Rory Primrose

Ok, so it was a tad tricky, but I think I have been able to install the June CTP of Whidbey. There seemed to be lots of problems between Whidbey and the SQL Server April CTP installs. The documentation isn't really clear as to what to do about it. It has some information, but is a little hazy on exactly which versions the information refers to. I did lots of installs yesterday and (late) last night, resulting in an excuse to re-image my laptop. 

The first time I tried to install the new CTP, I had 2003, SQL Server 2000, 2005 Beta 2 and the Yukon April CTP installed. I followed the indestructions and uninstalled all the items specified so I could get the Whidbey CTP installed. Basically it all failed. Whidbey didn't install properly, then because I had uninstalled so many things, the April Yukon CTP was dead too. This is when I decided to re-image my machine because it had been a while and was getting slow anyway.

After the re-image, the laptop had 2003 and SQL Server 2000 installed. I first went for the Whidbey CTP, ensuring that SQL Express wasn't included. Interestingly with this build, VSS isn't an install option, but is on the disk. Once Whidbey was installed, I then fired up the Yukon April CTP as the June CTP is supposed to not be compatible. The Yukon install failed because there were Visual Studio or .Net framework components that were not compatible. It suggest that you should run a cleanup wizard which I found on the disk. That wizard either crashes, or reports that everything is good and you should try again. Try again as you might, it still screams that it can't do it.

I uninstalled the 2.0 beta framework (I think that was all) and then Yukon would install, but now Whidbey was dead. Doing a repair on Whidbey failed on the framework install. I then uninstalled the framework again (Yukon version) and then run the repair again on Whidbey. It passed the install of the framework (Whidbey version) and got to the end where it attempted the install of msxml 6 and died again.

At a quick glance, Yukon Management Studio works, VSS is now installed and the Whidbey IDE seems to be working (running at least). In the beginning of next week, I will be able to start using it to see if the install is happy and whether I am happy. I am hoping that I will see some improvements since Beta 2, especially in the WinForms designer.

If you are trying to install Whidbey June CTP with the Yukon CTP, let me know how you go. I am interested to see how other people have pulled this off. Obviously, these steps may not work for anyone else, but might be helpful.

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Our favourite community software just turned 1.1. This version has a focus on performance and also includes some new skins. This should be interesting. Check it out here.

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The Whidbey June CTP has just become available for MSDN subscribers. I have been eagerly waiting for this but it really came out of the blue. 

I have been using the Whidbey Beta 2 since April and I can't wait to get the next version up and running. I hope that it is more stable and runs faster than Beta 2 as the last beta was a little on the clunky side. Unfortunately it isn't compatible with the June CTP of Yukon though.

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Back in February, I had a question about reflection on the AusDotNet mail list. Joel Pobar was a great help, especially since he owns the .Net reflection code. At the time, he mentioned that he wanted to release an article about reflection and its performance. He has now come through with the goods.

Check it out in the latest MSDN Magazine.

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I am developing a feed reader in Whidbey and one of the things that I really wanted to use was a docking window like those in the VS IDE. Someone has put in a feedback entry requesting the control.

If you are interested in this idea, then head over to the Product Feedback Center to vote for this one. It would be great if there was enough interest to push it through.

I originally found out about this through this post.

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Looks like there are going to be some happy campers on November 7.

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You know you are working with a Beta IDE (Whidbey in this case) when you have a method named FixDesignerBugs which is called on form load.

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The week before last, I was at my normal Taekwondo class where the head instructor was unfortunately sick. As our other instructor was finishing an introductory lesson with a new student, I had to take the class. I have been instructor for about six weeks now which has been a lot of fun, but I hadn't yet taken a class with such a large variety of skill levels as I normal teach the beginners. 

I was up on this little stage so that everyone could see me, and I was demonstrating the first sets of sparing that need to be learnt. I was trying to be helpful in doing the mirror image of the moves so that it wouldn't be too confusing to the students. I know what you're thinking. Did he trip, slip, hurt himself??? No, but I was getting very confused trying to say left when I mean right, and do the actions in a mirrored way. This is hard when you haven't practiced it. I left out a few moves here and there, but fun was had by all. It's a good thing they are all very understanding...

Instructing has been a good challenge and I have already had most of my class graduate from white to orange belt. I haven't been left out either because I was taken up to a blue belt last week. 

I will be competing in the National Technical Tournament weekend after next. I am interested to know how we will go against people from other clubs. I guess you will know by whether I post about it in a couple of weeks.

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Over the last month, I have been approached by several recruitment agents, and even some large organisations directly, wondering if I would like to apply for positions. 

Is the Australian IT industry picking up? Is anyone else experiencing this kind of interest?

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I have heard a lot of commentaries about spammers and why they spam people. The number 1 theme seems to be while there is money to be made, spam will continue. Has anyone seriously responded to emails about millions of dollars in Dubai or Africa that is theirs for the taking?

Interestingly, I am now getting hit with the same spam across all seven accounts I use on my laptop for different purposes. Given that these accounts cover four different mail servers, do you think someone might be watching my laptop connections, or the mail server connections? Hmmmm, I choose me!

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