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Bob Swart (aka Dr.Bob)
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 Dr.Bob's .NET Works
Last updated: 2011/01/20
Welcome to Dr.Bob's .NETworks, an Amazon.com associate and award-winning website hosted by UK-DG (UK Developers Group), containing the latest news, technical articles, book reviews, tool reviews, and news on conferences & events for .NET Framework and .NET development tools such as Delphi (for .NET) and C#, with technologies like ADO.NET, ASP.NET, SOAP and Web Services.
See also my weblog Dr.Bob's Delphi Notes at http://www.bobswart.nl/blog

2010/08/31 - Delphi Prism XE
The XE editions of Delphi, C++Builder, Delphi Prism and RAD Studio (which includes the aforementioned three plus RadPHP) have just been released. New User licenses of Delphi Prism XE can be purchased now from me (which will include a free copy of my RAD Studio XE Development Essentials PDF, ready by the end of this month).


2010/05/23 - Delphi Prism 2011 has RTMed
As read on the RemObjects Blog: Delphi Prism 4.0.23.741 is the RTM build of the next version, which includes support for Visual Studio 2010 and MonoDevelop. Delphi Prism 2011 will install into an existing version of VS2010 and/or VS2008, or come with and install its own copy of the Visual Studio 2010 Shell, if you don’t own VS2010 yourself.


2010/02/15 - Delphi Prism support for Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4.0
Embarcadero has just announced their upcoming plans to simultaneously ship an updated version of Delphi Prism with Visual Studio 2010 (and .NET 4.0) by the end of May 2010.


2009/12/18 - 10 years of .NET
The Delphi Disciple has written a blog post about Tim Anderson's article for The Registry about Microsoft's .NET Framework and it's success and failure in the past 10 years...


2009/12/17 - Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4 delayed
According to Scott Guthrie's blog, the the launch of Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4 have been pushed back a few weeks.


2009 November - Delphi 2010 and WCF Clients
In this article, I'll demonstrate how we can use Delphi 2010 to import and consume WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) applications (written using Delphi Prism in the June 2009 column).


2009 June - Delphi Prism and WCF
In this article, I'll demonstrate how we can use Delphi Prism to create WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) applications, a logical follow-up from the SOAP articles in the previous months.


2009 May - Delphi Prism and Http Handlers
In this article, I'll demonstrate how we can use Delphi Prism to create Http Handlers that return just about anything (images in my example, but this could also be XML or PDF files).


2009 April - Delphi Prism Web Services and SOAP Security
In this article, I'll demonstrate how to use SOAP Headers as security technique for ASP.NET Web Service projects using Delphi Prism (extending the example from last month by adding a security layer to it).


2009/04/10 - C# to Oxygene
Carlo Kok of RemObjects Software has released CS2Pas, a simple tool based on the MicroCS parser to convert C# to Oxygene code.


2009 March - Delphi Prism Web Service Projects (and Session Info)
In this article, I'll demonstrate the new Delphi Prism ASP.NET projects with Web Services, and how to use the Session to store and retrieve information.


2009/02/06 - Delphi Prism and "Cirrus"
Check out these two blog posts for a first glimpse at "Cirrus", a major new language feature that is in the works and will add extensive support for Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP) to the Delphi Prism language. Cirrus is currently in still in alpha, but will ship later this year, as part of a free update release for all active Prism customers.

Stay also tuned to the Cirrus hub page on the prism Wiki, as more information becomes available:

2009 February - Consuming Web Services with Delphi Prism
In this article, I'll demonstrate how to consume and use Web Services using Delphi Prism again, showing how to make synchronous as well as asynchronous calls to the web methods.


2009 January - ASP.NET Web Services with Delphi Prism 2009
In this article, I'll implement and deploy an ASP.NET SOAP Web Service with Delphi Prism 2009, writing a web method that can convert numbers to (Dutch) words.


2009/01/06 - .NET Rocks!
In episode #409 of .NET Rocks! Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell talk to Nick Hodges and marc hoffman about Delphi Prism among others.


2008/12/01-05: CodeRage III
CodeRage III, was a full week of online sessions on Delphi 2009, Delphi Prism and more. I have presented two session using Delphi 2009 as well as Delphi Prism. Replays are now available.


2008/10/27 - Delphi Prism Announced
Embarcadero announced Delphi Prism, the new .NET development solution from Embarcadero Technologies. Using Delphi Prism (a Visual Studio Shell plugin based on the Oxygene compiler technology from RemObjects Software) we can use existing Delphi programming skills to build .NET applications, taking advantage of the latest and greatest .NET technologies such as WinForms, WPF, Silverlight, ASP.NET and LINQ. Delphi Prism will also contain familiar dbExpress functionality and .NET clients that connect to native DataSnap servers.
Delphi Prism Architect will include database modeling and design capabilities based on ER/Studio that enable developers to design, model, and better understand their databases.


2007/03/15 - Vista March 2007 Compatibility Update
Delphi 7 Professional is part of the Vista March 2007 Compatibility Update (a package of software updates that address common application compatibility issues in Windows Vista).


2006/12/31 - SQL Server 2005 Express on Windows Vista
Although I managed to get Delphi up-and-running on Windows Vista, there appears to be a serious problem getting SQL Server 2005 Express to run on Windows Vista.
According to Business 2.0 Magazine, Microsoft "is working on a SQL upgrade that is compatible with Vista - called SQL Server 2005 Express Service Pack 2 - but it's in beta and can be licensed only for testing purposes. Microsoft hasn't set a release date for the new SQL program."


2006/12/15 - Windows 2000 Users...
According to InformationWeek, companies that rely on Windows 2000 face tough, end-of-lifecycle choices as Microsoft pushes upgrades to Windows Vista, 2003, and Longhorn Server.


2006/12/04 - Delphi on Vista
Since I mainly use Delphi 7 (for Win32) and Delphi 2006 (for both Win32 and .NET applications), I have started the process of installing and using these versions of Delphi on the final version of Windows Vista to examine the compatibility of Delphi as well as Delphi Win32 (and .NET) applications running on Windows Vista.
In this Dr.Bob Examines paper, I describe my first experiences with running Delphi on Windows Vista, including a helpful workaround for the compatibility issues which are reported.


2006/12/02 - Microsoft's future is in 64-bit
According to this article, Microsoft's future will be in 64-bit. "Looking into the future, we will ship Longhorn (the next version of Windows Server) in the second half of next year, and we will ship a 32-bit and a 64-bit version. That will be the last time we ship a 32-bit version. From that point, the next release, which will be roughly two years later, that product will only be available as 64-bit."


2006/11/27 - Microsoft Windows Vista
MSDN Subscribers can already download and install it (I've put Vista Business on my laptop, which is now a quattro-boot machine), and in order to learn more about Windows Vista, I can recomment this comprehensive feature-by-feature Guide to Windows Vista. With contributions from people who actually worked on the product, this is the definitive resource to learn about Windows Vista.
The Windows Vista Product Guide is available in the new Microsoft Word 2007 (65MB) or the new XPS format. In order to view the XPS doument, you will need to install the XPS Reader (included in Windows Vista).


2006/11/11 - Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0
The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Redistributable Package, now available for download, installs the common language runtime and associated files required to run applications developed to target the .NET Framework 3.0. If you already have the .NET Framework 2.0 installed, this .NET Framework 3.0 redistributable package installs only the new Windows Vista components. This ensures that any .NET Framework 2.0-based applications still work when the .NET Framework 3.0 is installed, with no application migration or updates of any kind required.
The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 is the new managed code programming model for Windows. It combines the power of the .NET Framework version 2.0 with new technologies: Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, and Windows CardSpace. The .NET Framework 3.0 is included as part of the Windows Vista operating system, and the redistributable package is for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.


2006/09/07 - Windows Live Contacts
Channel 9 has just released a video interview with Danny Thorpe on one of the Windows Live projects he's working on, the "Windows Live Contacts" gadget.


2006/08/08 - Turbo Delphi and C# for .NET
DevCo is bringing back the Turbo Editions: Turbo Delphi for Win32, Turbo Delphi for .NET, Turbo C++ (Win32) and Turbo C# for .NET will be released on September 5th, 2006, both in a Free (Explorer) and affordable (less than US$ 500) Pro version. IMHO, this is a very good move, and will hopefully bring large numbers of new Delphi developers to the DevCo community (and the TurboExplorer website).
Note that Turbo Delphi includes the VCL (for .NET) components, and Turbo Delphi for .NET even allows you to build ECO applications (as well as ASP.NET of course).


2006/03/27 - RemObjects SDK 4.0 for Delphi
RemObjects Software has just announced the new RemObjects SDK 4.0 for Delphi (build 4.0.5.455). The RemObjects SDK is the essential remoting framework for Delphi and Kylix, allowing you to remotely access objects residing on a server from clients inside the LAN or across the Internet. Read more about the RemObjects SDK and download a free trial.


