May .NET User Group Meeting

When:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Where:
Louisiana Technology Park Room 301, 7117 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (map)

Sponsored By:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Service Excellence – We create exceptional customer experiences by advocating for our customers and providing value to ensure their loyalty. Innovation – We create our future through discovery, development and adoption of new products, processes and experiences that generate value to all. Collaboration – We build relationships and partner with others to create value-added services and healthcare solutions. Accountability – We take ownership for our actions and are passionate about finding solutions to support the long-term health, security and well-being of our customers and community. Integrity – We are a customer-owned health services company that does the right things at the right time for the right reasons to ensure sustainability.

Main Presentation:

Moving to XAML

- Jeremy Beckham (IT Solutions Architect at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana)
XAML has been around for several years now, but most developers haven’t had to use it yet. As Microsoft pushes Windows Store applications and Windows Phone, that is going to change. We’ll cover:

• Differences between Windows Forms and XAML
• Basic layout of a XAML UI
• Binding in XAML
• Very basics of MVVM

This presentation will introduce intermediate+ C# developers to XAML.

Jeremy Beckham is an IT Solutions Architect with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana where he designs systems for claim processing and intake. Before joining BCBSLA, he worked for Envoc where he designed and developed software for a wide range of clients. His technical background is primarily focused on the Microsoft stack and also includes quite a bit of web technologies. Jeremy has presented at many SQL Saturdays, SharePoint Saturday New Orleans, and multiple User Groups in south Louisiana.

JQuery Data
- Daniel Hibbard (CMR)

jQuery Data is a data storage function introduced in version 1.2.3. This lightning round we will discuss its usefulness within the MVC framework. jQuery is something that we see a lot, but the data function maybe one of those overlooked functions. A technique will be introduced that helps with posting form data through Ajax or regular post. We will also discuss its use in a repeating data environment, such as a person with multiple phone numbers or multiple mailing addresses. If time permits we will compare some other techniques for accomplishing the same goal.

Daniel Hibbard is currently empowering the LA Attorney General’s Office as part of their development team. With experience ranging from medical, to insurance, to legal, he has a concentration in web development and JavaScript frameworks such as jQuery. While those maintain his current career focus, he has begun a journey into mobile development with the introduction of a Windows Phone application, My Checkbook Lite. With the successful launch of his app, Daniel has now turned his attention to the realm of mobile game development using the XNA and Monogame frameworks. While Daniel enjoys application development, he is also the caring and loving husband to a loving and understanding wife. Daniel and his wife have been blessed with a son, who is currently unaware that the cake is a lie.

Agenda
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm: General Introduction/Food and Drinks
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm: Presentations
7:30 pm – until: Open forum for questions

April .NET User Group Meeting

When:
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Where:
Louisiana Technology Park Room 301, 7117 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (map)

Sponsored By:

SoftwareONE is immersed in the complexities of software licensing so you don’t have to be. We dig deep into the fine print for solutions that make your licensing agreements work for you. Our sole focus gives us the edge. And helps you accomplish more.

Main Presentation:

Specification, Repository and 10 other Patterns you should know

- Devlin Liles (Improving Enterprises)

I continually get asked about how to solve the same problem over and over. In this session we are going to dive into those amazing patterns that will help solve complex problem in simple ways that every software craftsman should have in their belt. From repository to MVVM we will talk and walk through it all. Bring your code, your questions, and an eager mind.

Devlin Liles is a Principal Consultant at Improving Enterprises and a passionate technologist. Devlin prides himself on staying a generalist, but his passion in development is data and its interactions. These passions gained him the recognition of Microsoft as an MVP of Data Platform Development awardee.Since 2007 he has been presenting and teaching classes on software development practices and tools to audiences around the nation. He is a regular national presenter at user groups, conferences, and community events. He founded an internal Corporate Software Craftsmanship conference in Northwest Arkansas as well as led the Tyson User group for a year and a half. He has been involved in many conferences and events(Dallas TechFest, Houston TechFest, Houston CodeCamp, Houston GiveCamp, AgileDotNet) as a coordinator; planner; or just a helping hand.

Recently Devlin became published along with his good friend Tim Rayburn as authors of a book about Entity Framework and the expert approach to it.

He is an avid soccer player and hobbyist gamer.

Schematron
- Laird Wilson (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana)

Schematron is an xml pattern based protocol that expresses inclusionary validation methods (aka rules) as opposed to grammar based xsd or other schema checking methods. Schematron allows a fine level of granularity for checking xml and since it is based in xslt it is fully integrated into .NET and can apply logic directly into the validation rule sets.

Laird Wilson. Although Laird has been involved in IT for nearly a decade, he a relative newcomer to software development. He graduated from LSU in ISDS in 2007. He recently graduated from Champlain College of Vermont with a Master’s in MIT in 2012. Previously he worked as a Systems Engineer at Community Coffee Company where he was involved in a variety of tasks and projects including network infrastructure (Cisco route/switch), server, desktop,  POS, and mobile. He is looking forward to learning more as he begins his career as a software analyst and developer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Agenda
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm: General Introduction/Food and Drinks
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm: Presentations
7:30 pm – until: Open forum for questions

March .NET User Group Meeting

When:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Where:
Louisiana Technology Park Room 301, 7117 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (map)

Sponsored By:

Turner Industries has provided a single vendor solution in heavy industrial construction, maintenance, pipe, module and vessel fabrication, equipment, rigging and heavy hauling, and associated specialty services for over 50 years. The company is privately owned by the Turner family, and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Main Presentation:

iPhone Apps in C#

- Seth Valdetero (Sparkhound)

Mobile development has traditionally been having to learn a new language for that platform and new ways of doing the same ‘ole thing. Cross-platform development has been especially burdensome since that means multiple code-bases in different languages that have to be kept in sync. Mono aims to make cross-platform mobile development easier by leveraging your existing .NET skills. You no longer need to spend your time re-learning the wheel and hopefully you can save even more time by sharing the majority of your code across all of the platforms. In this session, we will be looking specifically into the iOS platform and how to get started writing iPhone apps in C# and hopefully Visual Studio.

