Reading Notes #31

Cloud

• mszCool's thoughts and cents revealed (mszCool) - Nice post that study a real scenario and explain what could be a good hybrid architecture.
• Adding code that'll run before, during, and after (SeenDaBean) - Great tutorial that give us a lot the options when downloading from Azure blob storage.
• AWS Toolkits for Eclipse and Visual Studio Now Support DynamoDB - A great post that introduce DynamoDB the new NoSQL database of Amazon web services.
• Testing Ruby Applications on Windows Azure (Larry Franks) - Nice tutorial to make unit test under Ruby in Azure server. 
• Making Windows Azure Drive Letter Persistent (Shawn Cicoria) - Amazing post. Great job. Learn how to get Azure drive letter persistent.
• Introducing Microsoft Codename “Cloud Numerics” from SQL Azure Labs (Roger Jennings) - Great post introducing cloud numeric talking about pros and cons and finishing by a tutorial.
• Parallel Uploads to Windows Azure Blob Storage via a Silverlight Control (msdn.microsoft.com) - Really good tool/control to upload quickly files in Azure blob storage in Silverlight. This post explain how the control is working.
• Cloud9 Delivers Cloud-Based IDE Support for Windows Azure (Darryl K. Taft) - Great new! Last January 24 Cloud9 announce our development IDE available in the cloud to develops from anywhere in Node.js
• Cloud Computing – The Democratization of IT (Part 1) (Linda Bernardi) - A good article that show why the cloud is so nice and why start-up should really look at it to see if there business fit.
• AzureWatch vs. Azure Fabric Controller. (Kurt Claeys) - By answering a question about the difference between AzureWatch (a product from Paraleap) and Azure Fabric this post introduce a really good tool to monitor and help to scaleup your system.
• New Azure ServiceBus Demo Available (Briand Loesgen) - Great work. A really good demo. Only few step to make it works in our environment.
• Setting up SSL on a Microsoft Azure application - Good advice and excellent reference.
• Exporting and Restoring a PFX file to IIS - I really well illustrated tutorial to "play" with certificates.
• Announcing SQL Azure Data Sync Preview Refresh (Gregory Leake) - Good news. This will became a great tool. It's already a good one simple and efficient. Don't forget to update your sync agent.
• Improving Performance by Batching Azure Table Storage Inserts (Brian Swan) - Good test. Azure storage table is suppose to be faster... now prove it.
• Throttling in SQL Azure with Scott Klein (Wade Wegner Steve Marx ) - Nice show. explains how to diagnose throttling in SQLAzure.

Programming

• Amazon Web Services Blog - Great new toolkit for vs2010 to play with DynamoDB.
• My love affair with Visual Studio (Susan Ibach) - Nice tip with the Error correction feature.
• The State of NoSQL in 2012 - Nice post that present some of the more popular NoSql database with there pros and cons
• CSS3 is the new Flash (Scott Hanselman) - Nice post about the questioning of Flash vs. HTML5.
  

  It brought us sites like this one and, of course, the greatest flash site in history.

• How to contribute a patch to a GitHub hosted Open Source project like Code 52 (Scott Hanselman) - The message is clear. get involve. you want to improve your skills, make your resume more attractive, get a feature in an application... get involve, it's simple.
• The REST of the Story « Open Sourcery - Nice post that explain clear the structure of a REST

Miscellaneous

• Public speaking for normal people - Nice tips to perform when talking for of public.
• How to get up to speed with a new technology (Frédéric Harper) - Quick tips about where to start when you want to learn a new language or technologies.

~Franky

Reading Notes #30

Cloud

• Secure Amazon EC2 instances (Shang) - A really simple and good way to secure your server.
  
• With Azure SDK 1.6, Azure Diagnostics is enabled by default can cause thousands of daily transections to Azure Storage - Good catch!
• Sending Messages to Azure AppFabric Service Bus Topics From Iron Foundry (Richard Seroter) - A nice tutorial creating a simple web application that use Azure AppFabric ServiseBus and how to deploy it in Iron foundry.

