The World According to Marc

Julia Lerman’s blog got a nod along side Robert Scoble and Miguel de Icaza (“It’s a Blog World”, CODE Magazine, Jan/Feb 2005). Well worth reading if you don’t already. Aside from the great tips it is often just damn funny to read.

Now maybe she’ll admit she really does know what she is doing, and is damn good at it too. Congratulations; it is well deserved.

I’ve been using Vault 3.0 for a while now (I yet again was completely reckless and ran live on the beta). For those without source control or (worse) using SourceSafe, take a look at Vault. It is very inexpensive compared to other major SCC systems (single user is even free), completely written in .NET, uses MSDE/SQL Server, and flat out works like a champ.

The biggest change (aside from the new Add Files dialog… thank you for that one…) is a new product in the mix called Dragnet. Dragnet is a bug tracking solution that ties directly in with Vault. It is a first generation product so it isn’t as feature rich as something like FogBugz, but the quality of the integration makes up for a lot of that. I also found it much easier to look at than most of systems. It is well laid out and very easy to find what you want quickly.

The only issue I have with Dragnet (and it is preventing me from switching) is the ability to submit bugs from outside the system. Currently our software supports submitting error reports directly into FogBugz and we receive a number of bugs/requests via email directly into FogBugz as well. But once something is available for this (and I’ve heard it will be added) then I’m likely to switch over too it. We are using it for some side projects already with great results.

 All I can say: http://www.starterupsteve.com/swf/snowglobe.html

(warning: it has sound, so cubicleites beware)

I just got word from VeriTest that our product just passed the MS platform test. So I’ll use this soapbox to thank the team and the testers around me that managed to pull it off.

For those that haven’t gone though it, it is much easier than you think. Especially if you are a .NET application because a large percentage of the test is simply not applicable; the framework handles it for you (and an major installation package will handle another chunk). The only advice I would give is to not be afraid to ask questions. I was amazed how responsive they were to giving me detailed information on what exactly to document, how best to supply, etc.

I’d also like to send a shout out to Jim Stull, our Microsoft ISV Partner Group rep. He really helped us nail down what we needed to do, got us in touch with the people we needed, and generally made the entire process effortless. Someone should promote this guy…. Wait! Don’t listed to me! Forget that. Just leave him right where he is! :-)

I know there are plenty of “code warriors” out there who think that making things more difficult that need be is somehow more fulfilling. I under stand that saying things like “I don’t comment” makes you feel special.

Well, today I found this gem:

/* Obligatory Comment: If it was hard to write then it should be hard to read. */

Normally this doesn’t deserve a post; we’re all seen it before after all. But it wasn’t what I read you see, it was where I read it. This bit of wonderful technical incite was delivered to me in an SDK! Yep.

Thank god he put his name at the top. I would hate to go though life knowing I risk hiring this moron for lack of his identity.

Note to Self
You must have this toy -> http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras/655e/

Red-Gate software has release their version of a Christmas Carol. For an ad it is pretty amusing. There is nothing like pure, over-the-top, unadulterated product shilling to put my in a holiday mood. :-)

Note: this is an animated ad and requires audio.