Good Azure Video from PDC09
By · CommentsHere’s a great intro to Azure from PDC 09. If you have not looked at Azure or Cloud computing in general, take a look at this video for an introduction. Cloud Computing is here and in use. It will only grow in the near future.
PDC Video on Cloud Computing with Azure
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Java vs. .Net – Another Blast From the Past
By · CommentsHere’s another ancient article I wrote that I recently reread. It is interesting to see what has changed since this was first published on SearchSOA almost 8 years ago (see link at end of article). There are also many things that have not changed in those years. Companies continue to be faced with the question of what technology platform to choose for their Line of Business (LOB) applications. Often decisions are made based on criteria that have not been properly matched to business objectives. Sometimes the result is that the new technology platform is abandoned in the not so distant future, with a corresponding loss of investment dollars.
With a Just Enough Technology approach, a company evaluates technology against its core problem or objectives. I work with business and technology leaders within a company to define their true objectives and then weigh the technology decisions with their business objectives as the main criteria. Read through this article on choosing between the Java and Microsoft platforms. Both technologies have evolved quite a bit since this was first published, but some of the core arguments remain to this day.
Windows 7 God Mode
By · CommentsJust found a little tip / secret for Windows 7 that’s been making the rounds on the Internet. It enables “GodMode” – a term created by the Windows 7 development team. This secret “mode” provides a single place to access all the important Windows settings without having to drill down through a multitude of menus and folders in Control Panel. This tip is one of my favorites.
Here’s how to do it:
- Create a new folder.
- Rename the folder to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}(note that you can change the “GodMode” text, but the following period and code number are essential).
- The folder icon will change to — double click it to show the GodMode window.
Another Security Breach
By · CommentsFrom InternetNews.com :
Hundreds of thousands of BlueCross customers are in for a scare. This week, the insurance company is sending out notifications to its customers fessing up to a significant data breach that saw a thief make off with 57 hard drives from a call center in Tennessee.
The hard drives contained encoded — but not encrypted – records of phone calls and video files containing sensitive patient information. eSecurity Planet has the details on the breach.
Windows Azure Now Available
By · CommentsMicrosoft’s Windows Azure and SQL Azure cloud services are now generally available with full SLAs. This ends the free test period for those who signed up last month. This is a key release milestone for Microsoft. Azure has been in development for several years and in beta since late 2008. From the Azure team blog:
Starting today, customers and partners in countries across the globe will be able to launch their Windows Azure and SQL Azure production applications and services with the support of the full Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The Windows Azure platform AppFabric Service Bus and Access Control will continue to be free until April 2010 for those that sign up for a commercial subscription. Additionally Microsoft codename “Dallas” will continue to be in a free CTP.
Why Just Enough Technology?
By · CommentsJust Enough Technology means providing the right technology to solve the right problem at the right cost. Not too much, not too little. The objectives of the business must be prioritized and kept in mind from concept to design to implementation to maintenance. Every decision made along the way must map to a business objective. Every software requirement must map to a business objective. This is the foundation of Just Enough Technology – clear and concise business objectives. Those objectives drive the requirements, and the requirements drive the design and implementation.
This is how I ended a short article about Just Enough Technology a while back. I’ve reproduced here for your reading pleasure. Differing opinions are invited 
Windows Azure Videos
By · CommentsHere are the videos of the Windows Azure sessions at PDC09. Lots of useful content, the sessions were well attended and well received.
Cloud Computing Introduction
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If you have not lived in a technological box for the past few years, you’ve heard the term “Cloud Computing“. “It’s become the phrase du jour” according to Gartner senior analyst Ben Pring. How does the idea of Cloud Computing fit in with the idea of Just Enough Technology? To answer that question, we’ll need to come to an understanding of what Cloud Computing is. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of Cloud Computing at a very high level. Later, we’ll delve into more specific aspects. First, we’ll define Cloud Computing, then we’ll look at its basic components and finally we’ll take a peek at its potential benefits. Read More→
Enable Joins WebSiteSpark
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1/12/2010 – Today Enable Web Technologies has been selected to join the Microsoft WebSiteSpark program. Enable Web Technologies (www.enablewebtech.com) is the consulting company owned by myself and Victoria, my wife. We recently joined the Microsoft WebSiteSpark program.
Is Software Engineering Dead?
By · CommentsA new article by Tom Demarco states: I’m gradually coming to the conclusion that software engineering is an idea whose time has come and gone. I still believe it makes excellent sense to engineer software. But that isn’t exactly what software engineering has come to mean. Read More→
