From the Editor

July 17, 2008
 

I used to watch this show called, “Connections,” by James Burke. The show was about the history of science and invention and demonstrates how various discoveries, scientific achievements, and historical world events built off one another in an interconnected way to bring about particular aspects of modern technology.

Software is all about connection points. In fact, the current trend is about integration and connecting ERPs to Workflow, or connecting backend databases to SharePoint sites with the BDC. Each one of us has personal collection of connected devices brought together by the Web. When I look at some of my videos, I can see all kinds of connections. For example, in one of my demos I add a “Ribbon” to Outlook. This ribbon has a user interface that allows the email reader to type in some text, such as a patient name in a hospital scenario. My video then shows you how to connect to another data store and retrieve some data. The hospital worker may want patient history available directly from within a word document or an Outlook client. I can show you how to create a WCF Service and expose the data.

Workflow also has connection points. In fact that is a key feature of workflow – to allow various clients to connect to the workflow in a standard and uniform way.

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) has been made available to help provide developers with capabilities to develop “connected” systems easily by providing a consistent developer API, a robust hosting runtime, and a flexible configuration-driven solution to aid deployment.

Language Integrated Query (LINQ, pronounced "link") is a Microsoft .NET Framework component that adds native data querying capabilities to .NET languages using syntax reminiscent of SQL. It allows you to connect data from XML strings and relational databases.

You can even develop a rich web-based client interface with Silverlight getting data from a web service. The opportunities for today’s develepers to connect systems are huge. The more you know about connections, the better developer you will become.

To learn more about technologies and connected systems, attend user groups in your area:

INETA - Find your local user group.

BAADD .NET User Group (Bay Area Assoc. of Database Developers)

East Bay.NET

Bay.NET

Event:

Silverlight: Deep Zoom Deep Dive
Wed, 7/23, 6:30 PM
Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills - Room 5501

Scott Stanfield is back to show what's possible with Microsoft's Deep Zoom technology. Deep Zoom, with the help of Vertigo's BigPicture™ technology, transforms a web site, into a Hard Rock experience.

SJSU/BAADD .Net User Group

SacDotNet

Central California .Net User Group

Thanks for reading,
Bruno

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