Sessions
SQL Server Track
Chalk Talk: SQL Server 2005 Data Modeling
Intermediate
Jeremy Kadlec
SQL Server 2005 has been out for 2 years now, but have you found all of the new T-SQL features? Do you know when to use them over other techniques? Come learn how the T-SQL enhancements to SQL Server 2005 have been put into practice on recent SQL Server projects. In addition, the last part of the session will dig into the art and science of dissecting and tuning queries.
SQL Server 2005 - T-SQL and Query Tuning Tips
Intermediate
Jeremy Kadlec
SQL Server 2005 has been out for 2 years now, but have you found all of the new T-SQL features? Do you know when to use them over other techniques? Come learn how the T-SQL enhancements to SQL Server 2005 have been put into practice on recent SQL Server projects. In addition, the last part of the session will dig into the art and science of dissecting and tuning queries.
Partitioning with Sql Server
Intermediate
Chad Boyd
Partitioned tables and indexes help improve the scalability and manageability of very large SQL Server databases. In this session, we will take a look at the table and index partitioning capabilities in SQL Server 2005/2008. The discussion will outline the features and benefits of partitioning, explain how it works, and illustrate how to implement and set up this feature. We'll review scenarios for the sliding window, index/table maintanenence, when partitioning helps (and when it hurts), and discuss some potential myths that may exist.
Sql Server 2008 Overview
Introductory
Chad Boyd
Join us for an overview of Microsoft SQL Server 2008, code name "Katmai", the next generation of SQL Server. "Katmai" provides an enterprise data platform for your mission-critical applications, while providing a dynamic development environment and comprehensive business intelligence (BI) platform. We will discuss the key features available in the next version of SQL Server including exciting new additions like Change Data Capture, Table Valued Parameters, Declarative Management Framework, MERGE tsql statements, the new FILESTREAM attribute, Data compression (both for data and backups), Database Mirroring enhancements, Performance Studio, Spatial enhancements, Extended Event Tracing and handling, Entity Framework Model discussions, and much more.
.NET 101 and Futures Track
Intro to LINQ and Visual Studio 2008 Language Enhancements
Intermediate
Kevin S. Goff
Looking at LINQ... what it is and how to use it. In addition, a dive into the Visual Studio 2008 Langauge Enhancements, coming soon to a development environment near you.
Silverlight for Developers
Introductory
Ashish Jaiman
Silverlight is Microsoft's solution for delivering rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web and beyond. Silverlight will enable the creation of rich, visually stunning and interactive content and applications that run on multiple browsers and operating systems. In this session, we will discuss what Microsoft Silverlight is, its architecture and components, how it works with other technologies such as AJAX and web services (through demos), we will also discuss how designers and developers can work together using Microsoft Silverlight, Expression Studio, ASP.NET and AJAX to improve the end-user experience and reduce the cost of video and rich media delivery.
The Laws of ASP.NET - From HTTP Request to HTTP Response via IIS/ASP.NET
Intermediate
Osama Morad
This presentation explores what really happens when an HTTP Requests arrives at an IIS web server and how this request is handled till eventually an HTTP response is generated and sent back to the requesting client (mostly browser). The rules that govern how IIS and ASP.NET process the request are discussed and explained. More importantly, the presentation will help you take advantage of the general implicit IIS/ASP.NET code that processes each request and will guide you on how to customize it with your own specific explicit web application code.
Dot Net Basics
Introductory
Edwin Ames
If you haven't gotten on the DotNet bandwagon yet, now's your chance! Learn the basics of Dot Net, what it has to offer, and how to use it. We'll start with the basics and move on to practical examples that show you how to handle strings, arrays, files, and forms. This presentation is geared towards newbies, all you need is a basic knowledge of Windows programming and objects at the VB6 level. Come and see what you've been missing!
Misc Track
SharePoint Business Data Catalog - Bringing External Data into Your SharePoint Experience
Intermediate
Rob Wuhrman
This session will involve a exploration of the SharePoint 2007 Business Data Catalog (BDC). We'll look at issues related to planning, set-up, implementation , and maintenance of a BDC project. Specific technical areas covered will include:
- Security Considerations
- Application Definition File (ADF)
- The 6 Default SharePoint BDC WebParts
- BDC Data in SharePoint Profiles, and Search
- Helpful Tools Such BDCMetaMan and the Microsoft Utility for BDC
We'll also take a look at a sample implementation of SharePoint BDC with Dynamics GP and CRM data.
