Needless to say, I am a Windows Phone 7 Fan! What more could I shout loud to say that than show you the live feel of Windows Phone on my blog post! :)
Friday, February 10, 2012
I am a Windows Phone 7 Fan!
Needless to say, I am a Windows Phone 7 Fan! What more could I shout loud to say that than show you the live feel of Windows Phone on my blog post! :)
Windows Phone Update - BITS failure
Yesterday I had this popup on my new Nokia Lumia 800 for a phone update. I connected it my laptop and up came the Zune. I went through the wizard for the update, and but lo, the update failed.
The error conveyed that the failure was due to a problem with BITS. For the newbies, BITS stands for Background Intelligent Transfer Service. This is the piece of service which helps the automatic Windows Updates to happen.
Anyways, the error notification was helpful in spitting out a code - 8018119C.
I had some trouble finding out the cause and a remedy. In my hunting, I found this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2484484#8018119C.
According to this site, I had to clear the logs created by the BITS service. So all I had to do was to kick on the console and execute the following command:
c:\bitsadmin /reset
This clears all the logs created.
I then re-plugged the phone and the update started.
The error conveyed that the failure was due to a problem with BITS. For the newbies, BITS stands for Background Intelligent Transfer Service. This is the piece of service which helps the automatic Windows Updates to happen.
Anyways, the error notification was helpful in spitting out a code - 8018119C.
I had some trouble finding out the cause and a remedy. In my hunting, I found this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2484484#8018119C.
According to this site, I had to clear the logs created by the BITS service. So all I had to do was to kick on the console and execute the following command:
c:\bitsadmin /reset
This clears all the logs created.
I then re-plugged the phone and the update started.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
SQL SERVER 2012
Do you want to know more about SQL Server 2012?
Come in and enjoy an evening with Kevin Goff, who would go over the features and capabilities of SQL Server 2012.
When: January 17th, Tuesday 2012. 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
Where: Computer Aid Inc office, Harrisburg PA.
When: January 17th, Tuesday 2012. 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
Where: Computer Aid Inc office, Harrisburg PA.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Sweet Mango
John Baird is coming back to our .net user group, with a presentation of the new Windows Phone Mango features.
Not to be missed.
Details at http://www.central-penn.net.
UPDATE
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A deer hit John's car and the car is badly damaged. John is fine. We will try to get him in January 2012.
Not to be missed.
Details at http://www.central-penn.net.
UPDATE
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A deer hit John's car and the car is badly damaged. John is fine. We will try to get him in January 2012.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Car Wash Management
Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with washing or repairing cars.
Well, I have been pondering over Managers and Management for long - as long as I can remember. Every software developer does, in my opinion. I treat myself as a Manager's developer (akin to Director's actor :)). Having said that, I have flourished under stupid managers too (you have to believe me :)). Developers who perform well even under unhealthy managerial environment, are truly rock stars. But we seldom can be consistent.
Managers, in my opinion, should act as support systems (oh yes, I stole this from Joel Spolsky!). I believe this very strongly. I have lead many projects, and I always see that my team members get what they want from me. Maybe, that's because I am a developer myself and I know the pains and happiness of being one.
In my 15 years of experience in the IT industry, I have seen (and dealt with) many managers, which I think, can be put in these buckets:
1. Car Wash
2. Mechanics
3. Dealers
Car Wash
Imagine a car wash company posing as a mechanic. Or a mechanic who knows only to wash a car. And he/she is an expert in washing cars. :) You get the point, I presume :). Ok, to be more clear, if you take an issue to a manager, and he listens to you carefully, and replies in fine tone using all the polished, sophisticated business language you can get, and you thank him and get out of his office. Once you go and sit on your chair (if you have one), and think about a while, and you know your issue has not been resolved.... well those kind of managers are Car Wash Managers! (You take your car for fixing breaks, instead they wash your car and polish, and you are so happy that you car shines more than that of your neighbor's. But once you drive a mile or so, you realize your brakes are not yet fixed!)
Unfortunately, there are more Car Wash managers than you would like to deal with.