2005/11/07 - RemObjects Chrome 1.5
RemObjects Software has announced the immediate availability of Chrome 1.5, the latest version of its next generation Object Pascal Compiler for the Microsoft .NET and Novell Mono platforms that combines the elegance of Pascal with the power of the Common Language Runtime.
Chrome 1.5 also full support and integration with the new Visual Studio 2005, launched today by Microsoft, enabling Chrome users to leverage all the features of the new IDE and the new .NET 2.0 Framework. Chrome 1.5 integrates with the new Visual Web Developer project system included with Visual Studio 2005, which makes Chrome a first class language for ASP.NET 2.0 development.


2005/10/27 - .NET Framework v2.0
Microsoft has released the .NET Framework version 2.0 for download, including the Redistributable Runtime x86, and the SDK x86.


2005/10/10 - Borland Developer Studio 2006
Borland has just announced new versions of Delphi, C++Builder and C#Builder, previously codenamed DeXter.
Delphi 2006, C++Builder 2006, and C#Builder 2006 are offered together as part of Borland Developer Studio; Borland's multi-language developer environment for Microsoft Windows and .NET applications. It is the only IDE that includes support for Delphi (both Win32 and .NET), C, C++ and C# applications within a single environment.
Delphi 2006, C++Builder 2006 and C#Builder 2006, all part of Borland Developer Studio, will be available for pre-order between Oct 17 and Dec 1, with customer shipments scheduled for early December.


2005/09/18 - Anders Hejlsberg on LINQ (in C# 3.0)
LINQ stands for Language INtegrated Query and adds (SQL-like) query and set operations to .NET languages like C#. Channel 9 has a video of Anders Hejlsberg in his office showing more on LINQ.
Danny Thorpe posted his thoughts on LINQ and what it means for Delphi (we already have sets).


2005/08/18 - Delphi 2005 ECO II ASP.NET Weblog
My ECO-driven weblog (ASP.NET) web application, as described in my article series for Bitwise Magazine(part three is now online), is finally deployed and made available online on my test server at http://www.drbob42.com/blog. Feel free to read it and leave a comment if you wish.
RSS feeds will be added in a few weeks (after I've implemented the ASP.NET Web Service on top of the ECO II model).


2005/07/24 - Longhorn will be called Windows Vista
Microsoft has announced that the official name for Longhorn (the next generation of the Windows client operating system) will be called Microsoft Windows Vista.
Windows Vista Beta 1, targeted at developers and IT professionals, will be available by August 3, 2005.


2005/07/12 - Bob Swart and Brian Long Team-Up
Bob Swart of Bob Swart Training & Consultancy and Brian Long of Brian Long Consultancy & Training Services are pleased to announce they are combining their knowledge and experience and now offer a complete range of training and consultancy services world-wide.
"Our combined forces will be used to cover a wider area, both in location and knowledge", said Bob Swart. "Working in combination will help satisfy our customers' diverse requirements more successfully", added Brian Long.
Bob will be available across The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and Brian will be available throughout the world upon request.
Training covers regular Win32 application development and various advanced topics focusing on specific Delphi and Win32 programming areas. Also .NET foundations, .NET application and component development, ASP.NET development, .NET Interoperability, migration and so on. Training will be based on the latest software, unless customers are bound to earlier product versions, and will use courseware manuals written and tested by ourselves.
Consultancy topics range from Win32 and Linux to .NET, using Borland Delphi, C++Builder and Kylix as well as C# and RemObjects' Chrome. Bob will continue to focus on web and database technologies, while Brian's specialities include general troubleshooting and debugging problems that elude home-grown solutions.


2005/07/01 - Chrome goes Gold
RemObjects Software has just announced that the gold version of Chrome is now available. Chrome provides many enhancements and features like Class Contracts, Generics, full namespace support, virtual properties and asynchronous methods.
Chrome integrates fully with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005. A free Command Line Edition is also available. Visit the download page to get a trial version of RemObjects Chrome for Visual Studio, as well as two free versions of the compiler: the Command Line Edition as well as a Chrome for Mono prepackaged as .tar.gz for Mono/Linux users.


2005/06/20 - Bitwise Magazine
Bitwise Magazine is a free on-line computing magazine with features on Delphi, C#, and more. For the first issue (launched on June 1st), I've written an article about Blogging with Delphi 2005 and ECO II.
"Borland Delphi 2005 Architect contains a featureset called Enterprise Core Objects 2, which allows us developers to create applications based on a model (with objects, inheritance and associations), which can be made persistent in a DBMS, and used to create GUI as well as web applications. In this two-part article, I’ll use Delphi 2005 and Enterprise Core Objects to define and implement an application handling web logs - also called blogs."
In the second part, I'll build multiple ASP.NET web pages on top of the objects in the EcoSpace, showing the list of categories, weblog posts in categories, and allowing visitors to read the posts (leaving comments will be covered next time).


2005/06/13 - Deployment of Borland Data Provider (BDP) Applications
In my latest Dr.Bob Examines article, I explain and demonstrate the steps needed for the successful deployment of a Delphi 2005 application using the Borland Data Provider (BDP) to work with databases.


2005/05/03 - The .NET Show #50: The Future of the Platform
In this special 50th episode of the .NET Show, Rick Rashid, Brad Abrams, John Shewchuk, and Michael Wallent discuss where the Microsoft platform technologies can, should, and will be going in the future. This show also features a special interview with Bill Gates. Don't miss it!


2005/05/01 - RemObjects unveils Chrome
RemObjects Software is proud to finally unveil Chrome, its long awaited Object Pascal language for the .NET and Mono Platforms.
Chrome provides many features that improve and expand upon what has been available in classic Pascal and Object Pascal compilers. Some of its most notable features include Class Contracts, Generics and many more.
Chrome integrates fully with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005. A free Command Line Edition is also available.


2005/03/22 - Generics in Chrome
RemObjects Software has just published a new article on Chrome: Generics in Chrome. Generics are a new feature of the Whidbey framework. While the Chrome compiler includes full support for generics in Chrome 1.0, please note that this feature is only available when compiling your Chrome applications against Whidbey.


2005/03/21 - The .NET Show #49: SQL Server 2005
SQL Server 2005 will soon be coming to market. In this episode of the .NET Show we meet with James Hamilton and Tom Rizzo who outline some of the specific features and capabilities of SQL Server 2005 that will allow programmers as well as database developers to create better database-oriented solutions.


2005/02/28 - Dr.Bob Examines... TADONETConnector
In this paper, I will demonstrate how to use the hardly documented TADONETConnector component to feed (ADO).NET DataSets to VCL for .NET clients, where you can show and work with the contents in regular data-aware controls from the VCL (for .NET).


2005/02/07 - TurboDB Direct Data Access on .NET
dataWeb announced today the direct data access components for her embedded database engine TurboDB.NET. The new components allow the developer to work with updateable server-side cursors instead of disconnected data sets.
TurboDB.NET direct data access components include a record set component similar to the ADO RecordSet and a record set view component, which exposes the record set to the .NET WinForms data binding.
"Disconnected data sets are a great concept for creating Web applications with hundreds of concurrent users.", Peter Pohmann, president of dataWeb says. "However it is an overkill and a burden for small desktop applications with only one to ten users, which is the targeted audience for TurboDB. With our direct data access components developers will be able to migrate existing ADO-based application much faster to .NET because there is no need to switch to a completely different data access model."


2005/01/31 - Dr.Bob Examines... SetFocus in ASP.NET
In my latest Dr.Bob Examines paper, I will demonstrate how to generate and include the right JavaScript code in order to set the focus to a specific control in an ASP.NET web page built with Delphi 2005. We'll then use Refactoring to turn it into an even more generic ASP.NET solution.


2005/01/07 - RemObjects Chrome Reflector Plugin
The RemObjects Chrome Reflector Plugin is now available for download. This Plugin integrates with Lutz Roeder's Reflector (4.1.19.0) to allow you browsing outlines and disassembled .NET code using the Chrome language syntax!


2004/11/26 - Chrome at SDE in The Netherlands
December 17th 2004 RemObjects Software will be present at the Software Developer Event organized by the Software Developer Network (SDN) in The Netherlands.
The theme of the event will be 'Mobility' and Mike Orriss from RemObjects Software will host two sessions:

  1. Building Mobile Applications with the RemObjects SDK for .NET
    Mike will demonstrate how to leverage the newly released RemObjects SDK for .NET to build mobile client applications for Pocket PC and Smart Phone devices that can talk to backend servers implemented in .NET or Delphi.
  2. Introducing Chrome for the .NET Platform
    Mike will introduce Chrome, the Next Generation Object Pascal language from RemObjects Software. He will show how to take advantage of the new language in developing applications for the .NET and Mono platforms.
RemObjects Software will distribute a free CD-Rom to all participants, containing a demo version of Chrome as well as other products!

