Jon Paul Davies

Live Mesh - An Overview

It would be easy to look at Live Mesh as "Remote Desktop for Dummies" or a SkyDrive desktop extension, but dig a little deeper and you will find a platform for device, data and application confluence that provides open access to data models and APIs.

The Live Mesh client experience consists of 2 main parts, a web based Live Desktop and a downloadable client that runs on your OS. Install the client on all the devices you want to add to your mesh and you are granted the ability to share files and data between them. You can remotely control machines too, in a manner that users of LogMeIn will find familiar. The web based Live Desktop is shown as another device on the client, and can be used to store data that is accessible anywhere, event without the client installed. All units are nice to look at; the Live Desktop is a particularly nice bit of engineering, having a look that is not dissimilar to ExtJS build UI.

Ok - So far, so what? It’s a nice looking client that allows you to boot data around your collection of machines. Big deal.

The first thing you should do, is watch Ori Amiga: Programming the Mesh. The scope of this project is absolutely mind bending. The ‘real’ Mesh experience consists of an API with synchronization-ready access to data, devices, application and activity feeds, run anywhere code, viewing data the way YOU want it rather than the way a developer designed it, software plus services architecture without any coding required.

As an experiment, me and a colleague set a folder up with an ASP.NET website in it, hooked it up to the mesh and began collaborating on development. Please re-read that last sentence: We took a desktop application, Visual Studio 2008, and turned it into a collaborative development environment with version tracking and change management over the cloud in about 2 minutes flat. We both edited the same file at the same time, fully expecting one of our changes to be overwritten. Nope. Mesh spotted the clash, and alerted us to choose which version to go with.

As a developer you can choose how much your applications and sites integrate with the mesh. Put more effort in, you get more out obviously. The ability to create code that runs on the web, on a disconnected desktop client that re-syncs itself when re-connected is a future that we can all participate in. I think Microsoft have made real the S+S ideal and done it in a way that shows real consideration and thought into how developers and users truly work.

Also, if anyone has any Live Mesh invites they want to share with other readers, feel free to post in the comments section of this post.

Live Mesh

After a bit of comment banter over on Steve Clayton’s blog I’ve been lucky enough to land a beta invite to Live Mesh. My shameless playing of the scouser card was obviously what pushed me over the line.

To get you up to speed, Live Mesh is a framework that allows synchronisation of devices, people, applications, work, play and ideas. You may have to wait a while, but make sure you get yourself on the waiting list NOW! Developers can only benefit from the kind of off the shelf functionality the Live movement enables, and Mesh is a great addition to the suite.

I’m going to get it installed ASAP, so stay tuned for a ‘first impressions’ update over the weekend.

Thanks Steve!

Microsoft SQL Server Data Services

The big news from Mix08 seems to be the public beta of Microsoft SQL Server Data Services, cloud based super scalable data storage. This has big implications for the way that web applications can be designed and deployed, not least the reduced cost of not having to splash out for infrastructure and expensive licenses. Mixed with seamless access via SOAP and REST it makes a compelling option for persisting in the cloud. Linkage here, here and here.

EXTJS Functionality in ASP.NET

Be sure to check out the new Coolite library that brings the awesome EXT javascript UI framework to the ASP.NET platform.
Go Here

Microsoft Exam 70-528 : Passed!

Today I finished my last exam - 70-528 Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Web-based Client Development, and passed with a score of 985. That means I am a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer : Web Applications and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in ASP.NET.
The exam I took today was pretty easy to be honest and would not present much of a challenge to developers who make a living coding in ASP.NET. I didn’t revise much at all for this one…maybe about 10 hours total brushing up on a few minor points, and finished the test in about 25 minutes.
If you want a decent measure of your coverage of the framework you could do worse than go for the MCPD and MCTS. I enjoyed the journey very much.

Developer Highway Code - Microsoft Security Best Practice eBook

  Microsoft have put together a nice little manual that sets out best practice for developer driven security. It’s choc full of techniques you can integrate into your development pursuits to build better, more secure applications.