Yes, unfortunately :)
Mechanics
They don't wash your car. They are (sometimes) rude. They run dirty garages. Your car might get dirtier than before. BUT, your brakes would get fixed, for sure.
Some managers (mostly - not all - developer-turned-managers) know their stuff. They are in their caves always, and are not social enough to boost their team's morale. They do their work, and they help their team when asked for.
Dealers
Those who love their cars take them to the dealer. Because they walk the talk. They know their stuff. And they also wash your car! Nice deal, eh? But they are expensive, one would argue. Yes, but it depends. At a longer term, you would realize you have made a good decision.
These managers, seen very sporadically in IT industry, are considerate. That does not mean they are dumb. They are, in fact, the most intelligent of the breed, who knows whats going on with a project, and is constantly on top of everything. They have a work-life balance others can only dream of. They understand what the developers are talking about, and give them amicable solutions for their issues. They let the developers fail and try to move forward than pointing fingers at each other.
I am a fortunate developer, having worked with many Dealership type managers. And that's my weakness too. I easily get frustrated when dealing with Mechanics or Car Wash type of managers. Well, I just can't tolerate Car Wash managers, for sure. But, the reality is that this world is not made of Dealership kind of managers alone. It is filled with all types, and we have to mold ourselves to deal with every one.
What is your experience? Do you agree with my statements above? Put in your comments for a healthy discussion.
Well, I have been pondering over Managers and Management for long - as long as I can remember. Every software developer does, in my opinion. I treat myself as a Manager's developer (akin to Director's actor :)). Having said that, I have flourished under stupid managers too (you have to believe me :)). Developers who perform well even under unhealthy managerial environment, are truly rock stars. But we seldom can be consistent.
Managers, in my opinion, should act as support systems (oh yes, I stole this from Joel Spolsky!). I believe this very strongly. I have lead many projects, and I always see that my team members get what they want from me. Maybe, that's because I am a developer myself and I know the pains and happiness of being one.
In my 15 years of experience in the IT industry, I have seen (and dealt with) many managers, which I think, can be put in these buckets:
1. Car Wash
2. Mechanics
3. Dealers
Car Wash
Imagine a car wash company posing as a mechanic. Or a mechanic who knows only to wash a car. And he/she is an expert in washing cars. :) You get the point, I presume :). Ok, to be more clear, if you take an issue to a manager, and he listens to you carefully, and replies in fine tone using all the polished, sophisticated business language you can get, and you thank him and get out of his office. Once you go and sit on your chair (if you have one), and think about a while, and you know your issue has not been resolved.... well those kind of managers are Car Wash Managers! (You take your car for fixing breaks, instead they wash your car and polish, and you are so happy that you car shines more than that of your neighbor's. But once you drive a mile or so, you realize your brakes are not yet fixed!)
Unfortunately, there are more Car Wash managers than you would like to deal with.
Yes, unfortunately :)
Mechanics
They don't wash your car. They are (sometimes) rude. They run dirty garages. Your car might get dirtier than before. BUT, your brakes would get fixed, for sure.
Some managers (mostly - not all - developer-turned-managers) know their stuff. They are in their caves always, and are not social enough to boost their team's morale. They do their work, and they help their team when asked for.
Dealers
Those who love their cars take them to the dealer. Because they walk the talk. They know their stuff. And they also wash your car! Nice deal, eh? But they are expensive, one would argue. Yes, but it depends. At a longer term, you would realize you have made a good decision.
These managers, seen very sporadically in IT industry, are considerate. That does not mean they are dumb. They are, in fact, the most intelligent of the breed, who knows whats going on with a project, and is constantly on top of everything. They have a work-life balance others can only dream of. They understand what the developers are talking about, and give them amicable solutions for their issues. They let the developers fail and try to move forward than pointing fingers at each other.
I am a fortunate developer, having worked with many Dealership type managers. And that's my weakness too. I easily get frustrated when dealing with Mechanics or Car Wash type of managers. Well, I just can't tolerate Car Wash managers, for sure. But, the reality is that this world is not made of Dealership kind of managers alone. It is filled with all types, and we have to mold ourselves to deal with every one.