2004/10/13 - The .NET Show #46: Connected Systems
The increased reliance on networking in general, and specifically the Internet, has brought about an infrastructure that allows and supports richly distributed information and processing. While this might commonly take the form of Web-based solutions and applications, it is becoming increasingly popular to be utilized by "Smart Client" applications (as we saw in our previous episode) through the utilization of "Connected Systems".
In this episode of the .NET Show we talk with Don Box and Doug Purdy about how today's networking infrastructure can be utilized in order to create a Connected System environment, and why this is important. Later, Eric Schmidt and Richard Turner walk us through several coding demonstrations which illustrate how this can be implemented and utilized.


2004/10/12 - Borland Delphi 2005 Announced
Borland has announced Delphi 2005, the latest version of Borland Delphi with support for Delphi Win32, Delphi for .NET and C# personalities. Borland Delphi 2005 will be available in several editions: Architect, Enterprise and Professional.
A white paper with an Overview of Delphi 2005 is available now, and will be followed by a detailed white paper covering What's New in Delphi 2005 shortly.

2004/10/01 - Diamondback Preview License Update
I was at the EKon 8 / BorCon 2004, so I didn't notice until today, but as Allen Bauer mentions in his blog, Michael Swindell has amended the Diamondback Preview License, so we do not require an NDA or Beta Agreement - in short: everyone can write about experiences with the BorCon Diamondback Preview. And so I will, so stay tuned...


2004/09/30 - MSDN TV: .NET Smart Client Applications
In this episode, Tim and Shawn discuss the buzz around the .NET Smart Client Application Revolution. They discuss what a smart client application is by defining its attributes, business & ROI impacts, and Tim shows some powerful tools and technologies that are used to build them.


2004/09/24 - Diamondback preview of Data Remoting
Jason Vokes demonstrates the ease of remoting data in a heterogeneous database environment with Diamondback. This BDNtv episode includes setting up a local DataHub for both MS SQL Server and InterBase, then dropping the remote server component on it to make it a remote server. He then creates a client for this, and updates tables in both databases simply by calling one method of the DataHub component.
Jason has now also written a BDN paper about Borland "Diamondback" Data Services over .NET Remoting.


2004/09/23 - Async Methods in Chrome
With permission from Marc Hoffman, I can show you another little teaser of Chrome, featuring a language feature "async", to produce async threaded methods.


2004/09/21 - Diamondback Preview
After the Diamondback Preview session at BorCon was over, and we all went outside to the Meet The Delphi Team session (with team members available to talk to individually), everyone received a CD with a special BorCon-version of the Diamondback Preview. Diamondback will integrate Delphi for Win32, Delphi for .NET, and C# in one IDE.
A 14 min. 39 sec. Diamondback preview movie is also available to view now.


2004/09/03 - The .NET Show #45: Smart Clients
For many years the primary focus of solution developers has been in deploying Web-based applications. However, there are certain situations when the limitations of a Web-based application can prevent you from really providing your customers with the best possible experience. In those times you really need a "Smart Client" application. Today's model for building Smart Client applications provides us with both local processing and access capabilities of a traditional application, as well as the ease of deployment and update that is the hallmark of a Web-based application.
In this episode of the .NET Show we talk with Keith Yedlin, David Hill, and KD Hallman to better understand what a Smart Client application is, and how it might meet your solution deployment needs. Later, Mark Boulter and Reza Chitsaz demonstrate some of the advanced capabilities of the upcoming version of Windows Forms, as well as Visual Studio Tools for Office, and how they can improve the features and functionality of Smart Client applications.


2004/09/02 - RemObjects Chrome Announced
The Chromesville website now contains all the information about Chrome.
Chrome is RemObjects' next generation Object Pascal language for the .NET and Mono Platforms. While implementing a language that stays true to the beauty and elegance of Object Pascal, Chrome adds useful design elements from other languages such as C#, Java and Eiffel, and it introduces its own language innovations.
We can use Chrome to write fully managed native .NET applications for the Microsoft .NET Framework, the Compact Framework or the Mono Platform, and develop our applications inside the Visual Studio .NET IDE.


2004/08/19 - MSDN TV: Interview with Steve McConnell
Shawn Morrissey from MSDN talks with Steve McConnell, author of Code Complete, about updates in the recently published second version, software process, agile development, and more.


2004/08/13 - "Next Release of Delphi" Seminar in UK
The UK-based Developers Group (incorporating the UK-BUG Borland User Group and the DotNet Developers Group) is planning a 2-day mini-conference at the end of November 2004, in co-operation with Borland UK, to cover the Next Release of Delphi (aka Diamondback).
I can't tell you much more at this time, but I will be there for sure!


2004/08/05 - MSDN TV: Service Orientation and Today's Technologies
Matt Powell talks with Richard Turner about the benefits of Service Orientation, the four tenets of Service Orientation, and how to use today’s technologies to move toward a service-oriented world today and in the future with Indigo.


2004/08/04 - Dr.Bob's Chrome Shines section
A new section called Dr.Bob's Chrome Shines at http://www.drbob42.com/chrome is all about the RemObjects Chrome language for .NET and Mono.


2004/07/28 - MSDN TV: Whiteboard with Anders Hejlsberg
At Tech·Ed 2004, Anders Hejlsberg gave an informal talk, answered attendee questions, and wrote some code examples on the whiteboard.


2004/07/01 - Mono 1.0 Released
Novell is proud to introduce Mono 1.0: a portable open source framework providing advanced development capabilities and compatible with the .NET framework. Mono runs on Linux, Unix and Windows systems.
The "Delphi for .NET Developer's Guide" has a chapter about using Delphi 8 with Mono.


2004/06/26 - Dr.Bob Examines... .NET Remoting and DataSets
In the June 2004 Dr.Bob Examines column, I'll continue our coverage of .NET Remoting techniques, using it to build a simple multi-tier application passing a DataSet from the Server to Clients, and updates back to the Server.


2004/06/17 - MSDN TV: Security in WSE 2.0
This MSDN TV episode celebrates the launch of the Web Service Enhancements (WSE) 2.0 at Tech·Ed 2004, where Benjamin Mitchell and John Bristowe talk about the advanced Web services specifications that it supports, focusing on WS-Security. They demonstrate how WSE provides a simple object model that allows developers to secure Web services independent of the transport using only a few lines of code.


2004/06/17 - The .NET Show #43: Longhorn Fundamentals
It might be easy to list off and identify core technologies such as Avalon for Graphics, WinFS for Data Storage, and Indigo for Communications, but the fourth pillar of "Longhorn" is a little more elusive then that. Longhorn "Fundamentals" is an important part of what we feel is part of the core experience of Longhorn. It includes User Experience, System Security, Application Deployment, System Manageability, as well as many other features and capabilities.
In this episode of the .NET Show Sanjay Shenoy and Glenn Pittaway cover some of the core architectural concepts associated with several of the Fundamentals of Longhorn. Later, Jeffrey Snover and Jim Truher provide an exciting demo of "Monad" (aka MSH), a new and highly programmable command shell that will be available in Longhorn.


2004/06/13 - How Microsoft Lost the API War
Joel on Software has written an interesting article about How Microsoft Lost the API War, which also mentions the fact that Longhorn's XAML will break compatibility with .NET's WinForms.


2004/05/25 - The .NET Show #42: Longhorn and Avalon
One of the features of Longhorn that a lot of people are excited about is "Avalon", the code name for the new graphical subsystem that enables not only richer control design and development, but it also relies heavily on a vector-based system instead of the more common pixel-based one. Avalon also introduces a new programming model known as XAML which heralds in a new way of designing application user interfaces.
In this episode of the .NET Show David Ornstein and Pablo Fernicola discuss the purpose and benefits of the new graphical model for Longhorn. Later, Rob Relyea and Nathan Dunlap walk through some source code to show how the use of XAML in writing user interfaces for applications can create a better collaboration between designers and programmers.


2004/05/13 - Microsoft Aims to Bridge Gap to Longhorn Release
According to Yahoo News, Microsoft aims to bridge the gap to the (delayed) Longhorn release with new editions of Windowx XP. Bill Gates mentioned this at the Microsoft Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC), expecting nearly all of the chips shipped from AMD to be 64-bit by the end of 2005, and stating that several editions of Windows XP would support the high-end chips by the end of this year.
With the delays to Longhorn - now scheduled to be released about 5 years after the XP launch - this may mean continuous sales of XP to bridge the gap.


2004/05/01 - Dr.Bob Examines... .NET Remoting
In the May 2004 Dr.Bob Examines column, I'll cover an introduction to distributed applications and Delphi 8 for .NET, using the remoting techniques of the .NET Framework, also known as .NET Remoting.