UX is the new UI
Intermediate
Mike Wolf
The web has changed the way that we all look at User interfaces. From WPF to the Iphone, users are demanding more compeling interfaces. This revolution not only changes the technologies we use (WPF/Silverlight/Adobe Air/Flex), but also the approach we take and the people we work with to get it done. In this talk we will discuss the importance of the UI, and some real world examples of Designers and Developers integrating skills to create a rich user experience via WPF and Silverlight.
Visual Studio 2005 Tips and Tricks
Intermediate
Stephen Andrews
Based on real life experience of 8+ hours a day developing with Visual Studio 2005, learn some sweet tips and tricks to tame the IDE. With something new for everyone, these techniques will give you valuable information to start using right away, increase your productivity, and make you wonder how you survived all this time without them.
Dependency Injection Made Easy
Intermediate
Michael Pastore
The terms Dependency Injection (DI) and Inversion of Control (IoC) appear widely in current software development discussions. But there is no clear definition of each, nor are the concepts behind the terms implemented with consistency. The reality is Dependency Injection and Inversion of Control are easy. Most developers have probably used both without knowing it. This presentation will expose DI and IoC for what they really are, simple and effective techniques which should be part of every developers’ toolkit:
- Inversion of Control as a design principle that applies to more than just DI.
- Dependency Injection as the logical continuation of the GOF creational design patterns.
This will be supported using intuitive code examples which show how a tightly coupled project can evolve to a truly de-coupled solution through the introduction of a DI Framework. The goal is for developers to leave with an understanding of how to go about implementing DI and IoC in software development, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Best Practices Track
Test Driven Development
Intermediate
John Baird
This presentation will cover the basics of test driven development and demonstrate the techniques to do so with nUnit/testdriven.net. We will also show a technique for doing UI testing.
Introduction to Continuous Integration
Introductory
Jay Flowers
In this session we will explorer Continuous Integration: What is it? What purpose does it serve? What affect will it have? How to do it well? This session aims to impart more than a conceptual understanding, you should acquire tacit knowledge as well.
Survey of Agile Methods
Introductory
Warren Steger
This will be an informational session intended to provide an overview three agile methods: Scrum, Microsoft Solution Framework for Agile Software Development (MSF Agile), and the Eclipse Process Framework (EPF) Open Unified Process (OpenUP). The presentation will cover the basic structure of each of these methods and discuss some similarities and differences between them.
Why Agile?
Introductory
Matt Scilipoti
What can Agile Methodologies do for me? Trade magazines for developers, managers and executives alike are including articles about "Agile". You hear about it at the water cooler: Extreme Programming (XP), Test Driven Development, Scrum, Pair Programming, Continuous Integration. What is this all about? Why should I spend my valuable time and effort learning about Agile Methodologies?
Business Intelligence Track
Introduction to Business Intelligence
Introductory/Intermediate
Scott Zimmerman
This session will discuss fundamentals of business intelligence, including dimensional modeling, ETL, cube processing, and reporting. We'll explain how key terminology comes up in actual tasks in typical BI development projects and provide links to resources that can assist with certification training. This talk is oriented toward developers and business users new to BI.
Building BI solutions with SQL Server 2005
Introductory
Kevin S. Goff
Are you an IT manager trying to get up to speed with Microsoft’s BI tools? Or maybe you’re a SQL Developer who wants to see what can be done with Microsoft’s integration services. Or perhaps you’re a corporate developer/manager who feels overwhelmed in trying to understand how all the new features in SSIS and SSAS can be used. If so, this session is for you.
This session presents a sample BI project with raw sales transactions from different data sources, and how the MS BI tools were used to construct it. It covers the following:
- I’ll start by showing how to bring in data from multiple sources using the new capabilities in Integration Services. In this section I’ll demonstrate how to read, transform, and group source-level data, how to set up insert/update patterns, and how to set up lookup conditions and log exceptions.
