September 16, 2004
Please feel free to invite some of your colleagues from your or another city/county if you think it would benefit them to be a part of our group.
Location: MARC, Kansas City, MO.
(Meetings alternate monthly between MARC
in Kansas City and the City of Overland Park, KS.)
Attendance
City of Gladstone , MO. ............... Kelli Behr
City of Kansas City ,
MO. ............ Rich Lovett
City of Olathe , KS ..................... Chris
Holdman
City of Overland Park , KS ........... Chris Audano and Randy Ellis
City
of Shawnee , KS ................. Sonya Fendorf
Clay County , MO......................
Lutz Mueller
Jackson County , MO.................. Dan Davis and Joseph P.
Tanner
Johnson County , KS .................. Karen Sorensen
Wyandotte County ,
KS :............. Angela Her
MARC..................................... Andy
Graham, Barbara Hensley and Julie Wittman
Presenters
Steve Loethen ........................ Microsoft
Jane A. Thompson ...................
Microsoft
The August minutes were approved. Chris Audano introduced our speakers.
Presentation: Microsoft’s .NET
Steve Loethen, .NET Developer Evangelist
for Microsoft's Mid-America district, introduced “.NET” (that’s
pronounced dot Net). .NET is a product strategy for the next generation of
Windows services. Another general overview will be provided at the MAGWeb conference
and for those desiring more in-depth technical information, a question and
answer "after-hours" conference
event is being offered.
Jane Thompson, the state and local government account executive for Microsoft, will be able to provide some CD learning aids but more on that later.
In the past, DOS used TCP/IP to connect shared data via FTP, Email and Gopher. Presently, a GUI operating system uses HTML to present a Web page and to browse the Internet. The present system, as most of us have experienced, has drawbacks such as long loading times. Microsoft's team identified the common sources of errors. Their way to fix these issues for the future is .NET. .NET will use XML to program Web services; resulting in a more fluid way to retrieve and utilize information. It primarily consists of four core technologies:
- The .NET Framework.
- The .NET Building Block Services.
- Development Tools.
- Enterprise Servers. Steve focused mostly on “web space,” the .NET Framework which includes Common Language Runtime (CLR), the manager of all of the Framework. Another component of the .NET platform was also discussed, a development tool, VisualStudio.Net. (Note: .NET Framework also includes Web Forms, Windows Forms and Console applications to create and manage your user interfaces plus Web Services, which handles your interfaces with a remote component.)
While .NET is not a viable and immediate solution for some, .NET is here to stay. The .NET paradigm has been refined with each release. 2004 is much better than 2003. The next release, perhaps a year from now, will offer more presentation-rich features such as navigation options. FrontPage may be replaced.
The latest version includes:
- A new language, Visual C# (that’s pronounced “C Sharp”), is C++ friendly, replaces Java and has been written to target .NET Framework development.
- Visual Basic, which has been upgraded to an object-oriented language.
- Visual Studio, which has been re-authored with a new “all-in-one” integrated development environment (replacing Interdev).
- Web Services options which will play an integral part.
Advantages include:
- Multiple language support.
- Libraries, centralized and accessible, easy to integrate, supporting object-oriented features.
- Open-standard friendly.
- Portability of 70-85%.
- Code that is compiled natively, regardless of language or deployment (Web or desktop).
- Deployment which becomes far less complicated and much more efficient.
Steve gave us a feel for the versatility of VisualStudio.Net, the structure of ASP.NET and how code is compiled natively. A script was written with C++ and run through a browser, resulting in a Web page saying "Hello World." Regardless of what language is used, .Net compiles it natively. In other words, ASP.NET doesn’t interpret the code but translates it to Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL); a compiler compiles the intermediate language and metadata into native code, which is cached. Performance should be better. “Hello World” is a simple example. Database settings can be stored, security controlled, etc.
VisualStudio.Net’s drag and drop interface is similar to the front end in Access but has an HTML back end. Starting with a default template, Steve proceeded to create a calendar in seconds, a time consuming task in the past. There are 45 lists of other items to choose from, ranging from lists to ad rotators. “Intellisense” knows what you are typing and helps complete and spell-check your work, a real timesaver.
The key to understanding .NET is to recognize its technical innovations and how to use them. For example, Kansas City area governments could share their Parks and Recreation schedules, with MARC’s Web site serving as the centralized point of access for the compiled information.
Microsoft’s .NET Training and Resources. “Learn more about the training and resources available to help you master the Microsoft .NET set of software technologies:” http://www.microsoft.com/learning/centers/dotnet.asp
The Microsoft eLearning Library (MELL). This resource is targeted “to meet the unique learning needs of corporations and academic institutions, Microsoft E-Learning Library (MELL):” http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp
For MAGWeb programmers, there’s the Anders Hejlsberg streamlined interview, “Programming in C#” that may be of interest.
Jane and Steve welcome requests to obtain book recommendations or learn about the training options that are a part of the Microsoft license. Free CDs will be available at the conference containing trial versions of Microsoft’s “ Enterprise” Training. Attend their presentation at the MAGWeb conference (9:00 A.M.), visit them at their table, or partake in their after-hours session from 5:30-7:00 P.M. on Thursday.
Jane A. Thompson
State & Local Government Account Executive
US_SLG Central District
janethom@microsoft.com
Cell / Page 913-481-2213
Tel 913-323-1209
Fax 913-323-1201
http://www.microsoft.com/usa/government
Steve Loethen
.NET Developer Evangelist
MidAmerica District
sloethen@microsoft.com
Cell Phone 816-699-5598
Tel 913-323-1243
Fax 425-936-7329
Microsoft Corporation
10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 620
Overland Park , KS 66210
Old Business
2004 Government Webmasters Conference Update
September 23-24, 2004
Kelli Behr provided a quick update. 224 people are registered. Half are from out of town, 26 states in all. We are still accepting registrations. The fee is $150. Cool notebooks will be provided this year for attendees. The date of the conference coincides with a fun event on the weekend, a hot rod show at the new speedway.
Upcoming Meeting Topics
Due to preparing for the conference, next month’s
topic is currently undecided. Please email Chris if you have a suggestion for
a topic or speaker.
Next Meeting
October 21, 2004, City of Overland Park, KS
Meeting minutes: Karen Lynne Sorensen, Johnson County Wastewater.