What is your experience? Do you agree with my statements above? Put in your comments for a healthy discussion.
Windows Azure - A nice post
Stephen Walther explains about creating a WCF service in Windows Azure - a step-by-step guide. Have a look at it here. You will enjoy, for sure. I did.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A Session on XNA
As of today, I have 3 WP7 apps in the marketplace. And 3 are coming... I have been developing the apps using Silverlight only, and keeping my fingers away from XNA. I haven't had much time pondering on XNA, so I have been procrastinating on it.
Next Tuesday, 21st that is, Chris Gomez is coming to Harrisburg PA, for presenting a session on XNA for WP7, for our user group. He has promised me to start with XNA basics, and then go into game development. I have talked to Chris on various occasions, and found him very passionate about XNA. This would be fun, for sure. If it sucks me in, I would consider developing some apps using XNA too :) Who knows... :)
So, if you are interested and would like to know what XNA is all about, you could visit our next user group meeting on 21st evening. You wouldn't be disappointed for sure! For details, please visit http://www.central-penn.net.
Next Tuesday, 21st that is, Chris Gomez is coming to Harrisburg PA, for presenting a session on XNA for WP7, for our user group. He has promised me to start with XNA basics, and then go into game development. I have talked to Chris on various occasions, and found him very passionate about XNA. This would be fun, for sure. If it sucks me in, I would consider developing some apps using XNA too :) Who knows... :)
So, if you are interested and would like to know what XNA is all about, you could visit our next user group meeting on 21st evening. You wouldn't be disappointed for sure! For details, please visit http://www.central-penn.net.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Windows Phone 7 Development
I have already dived into the ocean of Windows Phone 7 development. Not alone, but with one of my friends Rajeev Venkitaraman. He is also a .NET enthusiast and technologist. We already developed two apps, for kids, Shapes4Kids and Alphabets4Kids.
To track our progress, and also to share our experiences, we have created a blog - http://hubapps.blogspot.com/. Please visit this site and plant your feedback.
To track our progress, and also to share our experiences, we have created a blog - http://hubapps.blogspot.com/. Please visit this site and plant your feedback.
Monday, March 21, 2011
What I have been upto
I haven't been blogging much lately... just posting activity updates of our .NET User Group. What I have been upto? I have been:
On the side, I am developing an app in SL4.0, to apply what I have learned. Every week I try to do something with what I learn. This is a slow process for now, but I am getting there... The world of XAML is pretty wonderful... As I said before, it makes easy things hard and hard things easier.
Expect more Silverlight related posts.... yeah... coming soon!
- Learning Silverlight
- I have made several attempts to learn SL in the past, but for some obvious and not-so obvious reasons, I had to drop it. The obvious reason was for the fact that SL was not "enterprise" ready. But this time, I have had it all sorted out. With the SL4.0 being out, and Windows Phone 7 supporting SL4.0 development, it made quite sense (yes, I am not out of it yet :)) to get into the SL bandwagon (is there one?). I am reading mainly from the Wrox book and from the blogs around.
- Learning C#
- Ha.... I have been a VB(.NET) guy for long. I still am. But the world does not seem friendly enough to VB.NET developers. Almost all the articles that I read are of C#. I read C# pretty fluently, but my coding skills are still immature when it comes to this language. There is one truth that we VB.NET developers do not like to admit - C# is (going to be) the de-facto language of .NET. In my travel around the blogosphere and the web, I see more and more applications being written in C#. I have decided to break the barrier and learn it and make it my primary language of choice.
- Learning MVVM
- If you know Silverlight, it is understood that you know MVVM (Model View ViewModel) also. They go along so well. This became more and more clear when I attended the Get DevReady with MVVM session by Miguel Castro at Malvern PA. I am reading Josh Smith's article as my primary resource.
On the side, I am developing an app in SL4.0, to apply what I have learned. Every week I try to do something with what I learn. This is a slow process for now, but I am getting there... The world of XAML is pretty wonderful... As I said before, it makes easy things hard and hard things easier.
Expect more Silverlight related posts.... yeah... coming soon!
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