  “[…] the Service Bus Explorer tool which allows us to browse our Service Bus configuration […] “

• 6 Quick Steps for Windows/.NET Folks to Try Out Cloud Foundry (Richard Seroter)- Seroter present the Cloud Foundry (VMware's cloud). Using Ruby to show some basics steps.
• My First Impressions of node.js - It's not always all wonderful, sometime it's doesn't works.
• Using Symbolic links with local storage to store large amount of data in Windows Azure Application Drive (Avkash Chauhan) - A really nice workaround when having issue with big file in application drive.
• Setting Windows Azure Blob Storage (asv) as data source directly from Portal at Hadoop on Azure (Avkash Chauhan) - Nice quick sample.
• Managing cloud computing security requires planning - This post explain which question you should ask yourself about when planning your move to the cloud... or when you already there. Better later then never.
• Configuring SSL for an Application in Windows Azure - How to configure Azure application to to using https. Step by step (with screenshots) configure the SSL certificate.
• How to Associate a Certificate with a Service (MSDN) - Information about SSL certificate to use with Azure like supported algorithm or tools.

  “[…]The only thumbprint algorithm currently supported is sha1[…]”

• How to Configure an SSL Certificate on an HTTPS Endpoint - Nice post. help to configure SSL certificate in Azure but also how to test it.
• Complete Solution: Adding SSL Certificate with Windows Azure Application - I quick summary of what to do in order by be able to use https in Azure.
• From developer to cloud developer - Great! Finally we got more Azure stuff at Microsoft Learning.
• Windows Azure application VM and (virtual) IP Address (Avkash Chauhan) - Again good quick post from Avkash Chauhan that summarize this IP reality in Azure.
• Windows Azure Queues and Windows Azure Service Bus Queues - A complete source of information that should help developer and architect to use the better queue in a specific context. A post to bookmark.
• Getting Started with Windows Azure – part2 (ScottGu) - In this second post of a series Scott Gu is taking our hand to show how to get started for free and why we shouldn't worry about getting charge because of this new feature:the billing limit.

  “[…] Spending limits are a new feature we added to Windows Azure last month, and ensure that you never have to worry about accidentally going over the resources included in a free offer and being charged […]”

  “[…]You can learn more about the spending limit feature here[…]”

• One Azure Web Role, Multiple Websites - Great tutorial that explain how to have multiple website on the same instance, and how to test them.

Programming

• the Module pattern (part 4) – debugging - In this fourth post of the series is using a intrusive but really efficient method to debug the clock watch module.
• Using HTML5 Canvas for Data Visualization - This post present the HTML5 canvas by building a chart. It look a lot of work compare of using chart component, put we can do everything...
• 7 mistakes of software testing (Eleftheria Drosopoulou) - Seven really good tips to improve your tests.
• The (10) survival development tools - A list of good applications. Some that I didn't know about and that I will try.
• Don’t brag about your Visual Studio achievements! (yet?)(maartenballiauw) - Achievements yes, but only the good one... Fortunately this is only the beta...
• Not just because it’s new and shiny (thebeebs) - HTML5 is good to reach all platform, but it should be use (pick) for the good reasons.
• KidsRuby 1.0 Released - Great idea. hum what is your greatest realisation with Logo on Apple II?
• Testing framework is not just for writing… tests - Good idea! why I didn't think of this by my self? I will add this to my survival tools. 
• The Book of Ruby: A Hands-On Guide for the Adventurous (Huw Collingbourne) - This book jump straight into it.  Good way to learn by doing code. The example are simple and easy to understand.

Miscellaneous

• A geek with a hat » Why programmers work at night - I knew it I'm normal!

“[…] A popular saying goes that Programmers are machines that turn caffeine into code. […]”

• Lowering Higher Education - In this post David S Platt share is idea of what could be the future of Education.... And I like this!