Seth Valdetero is a Developer at Sparkhound, working on web projects. He has recently started working with MVC and prefers it considerably more than web forms. His most recent endeavors have been learning to do cross-platform mobile development in C#.

Event Tracing for Windows

- Mike Huguet (Microsoft)

Mike Huguet is a Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft focusing on the developer platform, developer tools, SharePoint customizations, and PowerShell. He is an active member of the IT community as a leader of the Baton Rouge .NET User Group, a founding member of the Baton Rouge SQL Saturday and Tech Day event, and an avid speaker at all day conferences and user groups. Mike was chosen as an INETA Community Champion in 2011 and was a member of the Microsoft Patterns and Practices Advisory team for the SharePoint 2010 Guidance. He has a software development background and has been delivering solutions with .NET since Beta 1 and SharePoint since 2006.

None

Agenda
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm: General Introduction/Food and Drinks
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm: Presentations
7:30 pm – until: Open forum for questions

Louisiana Technology Park (map)
7117 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: 225-218-1100

In Baton Rouge, LA! On April 27th, 2013, you’ll have the ability to join a Windows Azure Bootcamp on a location close to you. Why? We’re organizing bootcamps globally, that’s why! Ryan Duclos will lead you through a series of presentations and labs designed to help you learn all about Windows Azure.

Register: http://gwabbrla.eventbrite.com/

This one day deep dive class will get you up to speed on developing for Windows Azure. The class includes a trainer with deep real world experience with Windows Azure, as well as a series of labs so you can practice what you just learned.

Awesome. How much does it cost? How do I attend?

This event is FREE to the attendees! All you have to do is register!

EVEN MORE AWESOME! WHAT’S THE CATCH?

There’s no catch. Even the pro’s recommend this event.

What do I need to bring?

You will need to bring your own laptop and have it preloaded with the software listed below or here. Please do the installation upfront as there will be no time to troubleshoot installations during the day.

• You’ll need a Windows Azure Subscription. If you don’t have one, you can sign up for a 90 Day Trial or if you have a MSDN Subscription you can use your Azure Benefits. You will need to provide a credit card to sign up, but both the Trial and new MSDN benefit Azure Subscription have a default spending cap of $0.00, so unless you remove the cap you will not be charged. You’ll use this subscription while working on the hands on labs.
• A computer or laptop with:
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 (full version or Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web) – do note if you use Express Edition you will not be able to complete all of the labs.
  • Install the Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio
  • Install the Windows Azure Training Kit

Is this for beginners?

Yes and no. The local trainers will use the Windows Azure Training Kit to guide you to the basics. We’ll also be running a massive scalability experiment that may bring one of the Windows Azure datacenters down!

Sponsors:

For more information about this international event series click here.

Register: http://gwabbrla.eventbrite.com/

The BRXAMLUG is open to the public and focuses on XAML based development of Windows Phone and Windows 8 apps.

CODE GARAGE

A code garage is designed so that developers can have a block of time devoted to working on your idea in an encouraging environment with your peers.  Many different individuals of all experience levels will be on hand in case you get stuck, have a question or need help fleshing out that million dollar idea!

This month, we have special guests Jared Bienz, (Sr Mobile Evangelist, Microsoft) Ryan Joy (Developer Evangelist, Microsoft) and Mike Huguet (Premier Field Engineer, Microsoft) on hand to offer enlightenment and assistance.  There will even be a Surface tablet on hand should you want to side load and test your app for full-fingered functionality!

What will you need to bring?  A laptop installed with Windows 8 and VS 2012 (or a VM running both) for Win8 development, and Windows Phone developers will need the Windows Phone SDK.  Be sure to check the requirements on http://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/downloadsdk.

AGENDA

5:30-6:00 – Meet, Greet, and Eat
6:00-8:30 – Phone Garage

Please visit our website for complete details: http://brxamlug.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/march-13-xaml-user-group-meeting-complete-with-ninjas/

Info on the Tech Park Location is here: http://brxamlug.wordpress.com/location

Look for us on Twitter at @BRXAMLUG for breaking news and reminders.

See you there!

-Paul Johnson, President, BRXUG

January .NET User Group Meeting

When:
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Where:
Louisiana Technology Park Room 301, 7117 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (map)

Sponsored By:

Ameritas follows a unique business model that applies best practices and lessons learned from offshore outsourcing to local delivery from US-based development centers. This approach enables Ameritas’ clients to gain the cost, discipline and efficiency benefits of outsourced development, testing and support for projects that are not suited for offshore delivery.

Main Presentation:

Automated UI Testing with VS Coded UI Tests

- Mike Huguet (Microsoft)

Introduction to Managing Database Schemas with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)

- Mike Huguet (Microsoft)

Agenda
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm: General Introduction/Food and Drinks
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm: Presentations
7:30 pm – until: Open forum for questions

Louisiana Technology Park (map)
7117 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: 225-218-1100