2004/04/27 - MSDN TV: First Look at ADO.NET 2.0
In the latest MSDN TV episode, ADO.NET 2.0 is covered. ADO.NET 2.0 extends and enhances ADO.NET in multiple directions. This quick peek at ADO.NET covers some of the disconnected stack enhancements, shows what the new provider-independent model looks like and briefly covers the new batching support in the connected stack.


2004/04/19 - Microsoft clipping Longhorn?
According to SlashDot Microsoft is clipping Longhorn to get the already-delayed follow-up to Windows XP out the door by 2006. Blackcomb is the version to follow Longhorn, is expected at the end of the decade, and will contain the new file system features.


2004/04/01 - The .NET Show #41: Longhorn and WinFS
In this episode we’re gonna cover WinFS. Now, in the previous episode we talked about Indigo, which is an aspect of Longhorn that maybe might be a little esoteric. But WinFS deals with the file system, but this file system isn’t quite the same as you’re used to. We’ll be discovering a lot of new capabilities and new features that WinFS is going to bring to the programming environment.


2004/03/10 - Microsoft delays SQL Server and VS.NET 2005
According to ZDNet, Microsoft is delaying the release of its forthcoming SQL Server database (codename Yukon) and Visual Studio .NET (codename Whidbey) development tool, expecting to deliver them in the first half of 2005. Until recently, the company had said that both products would ship by the end of 2004. Microsoft offer the second beta of Yukon and first beta version of Whidbey in the "coming months". Also, a third beta program for Yukon, expected for the end of 2004, has been added and will be broadly available to millions of potential customers.
The final product names for Yukon and Whidbey will be SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005, said Tom Rizzo, director of product management for SQL Server.


2004/03/05 - Delphi 8 for .NET and multi-tier apps (2)
The Borland-IBM DB2 portal has just published the second part of the 2-part article on Delphi 8 for .NET and multi-tier (ASP.NET web service) database applications. This second part shows how to extend an ASP.NET Web Service application (covered in the previous article) to let clients update the database.


2004/02/27 - The .NET Show #40: Longhorn Indigo
"Indigo" is the codename for a set of .NET technologies that enable applications to communicate with each other using secure, reliable, transacted messaging. This technology is based on the Web services architecture, which means it not only works on a broad range of network topographies, but it also interacts with systems running on other platforms.
In this episode of the .NET Show, John Shewchuk discusses how "Indigo" applies to the architecture of the applications we are designing today, and how it will become a core component of the applications we are planning on developing for Longhorn. Steve Swartz then walks us through some code examples to illustrate the programming model for "Indigo", and how easy it is to add support for its various features into our applications.


2004/02/26 - Delphi 8 for .NET and multi-tier apps
I've just published the first part of a 2-part article on Delphi 8 for .NET and multi-tier (ASP.NET web service) database applications.
The first part shows how to use Delphi 8 for .NET to build an ASP.NET Web Service application that publishes data tables from a database (in this case the DB2 UDB SAMPLE database) to the outside world, including WinForms clients.


2004/02/13 - Delphi 8 for .NET and ASP.NET Input Validators
ASP.NET contains six built-in input validator controls: RequiredFieldValidator, CompareValidator, RangeValidator, RegularExpressionValidator, CustomValidator, and ValidationSummary, all found in the regular "Web Controls" category of the Tool Palette.
A new Delphi 8 for .NET article from me has just been published on the IBM DB2-Borland web portal, this time about the Data Entry Input Validation controls (and the DB Web controls).


2004/01/30 - Delphi 8 for .NET and Enterprise Core Objects
This article demonstrates how to use the Architect edition of Borland Delphi 8 for the Microsoft .NET Framework, and specifically the functionality found in the Borland Enterprise Core Objects section, to design an Object Model that is made persistent inside the DB2 UDB SAMPLE database.


2004/01/29 - Delphi 8 for .NET and DB2 with ASP.NET
This article shows how to use Borland Delphi 8 for the Microsoft .NET Framework to build ASP.NET Web applications that connect to IBM DB2 Universal Database tables; display the data in a special ASP.NET DataGrid control; and edit, apply, or undo changes in these database tables.


2004/01/28 - The .NET Show #39: Longhorn Overview
For almost 20 years, Windows has been an ever-evolving graphical environment which has focused on providing users, as well as developers, easy access to the latest technologies, hardware, and services. "Longhorn", the codename for the next version of Windows, represents a significant jump in the definition of what a Windows Application is, and is capable of achieving. Over the next several episodes, the .NET Show will focus on providing us with insights into where and how the technologies of "Longhorn" are evolving, as well as the information we need to be able to take advantage of these technologies in our applications.
In this episode of the .NET Show, we get a general overview of the larger technology "pillars" of Longhorn, introducing their concepts, as well as showing some of the coding techniques for gaining access to them. We start by discussing the overall architecture of Longhorn with Michael Wallent, Anil Nori and Darryn Dieken. Later, Don Box and Chris Anderson provide insight into the programming model of Longhorn.


2003/12/22 - Delphi 8 for .NET shipping
Just before Christmas: Delphi 8 for .NET is now shipping, and available in three editions: Professional, Enterprise and Architect (see also the Feature Matrix). A Personal edition will most likely also become available (just like trial versions), so stay tuned.


2003/12/19 - Accessing DB2 with Delphi for .NET
I this article for the IBM DB2 - Borland web portal (in cooperation with IBM and Borland), I show how Borland Delphi 8 for the Microsoft .NET Framework lets you build native .NET applications that connect to IBM DB2 UDB tables, display the data in a DataGrid, and edit, apply, or undo changes in the database tables.
As data access technology, I use both dbExpress - a cross-platform data access framework - and the new Borland Data Providers for ADO.NET, both of which contain drivers for DB2 UDB.


2003/12/11 - The .NET Show #38: Longhorn at the PDC
At the end of October, Microsoft held the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles, and presented details regarding many upcoming developer-oriented technologies, including "Whidbey" (the codename for the next version of Visual Studio), "Yukon" (the codename for the next version of SQL Server), as well as the much anticipated "Longhorn" (the codename for the next version of Windows).
In this episode of the .NET Show we focus on how "Longhorn" was presented, and received, at the PDC. In our first segment we talk with key players in the Longhorn project, Brad Abrams, Chris Anderson, Quentin Clark, and Pablo Fernicola about the main messages that they are hoping developers at the PDC understand about Longhorn. We then switch the tables and talk with Richard Hale Shaw, Simon Stewart, and Robb McLarty, a diverse set of attendees of the PDC and hear straight from them what they think about Longhorn, and how it might affect their development efforts moving forward.


2003/11/11 - Delphi for .NET Launch
On Tuesday evening, 11th November 2003, Delphi 8 for the Micrsoft .NET Framework was launched in The Netherlands at the European Borland Conference in Amsterdam. I had the priviledge to be allowed to demonstrate the ASP.NET functionality during this launch event, by building and consuming an ASP.NET Web Service, and showing how to make ASP.NET Web Forms with the Borland Data Providers and some very cool DB Web components.


2003/11/07 - ASP.NET Web Services and Sessions
In this Dr.Bob Examines article, I show how to add state management and session support to ASP.NET web services (using C# and notepad), explaining what to do and what not to do, so you can decide for yourself if, where and when you want to use this ability.


2003/10/30 - MSDN TV: Lap Around Longhorn
In the latest MSDN TV episode, Chris Anderson and Don Box provide a code-centric high level walk through of the main pillars of Longhorn. Avalon, Indigo, and WinFS are all covered briefly.


2003/10/24 - C#Builder ASP.NET Web Forms
This technical article - about Working with Data in DB2 UDB Tables Using C#Builder and ASP.NET builds on an earlier article that showed how to build an application using IBM DB2 UDB tables, C#Builder, and BDP for .NET, and then deploy it as an ASP.NET Web form (with a powerful asp:DataGrid control).
In the new article, I take the example a bit further, to allow users not only to view the data and browse through the tables, but also to update the data or delete records from the asp:DataGrid.


2003/10/15 - C# and Delphi 7 Web Services Interoperability
The last two Dr.Bob Examines columns are about Web Services and interoperability between Delphi and C#. In the first article, I'll show how web services written in C# can be consumed and used by Borland's Delphi 7 Professional. Using a simple echo web service, I'll demonstrate how the Delphi and Kylix clients can connect to and interact with the C# web service.
In the second article, I'll show how web services written in Delphi can be consumed and used by C# on the .NET Framework. Extending the simple echo web service, I'll demonstrate how the C# client can connect to and interact with the Delphi web service.


2003/10/14 - Octane Preview Teaser #1
John Kaster and Anders Ohlsson demonstrate how quickly and easily you can build .NET WinForms applications with Delphi for .NET. Delphi for .NET is a complete solution for Microsoft .NET application development, for WinForms applications, ASP.NET applications, Web Services, servers, or any other kind of software you can build for .NET. The Delphi for .NET compiler produces fully managed .NET applications.
For more information on Octane, see my Octane or Delphi for .NET sections.