“[…] Stanford University announced that its class on artificial intelligence will be available for free online […]”

• Agile Results for Time Management - This post present a summary of the method call Agile Result. A good way to improve your time management.
• 500! (Richard Ziade) - If you don't know Readability take few second you should be charmed.
• Missing Key to Unification (safeerm) - According to this post 2012 will by important in the unification processes.

~Franky

Reading Notes #29

Cloud

• Update: Deploying Ruby Applications to Windows Azure (Larry Franks) - Great post explaining every steps to have a simple Ruby application in Azure. I definitely need to try this.
• the question is not if, but when (Ken Terry) - Good post examining the tendency for the cloud from healthcare.
• Cloud is complex—deal with it (James Urquhart) - It’s up to people to make technologies that survive cloud as a complex system—one component at a time. That’s, well, how you deal with it.
• …So Isn’t the Root Database a Bottleneck for Federations in SQL Azure? (Cihan Biyikoglu) - Nice post that explain the magic of USE FEDERATION and how the process became decentralized so the master database don't come the bottleneck.
• Part 1-Cloud Architecture Series-Durable Messages using Windows Azure (Cloud) Service Bus Queues–Establishing your service through the Portal - Good post explaining the structure of pub-sub pattern and the first steps to start creating a project.
• How the Azure ServiceBus EAI & EDI Labs SDK impacts Microsoft integration - Nice post show the difference between regular BizTalk and the future Azure Service Bus EAI.
  • Kent Weare posted two articles (introduction & mapper) on his blog.
  • Rick Garibay discussed the various components in his blog post.
  • Mikael Håkansson showed the content based routing capabilities in this article.
  • Steef-Jan Wiggers added an overview TechNet wiki.
  • Harish Agarwal wrote an overview on EAI bridges.

The biggest missing link here, is the extensibility with custom components.  At this moment, it doesn’t look possible to have (de)batching, custom validation, zipping and all these other things we do in BizTalk pipeline components.

• Windows Azure Caching Strategies - Great article that demystify where we should cache our data by adding a layer of indirection.

  A good post about using the Windows Azure CDN can be found on Steve Marx’s blog.

  There are a couple of variations on that theme available, and I discussed one in a blog post from March 2010.

• How Cloud Computing Will Affect Businesses in 2012 (cloudtimes.org) - A optimistic 2012 prediction of the cloud business.
• Accessing Windows Azure blob Storage as Network Drive (Avkash Chauhan) - This post present a product. Good idea of how Azure blob storage can be use.
• Self-service, security and storage tools for the private cloud - Nice post that present a lot of tools to use the cloud more safely and smartly.
• Book Excerpt: "To The Cloud: Cloud Powering an Enterprise" (Pankaj AroraMS) - Good post that recap what is "the cloud" and how it could be good for business. 
• SQL Azure Federations and the Entity Framework (dpblogs) – A good quick post to explain the plan of the Entity Framework looking forward to work with Sql Azure Federation. More detailed posts are referenced: SQL Azure Federations with Entity Framework Code-First and Understanding SQL Azure Federations No-MARS Support and Entity Framework.
• The Which, the When, and the How of Windows Azure Services: Websites - A well done post that highlight how different service can be used to meet certain requirement thru frequent scenarios.
• Node.JS on Windows Azure Part 1: Setting Up Your Environment - A really good tutorial than explain step by step how to install-create-try-publish your first Node.JS application in Azure. First of a promising series
• Azure Elasticity with Wasabi Application Block - Nice tutorial showing every step of project creation to monitor and auto-scale some Azure application, using Wasabi. Code and video.
• The Developers Guide To AppFabric October 2011  - A reference document for everyone doing or planning to use Azure AppFabric. bookmark it!

Programming

• Repository Pattern with Entity Framework 4.1 and Code First - Nice post that present the repository pattern. Once you understand the pattern a suggest you to use the magic nuGet package and the mcvScafofding. More here 
• JavaScript for C# developers: the Module Pattern (part 1) (blog.boyet.com) - I really like those JavaScript tutorial for C# people. very useful. part 2 part 3
• JavaScript Module Pattern - Another great tutorial about Module pattern in JavaScript.

