June Dublin C/C++ User Group Presentation

On Monday this week I did a presentation on my JSON++ library to the Dublin C/C++ User Group. The PowerPoint deck of my presentation is available here for those interested. A recording of the meetup should be available on the groups meetup page shortly.

March Dublin C++ User Group Presentation

On Monday this week I did a presentation on using OpenStreetMap and various Microsoft technologies to the Dublin C++ User Group in Dublin. It provided an introduction to OpenStreetMap the project and then went through my OSMCtrl application which demoed a number of Microsoft Technologies such as Direct2D, Windows Animations, Windows Sensors, MFC and using WinHTTP to make web services calls. A big thanks to Mihai Todor and the fellow organisers who faciliated the meetup. The PowerPoint deck of my presentation is available here for those interested. A recording of the meetup should be available on the groups meetup page shortly.

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Irish SQL Server User Group Presentation

On Tuesday this week I did a presentation on using SQLCLR to the Irish SQL Server User Group up in Dublin. It provided a simple developer based introduction on how to write plug-ins for SQL Server 2005 & 2008. The example I developed from first principles was a SHA-256 hash User Defined Type. This was a repeat of the presentation which I did to the Cork Microsoft Technology User Group back in April 2009. I updated the slide deck to mention some of the new SQLCLR features in SQL 2008 R2 but the presentation was a general developer introduction. I also raffled off a couple of copies of my SQL Server XP book as prizes for filling in the evaluation forms. A big thanks to my fellow MVP Niall Flanagan who handles the SQL Server User Group who facilitated me to do the presentation.

MTUG Presentation

On Monday this week I did a presentation on using SQLCLR to the Cork Microsoft Technology User Group down at the Imperial Hotel on the South Mall. It provided a simple developer based introduction on how to write plug-ins for SQL Server 2005 & 2008. The example I developed from first principles was a SHA-256 hash User Defined Type. I also demonstrated the automatic deployment and debugging features of Visual Studio. It was my first User Group presentation and I must admit that I was very nervous. Once I got into it, all went well and people said that it was informative and useful. Hopefully I will get the chance to do more presentations in the future. I also raffled off a MSDN premium as a prize for filling in the evaluation forms. A bit thanks to Joe Gill who handles MTUG who facilitated me to do the presentation.

MVP Award

It may be April Fools day today, but I got an email from Microsoft today, to confirm that I have just been made an MVP (Microsoft Valuable Professional). I was nominated by someone (I do not know who <gg>), a number of weeks ago and today I received the announcement that I am now an MVP for Windows – SDK for 2007. I’m really thrilled to get the award and I should be getting one of the benefits of the MVP program which is a MSDN subscription in the next few weeks. I’m thinking of setting up some sort of forum or "Ask PJ" section on my web site where you can email me your Windows development related questions and hopefully I should be able to get an answer for you.

My First Blog

Well, this is my first foray into the brave new world of blogging. Up to now I have used the main page and the whats new pages of my web site at http://www.naughter.com for reporting updates. Hopefully from now on when I release a new version of any of my code or software, I will also mention it on this blog. That way you can keep up to date with what’s happening at Naughter Software using your favorite RSS client.

One of the first bloggers I started reading was Raymond Chen (http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/default.aspx). This is probably because he posts about Windows and the Win32 API, and it is an area which I’m intimately familiar with. Hopefully this is something I will also cover with my blog.

Some ideas I have for upcoming posts are reporting on a Visual Studio 2005 SP1 bug I’ve just discovered as well as some bugs in the newly released Vista SDK (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=7614FE22-8A64-4DFB-AA0C-DB53035F40A0&displaylang=en) which I just installed today.

In the future, I also hope to include some personal notes in the blog as well as use it as a better way to communicate with people who use my software.

Finally if you have any questions, comments or suggestions on specific topics which I should blog on, such as Win32, Services, ATL, MFC etc etc, why not add a comment to the blog or drop me an email at pjna@naughter.com