From the official Microsoft blurb: To build software that meets your security objectives, you must integrate security activities into your software development lifecycle. This handbook captures and summarises the key security engineering activities that should be an integral part of your software development processes.
Download full book as a .pdf by clicking here

Liverpool ASP.Net Bloggers - A Reading List

This is a list of Liverpool based blogs that write about ASP.Net every now and then that I read. Nothing more than that!

Steve Clayton: Geek In Disguise
Jonswain’s Weblog
paulpierce.co.uk
ts0
MJJames - Web Developer
Reflective Perspective
Paul Kinlan

If you want to be added or removed from this list for any reason, just drop me a line and I’ll attend to it.

Microsoft Exam 70-536 : Passed!

I took my second Microsoft cert today, the 70-536 Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation, and passed with a score of 1000. I’m pretty chuffed again. This exam was much more difficult and more  than the 70-547 I passed before Christmas. There were lots of questions that you either knew the answer to, or you didn’t. I had spent a lot of time revising constructors and overloaded constructors to common .Net classes and it certainly paid off. I revised quite a bit of the holiday period using the Microsoft training kit mentioned in my previous exam post.

So only one exam to go until I am MCPD and it seems to be the easiest exam of the set, so I am not going to revise at all and just take my chances on the day. I am planning to take it this time next week and will update here on my progress.

How to Build Your Very Own VOIP Telecommunication Platform

I thought Christmas was over, but it obviously isn’t. Some hardware arrived in the office this week - but not just any old hardware. For the price of a decent size family car, my employers ( the mighty Qire ) have bought me and the team everything we need to build our very own VOIP/ SIP/ IVR / VXML / CCXML telco!!!!

The kit is a development environment to enable us to build the worlds biggest and best Voice 2.0 telecommunication platform. It’s a reference architecture for us to get to grips with the finer points of SIP call initiation and interaction.

If you want to do the same, all you need is a handful of top flight super fast servers, some expensive text to speech, speech recognition licenses, a friendly SIP provider and some high spec military grade DSP boards.

It’s all powered by a custom build high performance C# management and delivery system that we have put together.

Once it is all working together, we will have a system that will give our clients access to the planets most advanced unified communications platform!

Exciting stuff I’m sure you will agree! Stay posted and I’ll keep the blog updated with our progress.

End of 2007 Roundup

Well it’s been a fantastic year for me and mine so I’m just going to welcome a new year ( Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 no less )  in with a bit of a recap and a few 2007 highlights.

Books of the Year
Programming WCF Services is the most authoritative textbook on Microsoft’s latest communication methodology. A great resource book that I have returned to again and again.

Non-Tech Books of the Year
Lexicon Devil: The Short Life and Fast Times of Darby Crash and the Germs is a fantastic word of mouth recount of the early days of the LA punk scene.
House of Leaves: Spooky shape shifting architecture story told in experimental prose. Most innovative book I’ve read for years.

Album of the Year
Panda Bear - Person Pitch is hands down winner. Super tight Beach Boys style harmonies over clever loops makes for a seductive mix. No hiphop in my end of year list. It’s been the worst year EVER for rap in my mind - even the new Wu, or Big Doe Rehab just don’t make the grade.

Booze of the Year
Both Makers Mark and Knob Creek have been well received around my way!

Event of the Year
The arrival of my daughter Kitty has been the most life affirming thing I have ever experienced. She is so clever and surprises me with new stuff every day. I’m so proud!

Next Year
I work with some pretty cool and clever people at Qire, it’s a great environment to make software in. We are doing cutting edge IVR stuff and gaining more prestigious clients every day. Next year we have some pretty tough targets to meet, but I’m going to do my damndest to make sure we get there. Also, I’m going to get right into VS 2008 and attempt to pass a couple more Microsoft certs.

That’s it! Have a happy new year!