Miscellaneous

• Your Blog is The Engine of Community (Scott Hanselman) - A great burning post, blogger must read. Other why are you not blogging?
• Be A Creator, Not a Consumer « Blankenblog - Good quick post 110% of prepping... Read it! it's the beginning a new years after all.

~Franky

Reading Notes #28

 

Cloud

• New Windows Azure Billing Portal (brianhprince.com) - Present a great new feature in Azure billing portal that will help a lot some users.
• Mobile & Global in 7 Steps with HTML5, MVC & Windows Azure (David Pallmann) – Explain in a great series how to pass from the static web page from the designer to a fully functional and responsive web designed web site.
  • Design: Design site front end
  • Web Project: Import into web template
  • Integrate: Add dynamic content
  • Cloud-ready: Set up for Windows Azure
  • Secured: Sign-in with web/social identity
  • Deployed: Deployed to the cloud
  • Global: Deployed worldwide with traffic management
• Assess your SQL Server to SQL Azure migration using SQL Azure Compatibility Assessment Tool by SQL Azure Labs - A really good news! Simply explain how to use the just release: SQL Azure Compatibility Assessment Tool.
• Microsoft to enable Linux on its Windows Azure cloud in 2012 - If it’s true, is will be nice, and it go with the new Microsoft philosophy.
• How do you synchronize a million to-do lists? (blog.maartenballiauw.be) - This post ask a good question that use some new Azure feature as service bus. Keep looking for the best answer.
• Update: Deploying Ruby Applications to Windows Azure (Larry Franks) - Great post explaining every steps to have a simple Ruby application in Azure. I definitely need to try this.

Programming

• Structuring Unit Tests - Since long time looking for a better way to do my testing. I will for sure try this.
• Structuring your Unit Tests, why? (Ayende Rahien) - Another way to structure our tests.
• Unit Testing ASP.Net Http Handlers and a discussion of Auto Mocking and the Testable pattern - Nicely explain how to auto mock with Moq in .Net. Good example to start strait with DI or IoC
• Créer un Gem Ruby en 2 minutes (pagedegeek.com) – A quick “abc” to create a gem in Ruby [French].
• Bonjour gem, Jeudi c’est SASS - Nice Ruby gem to auto generate CSS file. [French]

Miscellaneous

• Ten Things To Do to Secure an Important Person's Computer (or even Ashton's or a Kardashian's) (Scott Hanselman) - Simple and truly effaces
• There's no shame in code that is simply "good enough" - This post explain why it is correct to say: "Just make it works".
• 5 ways to get insane productivity boosts for coders – Yan Pritzker - Some quick idea to improve code speed production.
• 7 Steps to Incredible Personal Productivity (Jeff Haden) - Good post. some tips about how to act in a special day... like ending project, or a one day project.
• What Software Has in Common with Schrödinger’s Cat (testobsessed) - Interesting comparison. Good way to present some pros of Agile method.

~Franky

del.icio.us Tags: Cloud,Azure,HTML5,AzureSQL,Migration,Ruby,TDD

Reading Notes #27

Happy new year everyone! 

This one is smaller than usual, Holidays vacations...

 

Cloud

• 5 reasons Object Storage will take over the cloud in 2012 (cloudtimes.org) - This post expose the inevitable, the cloud is there to stay.
• Hybrid Cloud Tips and Best Practices (cloudtimes.org) - A good post to read. well resumed.
• Getting Started with the Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio - I real must for every one who start or want to know more about Windows Azure through Visual Studio 2010

Programming

• How do I test my code with Minitest? (rubylearning.com) - Great post. I did know that this great tool: MiniTest was included in Ruby 1.9. This post explain how to use it with a demo.
• 11 Things every Software Developer should be doing in 2012. - This is a good top list blog post.
• Minitest Quick Reference - With out any word play, this post is a real gem. Ruby 1.9 come with a test framework, and with this post you have a good idea how to use it.

Miscellaneous

• 5 tips to be a productive home worker – Simple enough to be easy to remember.

~Franky