2003/10/02 - Octane: (only) Delphi for .NET
Simon Thornhill has just published a revised Open Letter on the Borland Developer Network in which he addresses a change in plan for Octane, which will now include Delphi for .NET, but no Delphi 8 for Win32. In his Open Letter, Simon mentions Octane - the codename for the new version of Delphi - which will "include a complete Delphi language implementation for .NET, a full .NET implementation of the VCL framework and designers, full support for Windows Forms and ASP.NET Web Forms, Web Services, ADO.NET, ECO Model Driven development and much more."
For more information, see also the Octane and Delphi Q&A.


2003/09/25 - The .NET Show #36: Tablet PC
"Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition" might be a mouthful, but it's a "managed" mouthful. This special release of Windows XP not only includes revolutionary support for inking and handwriting recognition, but it is also based on the .NET Framework using managed code. But don't think of Tablet PC applications as just cute gimmicks, or only appropriate for applications that deal with handwriting. Almost any application can realize some great usability enhancements by adding pen and ink features to their supported features.
In this episode we talk with Peter Loforte and Sam George about what the purpose, scope, and motivating features are of the Tablet PC operating system and the applications that run on it. We'll show real code examples of what it takes to build a Tablet PC application from scratch.


2003/09/04 - The .NET Show #35: Managed Code
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of developing an application that uses the .NET Framework, is that it uses what is known as "Managed Code". The .NET Framework in general, and Managed Code in specific, represent the future direction that Microsoft is heading in the programming model that will be used for developing all Windows applications. In "Longhorn", the codename for the next version of Windows, we will expose an entirely managed API for developing applications with, and this will be the primary method for developing applications for "Longhorn".
In this episode Brad Abrams and Anders Hejlsberg will join us to discuss the overall architectural issues involved with Managed Code, and Nick Hodapp and Chris Sells will show us some of the programming benefits that are gained by using Managed Code.


2003/08/22 - C++Builder 6 meets C# ASP.NET Web Services
In this August 2003 Dr.Bob Examines column, I use the .NET Framework SDK and C# together with C++Builder and examine how C# and C++Builder can be "connected" to each other using ASP.NET web services.


2003/08/08 - C#Builder Update Pack #1
At 435 KBytes, the first Update Pack for C#Builder is available on the special downloads page (for registered users).


2003/08/04 - The C# Design Process
After 13 years with Borland, Anders Hejlsberg joined Microsoft in 1996, where he initially worked as an architect of Visual J++ and the Windows Foundation Classes (WFC). Then, Hejlsberg was chief designer of C# and a key participant in the creation of the Microsoft .NET Framework. Today, he leads the ongoing development of the C# programming language.
On July 30, 2003, Bruce Eckel, author of Thinking in C++ and Thinking in Java, and Bill Venners, editor-in-chief of Artima.com, met with Anders Hejlsberg in his office at Microsoft. Check out the entire eight-part interview here.


2003/08/01 - C#Builder Enterprise Trial Edition
The trial edition of C#Builder Enterprise is now available! To get started programming in C#, be sure to check out the included tutorial(s) as well as the C#Builder Partner CD submissions. Check out the C# titles by Sams for a C# kickstart.


2003/07/29 - C#Builder Personal Edition
In case you don't have a copy of C#Builder, yet, you can now download C#Builder Personal, for non-commercial application development (269 MBytes).
The huge size of this download is caused by the fact that everything is included (.NET Framework 1.1, .NET SDK 1.1, IE6 SP1, SQL Server 2000 SP3), but you can now also download only the C#Builder Personal edition (at 29.8 MBytes).


2003/07/18 - C#Builder ASP.NET Web Forms with BDP
My latest article on the IBM DB2-Borland web portal is about ASP.NET Web Forms with DB2 UDB Tables using C#Builder and BDP for .NET. This article shows you how to build an application using IBM DB2 UDB tables, C#Builder, and BDP for .NET, and then deploy it as an ASP.NET Web form (with a powerful asp:DataGrid control), so users can work with the DB2 UDB tables using a Web browser.


2003/07/17 - Using ADO.NET with C#Builder Personal
In this article on BDN, I'll show you how to use C#Builder Personal in combination with "plain" ADO.NET to connect to a MSDE database, create a table, insert records, select the records from this table again and show them in a datagrid.


2003/07/14 - Dr.Bob Examines... C#Builder
In my latest Dr.Bob Examines article, I'll cover Borland C#Builder, the C# development environment from Borland to build native .NET Framework 1.1 applications. I'll tell you where to find more information (like some articles I wrote earlier), and refer you to helpful resources like user groups, journals, training, and more.


2003/06/30 - RemObjects Client SDK for .NET
RemObjects has just announced the availability of the RemObjects Client SDK for .NET, that can be used to build native .NET clients for your RemObjects SDK Servers. The Client SDK support .NET Framework 1.1 and the Compact Framework, so you can target both Windows based desktops as well as Pocket PC and Pocket PC Phone Edition.
An exclusive and free "C#Builder Edition" of the Client SDK ships with C#Builder on the companion CD. This is a full, non-limited version of the SDK that you can use with C#Builder to start building .NET RemObjects Clients, now!


2003/06/25 - Delphi Language View for Reflector
Lutz Roeder's .NET Reflector now has a DelphiLanguage view (so you can browse and decompile .NET assemblies to Delphi source). Make sure you download the Reflector SDK as this is where the Delphi Language View is "hidden".
It comes with source, was written by Peter Sawatzki, and you can download the latest version from Peter's website It would be nice to get some feedback from users for further enhancement.


2003/06/20 - Working with DB2 using C#Builder with ADO.NET and BDP for .NET
I've just published another article on the IBM DB2-Borland portal using C#Builder. This article shows how DB2 UDB can be accessed using the Borland Data Providers for .NET, enhancing the ADO.NET experience with design-time and run-time support, including automatic (optimized) SQL command generation. In this environment, DB2 UDB proves to be a powerful DBMS on the .NET Framework.


2003/06/17 - Borland releases InterBase 7.1
Borland has just introduced Borland InterBase 7.1, a high-performance, cross-platform embeddable database with support for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. New in this release is an InterBase edition of the Borland Data Provider for ADO.NET, which can be used with C#Builder, Visual Studio .NET, as well as Delphi for .NET. You can also download the trial version of InterBase 7.1.


2003/06/03 - Borland's Janeva weds J2EE, .NET
A good article at SD Times covers Borland's Janeva - software to connect .NET front ends to CORBA and J2EE-based applications. Janeva includes a Java-to-C# compiler and a CORBA IDL-to-C# compiler, which automatically generate C# stubs and assemblies. Janeva also includes a runtime component that translates .NET remote calls to IIOP and is embedded in the final application.


2003/06/03 - C#Builder and SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition
Borland and Microsoft announced an agreement to ship Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition with Borland C#Builder for the Microsoft .NET Framework. As part of the agreement, Microsoft will create a Borland page (to go live in July) that is accessible via the SQL Server website where developers can obtain information about Borland C#Builder. Also this summer, the two companies are planning to jointly host a series of seminars designed to show customers the benefits of the two products.


2003/06/02 - Flessner Updates Microsoft Product Roadmap
As reported by ENTmag, Microsoft senior vice president Paul Flessner used his TechEd keynote Monday to update Microsoft's roadmap for its enterprise products for the next four years or so.


2003/05/23 - C#Builder and Borland Data Providers for .NET
A first public article on C#Builer is available on the IBM-Borland web portal about Connecting Borland C#Builder to DB2 UDB with Borland Data Providers for the Microsoft .NET Framework.
This article shows how to use Borland C#Builder Enterprise and the Borland Data Providers (BDP) for .NET to connect to the DB2 SAMPLE database. It shows how three of the four BDP for .NET components are used at design-time in a Rapid Application Development (RAD) way.


2003/05/09 - Dr.Bob Examines... C# Web Services
In this article, I'll show how web services can be written and consumed in C# and using nothing but the .NET Framework SDK (i.e. without using a C# IDE at this time) to demonstrate the syntax and techniques using the C# language. You can count on the fact that I'll be using C#Builder as soon as it's available to examine the additional support of a C# development environment.


2003/05/06 - Borland C#Builder announced
Borland has just announced C#Builder for the Microsoft .NET Framework, to be available June 6th, 2003 in four editions: Personal, Professional, Enterprise, and Architect.
A special upgrade price is available for current Delphi, C++Builder, JBuilder or Kylix users: $499 for C#Builder Professional (upgrade) and $999 for C#Builder Enterprise (upgrade).


