and learned a ton. Wanted to thank all of the staff of the PDC, they did a great job this year, most sessions did not have an issue with being way too full. And the organizers did a great job keeping things flowing.

Now I need to figure out if I can get Vista working on my new home PC, it way too cool to have to wait till they release it in a year.

PDC05: Workflow as Services

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 00:19:31 GMT

Just got out of Don Box and Dharmon Shikla's presentation on Workflow + Messaging + Services, great presentation. And the new Workflow Framework (WWF) that Microsoft is working on will make it so easy to build long running "Transactions" inside our enterprise applications. One of the coolest things, is the Workflow designer will create XAML files and can be edited after deployment, by business people.

PDC05 Update

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 21:02:16 GMT

Well the PDC has been very cool so far, kicked off yesterday with Bill G's and Jim Allchin's keynotes, Vista is looking great, and Office '12' is really going to be cool. Today has been very cool also, during today's group session got to get a preview of the new workflow framework that Microsoft is working on. Looks like it is something that we will be able to take advantage of in our application when it become available.

Last night we went to the Exhibit Party, got tons of free tee shirts, and a few too many beers. Tonight's the big party at Universal Studios, should be a great time.

PDC05: Power Outage Not quite over

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 03:46:42 GMT

Well the power outage in LA is not quite over yet. My hotel has only partial power, not sure if we are purely on emergency power or what, but it's hard to be a geek with no power. So at least I was able to find a power outlet and a good wireless connection down in the lobby of the hotel.

It seems the PDC is cursed with some type of issue each year, back in 2003 it was the fires in LA that kept us from getting here on time. That year we missed BillG's keynote, I don't think I have to worry about that this year, but need to make sure I set my cell phone alarm, may not be getting that wakeup call :)

PDC05 Day 0: Framework Design Guidelines

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 22:37:53 GMT

Today was our first day at the PDC, the morning went off without a hitch. Got to the LA Convention Center with enough time to get checked in, get our free new bag and tee shirt. Have some breakfast and jump right into the session Mike and I were looking forward to, Framework Design Guidelines: The Art of Building a Reusable Class Library, with Brad Abrams and Krzysztof Cwalina. Mike and I were looking forward to this session since right now this is mostly what we are focused on, designing the next generation framework for our application.

The first half of the of the session was great, some great background to help make decisions on how to think about your API design from the 'users' perspective. And some great examples of where thinking about the bigger picture may not be the best implementation locally to the API you are building but help it fit in over the more global framework.

Then to Power Outage took over. Something always needs to happen at the PDC, and this year it was a power outage that took down part of the LA power grid. Not very eventful, delayed us starting the second part of the day by about 10 minutes, but overall not a big deal.

Off to the PDC

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:08:45 GMT

Leaving in a few hours to head to PDC, nothing like spending a week geeking out. Mr. Hopelessly Aporetic and I will be trying to fill our brains with the latest Microsoft development info, along with a few beers I'm sure.

PDC05

PDC 2005

Thu, 16 Jun 2005 22:05:33 GMT

I'll be there. Just signed up for PDC 2005 in LA. Heading out Sept. 11th to be there for one of the Pre-Conference presentations on Sept. 12. Should be a good time, always great to geek out for a whole week.