Retrospective - Australian SharePoint Conference Sydney 2013

/

I had planned to post this as soon as I finish my session - but you know, conference.  Lots of friends come visit during these events and the evenings do a lot of damage to your hair, and possibly liver.  I don't often get opportunities to chat with so many SharePoint experts in such a short span of time.  Lots of catch up, lots of thoughts, A LOT of ideas.

 

As for my session, Building SharePoint Solutions with Microsoft's TypeScript: how and why.  I think it went well.  I really wanted to thank the audience for being so kind, and stayed awake through the presentation.  As promised, here is my presentation:

Presentation:

 

Downloads:

A huge thanks to the organisers, speakers, vendors and attendees for such a fantastic conference.  I hope to see you guys again soon.

How to create your Windows 8 Start Button with PowerShell

/

Before I go on, I have to say I find the Start Menu unnecessary.  There are already many ways to get to your Start Screen:

  • Throw mouse to lower-left corner (with the mouse)
  • Press the Windows key (on your keyboard)
  • Swipe in from the left edge (touch screen)
  • Press the Start button (any device with a hardware start button)

 

That said, Windows is still about choice.  And here's how you can add your own "Start Menu Button"

  1. Create a shortcut.
  2. Type in this:
    powershell.exe -Command "Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; [Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('^({ESC})')"

    (all in one line)
    This sends the Windows key (CTRL-ESC) via Powershell.
    image
  3. Configure the shortcut to run minimized
    image
  4. Change the Icon, I select this icon from the bootux.dll file %SystemRoot%\System32\bootux.dll) 
    image
    (All the icons are white, select them to see what they look like) 
  5. Drag the shortcut and pin it to the task bar, on the far left.
    image
  6. Now you have that familiar Start menu button back.  Click it and you'll get the Start Screen to pop up. 
    image

 

Notes

  • Does not appear to work in Windows RT, but if you have a Surface just hit that start hardware button

Windows 8

/

Windows 8 is coming, and I wanted to say something to set people's expectations right.  I think it'll help people align their views and appreciate this new version, if they choose to upgrade.

Don't expect Windows 8 to be Windows 7 plus more shiny new stuff.  Windows 8 was never designed in the same sense that Windows 7 was actually just Windows Vista plus more polish.  If you install Windows 8 thinking to get a minor update, you will be shocked.

Windows 8 is actually a completely different beast.  Designed with different goals altogether.  It just happens to run Windows (Windows 7) applications.

But at its core, Windows 8 is a different thing.

 

Historically, there was a suitable analogy, Microsoft build Windows NT to be the better kernel going forward, and combined the two systems streams (95, 98, ME) and (NT, 2000) finally into the same stream from XP.  Windows 2000 was vastly different beast from Windows 95, because it was fundamentally a different system, it just happened to run the old Windows 95 apps.

Test your C#: Generic overloaded constructors

/

I love languages.  Here's one for a language nut.

public class Response<T> {

    private T result;
    private string error;

    public Response(T result) { this.result = result; }
    public Response(string message) { this.error = message; }

}

 

You can use this generic class as a wrapper for returning data.

return new Response<int>(1000);

Or to return an abnormal result

return new Response<int>("Something has gone wrong");

 

Question 1

The fun part then, is what happens when you have this?

var result = new Response<string>("Is this a result or an error?");

What is result

 

Question 2


What about this:

public class Sample
{
    public static Response<T> GetSample<T>(T arg)
    {
        return new Response<T>(arg);
    }
}

and then:

var result = Sample.GetSample("Is this an error?");

What is result

Re: Sorry dad, you'll understand, someday

/

This is a quick blog post, in response to Zac Gorman's excellent Magical Game Time comic.

http://magicalgametime.com/post/19718347285/ill-stop-when-ive-saved-the-world-and-fallen-in

As you play through the game Earthbound as the kid protagonist Ness, your phone would ring every few hours, and your dad would ask you if you'd like to take a break.  If you say Yes, it'd save the game and switch it off.

The comic cleverly replies as Ness: I'll stop when I've saved the world and fallen in love.  (Sorry dad, you'll understand someday).

 

My boy is still three, he doesn't understand about saving the world, or falling in love, yet.  I'm sure he will soon.  And here'd be my response to him:

  • All dads were boys once.
    We already understood.
  • So off you go, save the world.
    Go and fall in love with your girl.
  • You do what you have to do.
    This is your time, we don't expect you to hold back, or stay at home.
  • When you are tired from saving the world, stop by and have some hot chocolate and ice cream.
    We will always be your biggest fan.

 

We will return to our regular SharePoint updates soon.