2003/05/01 - The .NET Show #34: Passport and .NET Alerts
It is becoming more common these days to think of computers as a mechanism for communication. The most common form this takes is of course e-mail, but there are many other ways in which computers, and their users, can communicate amongst themselves. .NET Alerts provides another mechanism for getting information to people in a timely manner, and one which is perhaps more appropriate for time-sensitive information.
In this episode we look at how .NET Alerts can be used, along with Microsoft Passport, for providing an alerting mechanism for commercial or enterprise usage. Joining us will be William Lai, Joseph Carmichael, and Peo Orvendal to discuss what .NET Alerts are, how they can be implemented, and how Passport plays a role in their usage.


2003/03/26 - The .NET Show #32: Security
In the latest episode we talk with Eric Deily and Rob Howard to discuss some of the new features of Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0, how they will improve the scalability and robustness of the system, as well as how they can be used by ASP.NET applications.


2003/04/25 - Borland introduces ALM Strategy for .NET
Borland introduced its application lifecycle management (ALM) strategy for Microsoft's .NET Framework, integrating the definition, design, development, testing, deployment, and management stages of the software application lifecycle. This solution underscores the ongoing Borland relationship with Microsoft and its commitment to help organizations easily create software applications for the Microsoft .NET Framework. By integrating the phases of the application lifecycle, Borland helps enterprises deliver better software, faster with a higher return on investment.


2003/04/24 - Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003
Windows Server 2003: the First 64-bit Operating System from Microsoft is now available, supporting .NET Framework 1.1. You can register to order or download (542MB) the Windows 2003 180-day trial Evaluation Kit (in either 64-bit or 32-bit editions).
Visual Studio .NET 2003 was also released today. You can try Visual Studio .NET online for free or order the Visual Studio .NET 60-day trial Edition on CD or DVD.


2003/04/23 - C#Builder Sneak Preview
Paul Gustavson (co-author of the C++Builder 6 Developer's Guide) has made some detailed comments and observations about the first C#Builder Sneak Preview from Borland.


2003/04/22 - Borland C#Builder (official name of SideWinder)
C#Builder will be the official name of SideWinder, according to C!Net that writes: "The first fruit of Borland's .Net efforts is C#Builder, a programming tool that use Microsoft's C# language. C#Builder, code-named Sidewinder, will be available this summer in a few different editions, according to Borland executives."
"The company will follow the completion of C#Builder with a bundled suite of .Net tools that Borland gained during a series of acquisitions last year. The .Net-specific tools will address the process of defining application requirements, the design phase, programming, testing, deployment and management."

For more information about C#Builder, see Borland's C#Builder page (featuring a sneak preview) or my own C#Builder section.


2003/04/09 - .NET Framework 1.1
The .NET Framework version 1.1 redistributable as well as the .NET Framework SDK 1.1 are now available for download. Files and sizes are as follows:

  dotnetfx.exe  24,265,736 bytes (redistributable)
  setup.exe    111,366,152 bytes (SDK)
Note that before you can install the SDK 1.1 you also need to install the redistributable (so for the SDK you actually need to download both files). The .NET Framework 1.1 is also part of the forthcoming Windows 2003 Server and Visual Studio .NET 2003 products.

2003/03/26 - The .NET Show #31: Security
In the latest episode Erik Olson and Mike Kass show some of the code that was used in Microsoft's entry into the OpenHack competition, and use it to share some of the insights and practices that are important to understand in order to better secure your Web sites and applications.


2003/03/21 - DotNet Developers Group
A new .NET Developer Group is launched to help professional developers using .NET technologies get to grips with the many facets of the .NET framework.
Richplum Ltd is pleased to announce the formation of the DotNet Developers Group (DDG) to provide software developers with essential information and training through regular meetings and a magazine issued 6 times a year.


2003/03/15 - Borland Project "SideWinder"
For those of you who can read Dutch: Micha Somers of Borland in The Netherlands has performed a session about Borland Solutions for .NET at the SDGN Conference to the Point yesterday. A session report is now available, including photo's of the SideWinder C# IDE in action!


2003/03/12 - C# Programming Language Future Features
Microsoft is in the process of developing the next major version of the C# language. MSDN already mentions key new features, including generics, iterators, anonymous methods, and partial types.


2003/03/03 - Review: dataWeb's TurboDB.NET
In this review I take a closer look at dataWeb's TurboDB.NET - a data access solution for the .NET platform, using the Delphi for .NET preview command-line compiler to work with it.


2003/02/20 - Delphi for Microsoft .NET Preview Update
The Borland Developer Network features information and a link to the Delphi 7 Registered Users page from where we can download the new Delphi for Microsoft .NET Preview Update.
This 14.6 Mb update includes additional new Delphi RTL and VCL units, a dfm2pas.exe that enables you to convert dfm files to pas files for the .NET framework, as well as a "GUI" interface (plug-in) for a more convenient approach to .NET application development. This accumulative update to Delphi for .NET Preview includes the previous update that was available in November of 2002.
I'm preparing some new articles about the new Dfm2Pas tool as well as more advanced ASP.NET stuff like Code Behind etc.


2003/02/14 - Jason Vokes (Borland) on Borland and .NET
Jason Vokes, Borland European Product Manager for RAD Solutions, has not only sent me the first two screenshots of SideWinder, but also kindly participated in a little on-line/e-mail interview with me.
In this interview, Jason talks about the .NET developments at Borland, including SideWinder and Delphi for .NET.


2003/02/12 - Microsoft Gives Peek at Visual Studio .Net's Future
An article on eWeek writes about the opening keynote at the VSLive! 2003 show by Eric Rudder, Microsoft's senior vice president of developer and platform evangelism. Rudder announced enhancements to the Visual Studio.NET Integration Program (VSIP), to include Borland, AmberPoint and NetManage. The VSIP program now includes more than 160 members with more than 300 tools that integrate into the Visual Studio .Net environment.
Rudder also announced new public betas of two technologies: the ASP.Net Starter Kits and a set of tools known as Visual Studio Tools for Office.


2003/02/11 - Borland Optimizeit Suite for .NET
As also mentioned by ComputerWorld, Borland will has launched its Optimizeit suite for .Net this week at VS!Live. Borland's Optimizeit for .NET can help developers spot memory leaks and other potential problems that can hinder application performance, said George Paolini, a general manager at Borland.
Borland also announced today that it has joined the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Integration Program.


2003/02/07 - First SideWinder Screenshots
Jason Vokes from Borland EMEA has sent me the first two screenshots of SideWinder, which can now be seen at http://www.drbob42.net/SideWinder.


2003/02/04 - Borland SideWinder: a C# IDE for .NET
According to InfoWorld and CNet News.com, Borland is getting ready to go up against Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET with an IDE (integrated development environment) for the Microsoft .NET Framework.
The IDE with codename Sidewinder does not yet have a formal product name and will not ship until this summer. Sidewinder is a C#-based development environment for building applications on the .NET Framework, including ASP.NET, ADO.NET, and WinForms, according to Borland.


2003/01/29 - Critical Update for Microsoft .NET Framework SDK 1.0 Users
The .NET Framework SDK version 1.0 optionally installs an application-specific instance of MSDE 2000 as part of the QuickStart feature. Users of the .NET Framework SDK 1.0 or Visual Studio .NET 2002 who installed this feature need to apply a specially adapted SQL Server Service Pack 3 to protect MSDE 2000 from attack by the recent Slammer virus.


2003/01/28 - Borland licenses Microsoft's .NET Framework SDK
Interesting articles on InfoWorld and CNET News.com/ZDNet News describes that Borland has licensed a key piece of Microsoft's .NET software (the .NET Framework SDK) and will release a new line of programming tools for .NET later this year. Last year, Borland acquired TogetherSoft, which makes application modeling and design tools. The forthcoming Borland products that incorporates the .NET Framework SDK will include an enhancement to TogetherSoft's current .NET product.
The official press release from Borland is also available now.


2003/01/27 - The .NET Show #30: ASP.NET Web Matrix
In this episode we will be talking with Scott Guthrie and Nikhil Kothari from the ASP.NET team. They'll show us how ASP.NET can enable Web sites with greater functionality, and then walk us through a couple of demonstrations of how easy it is to install and utilize Web Matrix.


2002/01/13 - Book Review: Programming .NET Web Services
This book review was published by O'Reilly in September 2002, and the review is published in the January/February issue of UK-BUG Developer's Magazine. The book shows how to create web services in the .NET Framework with ASP.NET, and does a good job at that - see the detailed review for details.


2002/12/13 - Working with C#: Wrapping C++ classes
Eric Gunnerson discusses wrapping C++ classes, which allows you to use the class from both .NET languages and native C++. Last time, Eric talked about calling existing libraries through P/Invoke. This time, we'll delve into wrapping C++ classes so they can be used from C#, but also a bit about the future of C#...


