As developers, we rely on tools to make ourselves the most productive. As Microsoft developers we've come to enjoy world class tools to make that experience even better! In developing the Code Trip website as well as projects while on the road, we've leveraged the best that Microsoft has to offer for developers. We've tried to consolidate our resources here for you to see what we are using!
Microsoft MVP Program
While technically not an installable tool, the Microsoft MVP program has been an invaluable resource to The Code Trip. MVP's (Most Valuable Professionals) are technical community leaders from around the world who are awarded by their peers for voluntarily sharing their expertese in online and offline communities. In most communities, MVPs are those who are leading the community efforts and serving as early adopters of technology.
For The Code Trip, we've recruited some MVPs to serve as roadies for the trip as well as relied on the MVP communities to help organize Code Trip visits in their geographies. They have been an invaluable resource to our team for local organization, knowledge and an extension to our road crew. For more information about the MVP program and to view MVPs in technology areas, visit the MVP website for details.
Visual Studio 2008
Probably the most indispensable tool we have in our toolbox! As like most Microsoft developers, we rely on the full features of Visual Studio 2008 for rapid development. With added features in 2008 such as Javascript intellisense and debugging, Silverlight support and LINQ, VS2008 has become an honorary roadie itself! Our daily activities involve some aspect of code and we'd be much less productive if it was not for Visual Studio 2008.
Expression Studio
When working on some of our Silverlight projects and various aspects of our web media delivery, we're using Expression Studio. Specifically we are using Expression Blend and Expression Encoder on a daily basis. Blend enables us a rich design surface for developing our Silverlight and WPF applications for the trip. It is the perfect tool for getting from zero to something very quickly and enables us the best XAML UI development environment yet. When creating our media for our video podcast, we've incorporated Encoder into our workflow, leveraging preset files and using the Encoder command-line interface to quickly pump out our video in various formats. Encoder and Blend have proved to be very reliable tools for our critical needs.
Windows Live Writer
Our website is built using industry recognized blogging APIs. These APIs provide us with an easy way to do content management for our site. Our tool of choice is Windows Live Writer. Live Writer is a desktop application that enables an author to write posts and pages targeting their site API definition. It provides us with draft capabilities, without having to store the drafts online. Using the extensible platform Live Writer provides, we are able to integrated added functionality by writing plug-ins that incorporate custom aspects of our content management into the tool, such as adding enclosures for media, event details, etc. Because the basis for Live Writer is .NET, extending the platform has proven to be very simple.
Windows Mobile SDK
When we aren't developing desktop applications, our team is full of Windows Mobile freaks. Because Windows Mobile provides a platform using the .NET Compact Framework, we're able to leverage our same skills in development (and same tools!) to rapidly create mobile solutions for our trip. Visual Studio 2008 includes some mobile features already, but you'll get the most out of developing for Windows Mobile 6 platforms. The SDK tools for WM6 development include all the things you would need for mobile development including cellular emulation for devices so you can simulate 'real world' connectivity situations. The Code Trip team are also members of the Mobility Metro team which will be doing various mobile development workshops across the globe.
Windows Live Platform Services
Some of our tools are not installable, but are 'in the cloud' as the cool kids say. We are leveraging Windows Live services in some aspects of our development. Tapping into Windows Live services is a great way to incorporate interaction with other Live users in your applications. On our home page we are leveraging Windows Live Virtual Earth to track our events and current bus location. Be sure to check out the VEJS Codeplex project to make Virtual Earth development even easier. We will continue to develop our site using more Live services such as Live Contacts API integration, Silverlight Streaming, Windows Live Alerts, SQL Server Data Services and more. There are even a bunch of Windows Live Quick Apps that will help get you started from ground zero for using Live services.