- Then I’ll show how to use Analysis Services to set up cubes and dimensions, define KPIs (key performance indicators) and how to deploy these services. I’ll also provide an overview of MDX language constructs for querying Analysis Services databases.
- Next, I’ll demonstrate how to build some reports off of these data sources using SSRS.
- Finally, I’ll do a “dog and pony show” for displaying reports and another Analysis Services databases using SharePoint and PerformancePoint Server.
The demonstration doesn’t dive heavily into any one area: it is designed to give an attendee some basic exposure, make them feel a little more confident and comfortable about the new tools, and hopefully inspire attendees to “dive in” further to these new tools
If time permits, I’ll provide a BRIEF overview of new BI features in SQL 2008.
Advanced Report Design in SQL Server Reporting Services
Intermediate
Geoff Snowman
This session will look at several advanced techniques in Reporting Services, including dynamic SQL, advanced grouping, using custom controls, sub-reports, charting, and lists. Each advanced technique will be illustrated by a sample report.
Business Intelligence – Arguing over Methodologies
Introductory/Intermediate
Bob Garrant
There are several ways to get to the end game of establishing and evolving a Business Intelligence framework and solution. This session will examine the ‘conceptual whys’ and the ‘technical hows’ of the popular approaches.
Lunch Time Chalk Talks
Overview of CI Factory
Intermediate
Jay Flowers
We will create a new Continuous Integration server in just a few minutes with CI Factory, explorer how CI Factory works, and how it will make your life easier.
Refining Agile
Intermediate/Advanced
Matt Scilipoti
"If you are still doing XP out the book 2 months after you started, you're not doing XP." - Arlo Belshee
Straight from Agile 2007 in DC. As fresh as it gets. Let's discuss some of the ideas people shared at Agile 2007 in DC. I'll start with an overview of how Arlo Belshee's team are using experimentation to drive the refinement of their processes. We'll discuss the cornerstones of their productivity: Promiscuous Pairing, Least Qualified Implementer, and Team Ownership. What metrics are they using? Why?
We'll even get a peek at a methodology in the making. The lightning talk was titled "Planning Naked". If you like the Lean concepts, you'll love this. Simple and effective.
Business Intelligence Case Study at the National Aquarium in Baltimore
Introductory
Ed Mullin
The National Aquarium in Baltimore had 16,000 animals, 2.2 million gallons of water—and too much data. At least, too much of it was locked away in isolated databases, where it was inaccessible and unable to be used for timely decision making. Now, by using components of Microsoft’s® Business Intelligence stack, business critical data is available in near real time rather than after a week’s delay, so it can be used to make decisions that can affect the Aquariums operations during the course of the business day. A range of key performance indicators is immediately accessible to staff through business scorecards, with drill-down reports just a click away. Staff members regain up to 30 percent of their time by not having to create reports manually. And the solution can be easily extended to provide new analysis capabilities to functions and departments throughout the organization.
Microsoft has been rapidly extending their reach into the BI marketplace. Enterprise solutions, such as the one implemented at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, generally utilize and impact databases, portals and applications throughout the organization. Creating an environment where people are empowered by data that was formerly trapped within line of business data stores.
Presentation Overview
- Business drivers from the project at the National Aquarium
- How the solution was developed
- What products were used to build out the solution and why they were selected
- What was learned from the implementation experience
- How Microsoft brings BI to the Masses
This presentation assumes the audience has a a basic knowledge of OLAP and other technologies that support today’s BI solutions.
SQL Server Open Q/A Session
Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced
Chad Boyd
You drive the conversation – bring your SQL Server related questions and get the answers on the spot. Something in your environment vexing you? Always been curious on how something really works when you’ve heard seemingly conflicting answers? Ever wondered how/when you should use a particular technology? Curious on new features included in the latest or upcoming releases? Trying to decide between clustering and mirroring, replication and log shipping, partitioning and partitioned views, procedures and ad-hoc, temp table and table variables, 64bit and 32bit, SAN and DAS, GUIDs and Identities, etc., etc.? Any and all SQL Server related questions will be entertained – if we don’t know the answers, we’ll find them for you.