2002/12/09 - Web Services Enhancements 1.0 for Microsoft .NET
We can now download a new set of libraries, samples, and documentation for Visual Studio .NET, which delivers functionality for the development of advanced Web services solutions. Web Services Enhancements 1.0 for Microsoft .NET is the released and supported version of the Web Services Development Kit Technology Preview (WSDK).


2002/12/04 - The .NET Show #29: The .NET Compact Framework
The benefits of the .NET Framework are coming soon to PocketPC and Windows CE devices. In this episode we talk with David Rasmussen, Oshoma Momoh, and Ed Kaim about the .NET Compact Framework.


2002/12/02 - Dr.Bob Examines... #36: NET as COM
This is the first of a number of articles about Delphi and .NET, starting off with a demonstration of how to use .NET assemblies in "old" Win32 applications by importing them as COM Objects using Delphi 7 Studio.


2002/11/24 - Microsoft Announces New Capabilities for C#
Generics and ISO standards conformance are on the top of the list of long-awaited features that will roll out in upcoming versions of Visual C#.NET, according to this article at DevX.


2002/11/21 - Microsoft skips Server OS release
According to CNET Tech News, Microsoft has been working on delivering the next major desktop and server versions of Windows--code-named Longhorn--by late 2004. Although the desktop version of Longhorn is still expected within this time frame, a server version is not expected until 2005 or 2006, the company said. A Microsoft representative confirmed that the next release of the company's server software "would follow the release of Windows.NET Server," yet essentially skip a generation to focus on the next version of Windows, code-named Blackcomb--initially planned as a successor to Longhorn.


2002/11/14 - dataWeb Releases First Plug & Play Database Engine for the .NET Platform
dataWeb announced that TurboDB.NET, the first .NET database engine to support XCOPY deployment, is shipping. TurboDB.NET consists of three assemblies:

TurboDB is available also for Delphi, C++Builder and Kylix programmers, such offering a cross-platform opportunity spanning Windows, Linux and .NET. A trial version of TurboDB.NET is available for download

2002/10/31 - Working with C#: Using Win32 and Other Libraries
In his last column, Eric Gunnerson presented an overview on the different ways of using existing code from within C#. This time, we're going to delve into using Win32® and other existing libraries from within our code.


2002/10/21 - The .NET Show #28: The Developer Roadmap
In this episode we talk with Thomas O'Grady and Kerry Carnahan about the .NET Developer Roadmap that they have developed to help Enterprise developers understand the best ways for them to properly acquire the skills they need for developing applications using .NET.


2002/10/17 - C# standardization moves ahead
In an article by Stephen Shankland for CNET News.com, we can read that Microsoft and its allies have quietly expanded an effort to gain acceptance for C#, the competitor to Java and a foundation for Microsoft's next-generation Internet services.


2002/10/07 - Delphi for .NET in the Delphi 7 IDE
An Open Tool binary package (Wizard) is provided on CodeCentral for Delphi 7 developers to use the Delphi for .NET preview compiler inside the Delphi 7 IDE. John Kaster has written an article about it on the Borland Developer Network. The readme contains extensive information on installing, uninstalling, customizing, and using the OTA.


2002/09/23 - Why .NET will conquer the world
An article on ZDNet News lists a number of reasons to explain the rapid expansion in .NET's popularity which eats into Java's market share as it grows to take over the development world.


2002/09/10 - The .NET Show #27: Code Optimization
In this episode we talk with Patrick Dussud and Gregor Noriskin from the CLR team, who share with us some of the general concepts involved with optimizing your code. We will also take a look at some examples that Ivan Mladenov has prepared to help us look at specific optimization techniques and see how they can affect your programs.


2002/08/27 - Web Service Development Kit
The Web Services Development Kit is a new .NET library from Microsoft for building ASP.NET Web services that use more advanced protocols, including:

Both of these technologies will be covered by me in articles for The Delphi Magazine (using Delphi for .NET).

2002/08/24 - Borland Galileo
Tech News on CNET.com mentions the upcoming Borland Galileo - a new IDE that will host multiple development languages, including Delphi (for .NET).


2002/08/14 - TurboPower .NET Survey
The excitement surrounding Microsoft's .NET initiative is building - even Borland is making major moves in the .NET direction. It should come as no surprise to you that TurboPower is taking a hard look at .NET to determine where it best fits into their future plans.
The TurboPower .NET web survey is your chance to tell them what you think about Microsoft's .NET initiative and how you'd like TurboPower to participate in it.


2002/08/12 - .NET Framework Service Pack 2
We can now download Microsoft .NET Framework Service Pack 2 (SP2) from MSDN. SP2 focuses on security, includes all changes made by SP1, as well as an additional number of fixes.


2002/08/06 - Delphi for .NET compiler preview
The Borland Developer Network now features an article with a first look at the Delphi for .NET compiler features and Delphi's new language syntax by John Kaster and Danny Thorpe, as well as an article about using Delphi for .NET as a script language for ASP.NET.


2002/08/05 - ASP.NET 1.0 with C#
The book ASP.NET 1.0 with C# Namespace Reference has just been published by WROX Press. You can read a sample chapter (in PDF-format) in the special WROX section of my website (which contains more WROX books, reviews and sample chapters).


2002/07/30 - Windows .NET Server
You can now order the new release candidate of Windows .NET Server, get the Schema Documentation Program, and links to resources for building applications on Microsoft's newest operating system.
Windows .NET Server builds on the core strengths of the Windows family of operating systems--security, manageability, reliability, availability, and scalability. Windows .NET Server provides an application environment to build, deploy, manage, and run XML Web services. Additionally, advances in Windows .NET Server provides many benefits for developing applications, resulting in lower total cost of ownership and better performance.


2002/07/26 - Bill expected more from .NET
Speaking to financial analysts and reporters, Bill Gates admitted that .NET hadn't caught on as quickly as he had hoped. The original headline ('Gates admits .NET a "misstep"') is a bit misleading; he doesn't think all of .NET was a misstep, just the My Services part (aka Hailstorm). He also said that labelling the current generation of enterprise products as .NET might have been a bit premature.


2002/07/24 - The .NET Show #26: Understanding the Framework
In this episode we get the background and concepts that gave birth to the .NET Framework, learn how various groups provided a consistent object model, and walk through parts of the .NET Framework.


2002/07/22 - .NET Framework version 2
According to eWeek Microsoft is working on version 2.0 of its .NET Framework (codename Whidbey), with features to make it easier to deploy .NET applications and Web services. Coding on .NET Framework 2.0 starts this month, with a first beta targeted for January 2003, a second beta set for August 2003, and the final version can be expected around December 2003.
In the meantime, Microsoft will release an interim .NET Framework, version 1.1 (codename Everett) later this year.


2002/07/19 - MSDN XML Web Services Developer Center
Microsoft has just opened the MSDN XML Web Services Developer Center to provide developer-focused information on Web services and to experiment with more flexible ways to organize and present information from the MSDN Library and other websites.


2002/07/12 - Moving Java Applications to .NET
Microsoft has published an article that tries to focus on the advantages of Microsoft .NET over Java, and also shows how to convert Java applications to .NET.


2002/07/03 - Microsoft Visual J#.NET
You can now download Microsoft Visual J#.NET, a development tool for Java-language developers who want to build applications and services on the .NET Framework. It integrates the Java-language syntax into the Visual Studio .NET IDE and supports most of the functionality found in Visual J++ 6.0, including Microsoft extensions (such as JavaCOM and JDirect).
Microsoft Visual J# .NET is not a tool for developing applications intended to run on a Java Virtual Machine. Applications and services built with Visual J# .NET will run only in the .NET Framework and will not run on any Java Virtual Machine. Visual J# .NET has been independently developed by Microsoft. It is not endorsed or approved by Sun Microsystems, Inc.


2002/06/24 - Borland demonstrates .NET Technology
At the Visual Studio Developer Conference (VS Live) in New York City last week, the Borland Developer Relations team demoed Borland's upcoming support for Microsoft.NET, using Delphi for .NET.


2002/06/15 - The .NET Show #25: Object Role Modeling (ORM)
In this episode we will look at "Object Role Modeling" (ORM) and show how it greatly simplifies the design process using a natural language interface for describing and schema, intuitive diagrams for visualizing the structure, and automatically generated examples which clarify the intended design of your database.


2002/05/14 - Borland's .NET command-line compiler
At the CttM in The Netherlands, Jason Vokes of Borland EMEA talked about the .NET command-line compiler (that was also shown at TechEd in April 2002). Jason even showed how to use the command-line compiler to produce a .NET Windows Forms application that can convert temperatures. According to Jason Vokes, "the .NET compiler will be productised and made available in the second half of this year" (or when its ready).
For those who can read Dutch, I have written a more detailed report (which also mentions Kylix 3 with C++Builder for Linux) on my eBob42 website.


2002/05/09 - Thinking in C#
Bruce Eckel has been busy translating his Thinking in Java into C#, resulting in Thinking in C#. The current version of the book is 0.1 - this is a preliminary release, but still a good thing to read.
You do not need to buy anything to program .NET in C#! Thinking in C# is written to emphasize the use of a command-line compiler, not the Visual Studio .NET IDE. The .NET Framework SDK contains a free C# command-line compiler.


2002/05/07 - The .NET Show #24: Application Architecture
In this episode we will examine the importance of application architecture and how the .NET Framework plays a role in providing a structure for future applications.


2002/05/02 - Preview screenshot of Delphi.NET
Delphi.NET was previewed at SD West (where Borland received the Jolt Hall of Fame award), and we can now take a look at a screenshot of some Delphi.NET source code (using namespaces it would seem), the command-line compiler (called dccil), and a Delphi.NET compiled application ConvertIt.
More news will be made available at the Borland Conference, and will presented in my BorCon 2002 report (for those of you who will not be in Anaheim themselves). Stay tuned for more news...


2002/04/19 - .NET Framework SP1
I didn't notice it until today: Service Pack #1 (SP1) for the .NET Framework is now available for download. Here's a list of bugs that were fixed, as well as the FAQ about the .NET Framework SP1.


2002/04/12 - WS-Security
At Tech-Ed, Microsoft today jointly announced with IBM and VeriSign the publication of a new XML Web services security specification, WS-Security (in PDF format) - the foundation for a comprehensive, flexible security model for Web services.


2002/04/11 - Borland Development Studio for .NET
Borland has just announced that it will preview a development studio for the Microsoft .NET Framework at the 2002 Microsoft Tech-Ed Conference. More information will follow later...


2002/04/08 - The .NET Show #23: Mobile Internet Toolkit
In this episode we will examine the Mobile Internet Toolkit and discuss approaches for the problem of dealing with device configurations.


2002/03/18 - C# Information Survey
The C# Information Survey, available on GotDotNet, asks questions about what magazines you read, what websites you frequent (like this C# Visions site:) and other ways that you locate information and keep informed.


2002/03/15 - Community and Launch
Working with C# issue #12 has been published on Microsoft's Developer Network (MSDN) website. Eric Gunnerson delves into AppDomains and announces a new C# community site on GotDotNet.


2002/03/13 - The .NET Show #22: Debugging with Visual Studio .NET
In this episode we will examine just a few of the debugging features and capabilities of Visual Studio .NET, and experience how easy it is to debug a local client application, a remote ASP.NET server component, as well how to use Visual Studio .NET to debug a SQL Server stored procedure.


2002/03/04 - .NET Development (6 of 6)
The last part of a six-part series on .NET development has been published on MSDN. This week, the .NET topic is .NET in the Real World. Watch this on-demand, streaming media presentation about real customers who have built applications using Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Framework. It includes technical details, code, and tips and tricks.


2002/02/27 - Web Services compatibility
During Round III of the Web Services Interoperability Forum (held today and tomorrow) about 30 software companies (including Microsoft, Borland, Oracle, IBM, Iona, and BEA) will test the compatibility of their toolkits available to build Web Services. The goals of this effort are similar to those of the newly launched industry consortium, called the Web Services Interoperability Organization.


2002/02/26 - Visual C# .NET Standard
You don't need the entire Visual Studio.NET to write C# applications. Visual C# .NET Standard is enough to write .NET applications using C# (from Windows to Web Server applications and Web Services using XML & SOAP).
With my Delphi and C++background, I'll be writing some articles to show how all these environments can interoperate and connect with each other in the .NET Framework, so stay tuned...


2002/02/25 - Programming Windows... with C#
People like me with at least a decade of programming experience will no doubt remember Charles Petzold's original "bible" Programming Windows and later editions such as Programming Windows: The Definitive Guide to the Win32 API. Now, the .NET version of programming windows is available: Programming Windows with C# (Core Reference). This is a must-have for Windows GUI programming on .NET (using C#) that will earn its place among its predecessors!


2002/02/22 - .NET Development (5 of 6)
Part five of a six-part series on .NET development has been published on MSDN. This week, the .NET topic is Enterprise Development. Design, build, test, and deploy enterprise applications with XML Web services and Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect.


2002/02/15 - .NET Development (4 of 6)
Part four of a six-part series on .NET development has been published on MSDN. This week, the .NET topic is Developing with Visual Studio .NET. Download the final release of Visual Studio .NET and harness the power of XML Web Services, the productivity of development tools, and the confidence of your existing programming skills.


2002/02/14 - Review: Professional C#
WROX Press released Professional C# (using Beta 2), a 1200 page book of which a sample chapter 21 (Graphics with GDI+) is available on the WROX section of my website. My review of this book has been published in the December 2001 issue of .NET Developer.


2002/02/13 - Launch of Visual Studio .NET
The Visual Studio .NET launch webcast featured Bill Gates, Anders Hejlsberg and others for one of the biggest developer launches of the year, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. You can still see the webcasts at VSLive!


2002/02/13 - Borland's .NET Strategy
Borland has announced its .NET Strategy, which can also be read on the Borland Community website. According to this, the Borland strategy for the .NET platform features Delphi, C++Builder, Kylix and JBuilder, that support the capabilities of the Microsoft .NET Framework, including ASP.NET and application interoperability through XML Web Services. During the second half of 2002, Borland plans to release development products that support the .NET platform optimized on Intel Architecture.
For more information, read the first comments by SD Times, and the FAQ on the Borland .NET website.


2002/02/08 - .NET Development (3 of 6)
Part three of a six-part series on .NET development has been published on MSDN. This third week, the .NET topic is Create XML Web Services with .NET. Connect existing applications, incorporate legacy data, and new solutions with .NET and XML Web Services.


2002/02/04 - Borland will push .NET out of Windows
SD Times has an article about Borland's .NET strategy announcement (I haven't heard anything from Borland, yet). It's very interesting to read, and talks about second half 2002 for Borland tools based on Delphi and C++ capable of producing native .NET managed-code applications!


2002/02/01 - .NET Development (2 of 6)
Part two of a six-part series on .NET development has been published on MSDN. This second week, the .NET topic is Building Web Applications


2002/01/29 - The .NET Show #21: Terrarium and Peer-to-Peer
In this episode we will see an interview with with Lance Olson and Erik Olson, two of the developers that have spent a lot of time and energy on the Tarrarium project (most of it in their spare time). We will discuss with them some of the challenges they faced in building out the peer-to-peer infrastructure.


2002/01/25 - .NET Development (1 of 6)
Part one of a six-part series on .NET development has been published on MSDN. Each week, the focus will be on a particular aspect of .NET development, supported by articles, samples, how-tos, chats, and Webcasts.
This first week, the .NET topic is Smart Client Applications


2002/01/21 - Working with C# - Tips and Tricks
Working with C# issue #11 has been published on Microsoft's Developer Network (MSDN) website. During last episode, we used unsafe code to do some image processing. This time, Eric likes to answer a few common questions on C#.


2002/01/18 - Visual Studio.NET Webcast from VSLive!
You can now sign up for a live webcast with Bill Gates and Anders Hejlsberg at VSLive! on February 13th (the release of Visual Studio.NET).


2002/01/15 - .NET Framework SDK
We can now download the final release of the .NET Framework SDK from MSDN (warning: it's 137,363,456 bytes, but will get you everything you need to write, build, test, and deploy .NET Framework applications, including documentation, samples, and command-line tools).
MSDN subscribers can now download Visual Studio .NET exclusively from MSDN Subscriber Downloads.


2002/01/07 - The .NET Show #20: Inside the CLR
In this episode we will see an interview with Jim Miller and Jim Hogg, who have been working for many years at fine-tuning the features of the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and making sure that it provides a great foundation for developing applications.


Also available: older C#/.NET News (2001 and earlier).


The following .NET specific articles are already available on this new section of the website:

Memory: from VCL via VCL for .NET to .NET
In this article, I'll show how to migrate a VCL application (the game of Memory) to VCL for .NET, and finally to WinForms on .NET, all using the Delphi for .NET Preview command-line compiler (Update 1).
You can download the complete source code from the Delphi for .NET Samples page, with the complete implementation of the VCL, VCL for .NET, and WinForms editions of Memory.

Delphi for .NET Web Service
My first Delphi for .NET (preview command-line compiler) "Euro Conversion" web service is up and running using ASP.NET. You can see the simple source code, and import the WSDL with Delphi, C++Builder, JBuilder, C# or any other SOAP-enabled development environment.

Delphi for .NET Web Forms
My first Delphi for .NET (preview command-line compiler) "Temperature Conversion" web form is up and running using ASP.NET. You can see the simple source code and try it for yourself in the ASP.NET web form.


This webpage © 2003-2015 by Bob Swart (aka Dr.Bob - www.drbob42.com). All Rights Reserved.