subhashini
(Moderator):
Hi all. A very good evening
Welcome to today’s Webchat on Visual Studio Team System: A
Curtain Raiser:
I am Subhashini Simha (Community Co-ordinator, MS India).
Today’s chat is hosted by Sudhakar Sadasivuni (MVP)
subhashini (Moderator):
Sudhakar Sadasivuni is a currently working for Wipro Technologies,
Hyderabad; and has been working on .NET technologies since Sept
2000.He launched his first tech portal in October 2000 with his
practices on .NET. He loves to do R & D with Visual C# and doing
the same since a year. Currently, he is working for Microsoft Global
Business Unit.His contributions have been published on MSDN India,
DevX-Tips sections, C-SharpCorner, Codeproject and DeveloperDex.
Sudhakar is one of Pioneers and Managers of MUGH (Microsoft User
Group, Hyderabad - www.mugh.net
).
subhashini (Moderator):
Sudhakar blogs at <http://weblogs.asp.net/ssadasivuni>
besides his offbeat blog www.mvpblog.com. <http://www.mvpblog.com>
svssudhakar@hotmail.com
<mailto:svssudhakar@hotmail.com>
subhashini (Moderator):
Chat Procedures:
This chat will last for one hour. During this hour, our Experts
will respond to as many questions as they can. Please understand
that there may be some questions we cannot respond to due to lack
of information or because the information is not yet public. We
encourage you to submit questions for our Experts. We ask that you
stay on topic for the duration of the chat. This helps the Guests
and Experts follow the conversation more easily. We invite you to
ask off topic questions after this chat is over.
subhashini (Moderator):
Discussion on
subhashini (Moderator):
Chat Details and Agenda:
Discussion on Curtain Raiser: Visual Studio Team System
subhashini (Moderator):
The discussion would focus on:
1. What is Visual Studio Team System 2005?
2. The Building blocks of VSTS 2005
3. Designing software with VSTS 2005
4. Linking Design to Development and "Designing for Operations"
subhashini (Moderator):
So let me welcome Sudhakar, He will explain how we would go about
the chat for the one hour.
Thank you all for joining the chat and taking time out of your hectic
schedules.
The chat archives can be found at <http://www.microsoft.com/india/communities/chat/Transcripts.aspx>
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Hi all, welcome to today’s community chat session on Microsoft
Visual Studio Team System 2005.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Let me introduce my self :-)
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I am a Microsoft MVP for C#.
About me : Well I design & develop software
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I also manage Microsoft User Group, Hyderabad (www.mugh.net
<http://www.mugh.net>)
along with other MVPs , Community Stars and Student Ambassadors
in Hyderabad.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Today I will be covering some fundamentals of Visual Studio Team
System.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
and Here after I will refer Visual Studio Team System 2005 as VSTS
2005 precisely.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
01.What is VSTS 2005?
02. The Building Blocks of VSTS 2005
03. How VSTS 2005 helps designing a software
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
these are the topics I will be covering today
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
We will have 30 mins for brief and 30 mins for Q & A
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
So I will answer all Questions in the second half of this chat
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Please use "Submit A question" to ask any question on
your chat window
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Let's discuss about few common challenges in Software Life Cycle
now
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Since the first day of my career I have been observing the way we
design or architect the software and develop in various phases with
various software process methodologies
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I used feel a gap or the lack of synchronization between three important
phases of any software. i.e Design Phase, Development and Deployment
phase. I hope most of us used to experience this.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I am talking from a normal developer perspective here
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The current software development process is facing few challenges
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I will try to list out few here
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Lack of integration of testing in to developers life
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Different processes across different projects
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Lack of a well defined workflow tracking
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Lack of real time project tracking and predictions.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Challenges in communication (Still we depend on email communication
which is complex to track)
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Resistance from developers towards various processes which are unfit
to their work style
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
To address all these challenges; there should be a system which
can provide all in one place but with a robust and reliable synchronized
process implementation along with integrated work flow management,
workflow tracking, etc.. should be extensible as well. is'nt
it?
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Let me give you a definition for VSTS Now : VSTS is an extensible
life-cycle tools platform that significantly expands the Visual
Studio product line and helps software teams collaborate to reduce
the complexity of delivering modern service-oriented solutions
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Team System includes a comprehensive set of proven process frameworks,
best practices, prescriptive architecture guidance.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
along with integrated life-cycle tools that enable IT organizations
to successfully deliver custom solutions on the Windows platform.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Yes I have
the same question as Reghus
A: I will cover these further in chat
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Right now VSTS is available as CTP ( Customer Tech Preview) Beta
to customers
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
MSDN India has already supplied this in Tech Ed 2004 to all of the
attendees. The next release of VSTS 2005 (CTP, Beta 2) will be in
February, 2005.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Sridhar, I will answer your question going further in chat
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS will be available in three flavors
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VS Team Architect, VS Team Developer, VS Team Test.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
You can install Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite, which "bundles"
the features found in Team Architect, Team Developer and Team Test
into one install.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
the forthcoming CTP release will be a Team System Suite
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Before going further on VSTS Feature, I would like to look at the
Software Life Cycle, and who are the pillars of it, so that we can
discuss how VSTS 2005 answers the challenges in Software Life Cycle
(Not in any particular orderJ)
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
01. Developer
02. Tester
03. Solution Architect
04. Project Manager
05. Infrastructural Architect
06. Business Stakeholder
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
In every software development process, these entities are stakeholders
to build a successful eco-system around the project life cycle.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The challenges which I have mentioned earlier will be major constraints
to achieve that Eco-System.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Lets now look at VSTS Vision, how it is trying to address the above
constraints
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS 2005’s vision was divided in to 4 parts according to
Software Life Cycle needs.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS will try to address all the above challenges across the key
stakeholders of any software development process via these four
parts.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS will try to address all the above challenges across the key
stakeholders of any software development process via these four
parts.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
You may want to see how these four parts are going to be implemented
in the three available VSTS flavors here..
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
<http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/VSTS_Skeleton.jpg>
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
please check the link to understand it in better way
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/VSTS_Skeleton.jpg
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Now I will cover those four parts of VSTS Vision and Implementation
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The first one is “Team Communication” : We have too
many ways of team communication these days, email, conferences,
chat, team portals, alerts etc…
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
But how spread across various tools, platforms, processes. There
is no coherent integration between any of these systems.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
if time permits
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS addresses this team communication in one place, one store by
providing an enterprise Source code control (not VSS) along with
Integrated Check-in , Reporting, Work Item Tracking, Change Management
Tracking, Up-to-date Project sites, Project management etc.. You
can some of these in the layer of Team Foundation. We will discuss
about Team Foundation part of VSTS later here.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The second one is “Quality Early and Often”: Developers
do coding, with quality and, with out quality in regard of performance
and standards.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
We use so many external quality processes and standards to make
the software’s code represents a robust, high performance
and thoroughly tested functionality.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS addresses this, by providing Static Analysis of code, Performance
Profiling, Unit testing and Load testing (not ACT).
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Load testing was implemented in a better way here compared to ACT
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
ACT --> Application Center Test
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
You may want to check a sample code analysis using inbuilt FxCop
here
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/CodeAnalysis.JPG
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Check the sample load testing screens here
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/load.JPG
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/loadtest.JPG
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Next one is “Designing for Operations”: Architects always
wonder, oops! What happened to my architecture and design? When
they look at the final cut of application in deployment.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
This is due to lack of real time synchronization between Design
and Deployment. VSTS provides a “Design for Operations”
model where you can design your application for the actual deployment
scenario and verify the your design skeleton with Operations as
well. VSTS provides an Application designer with a white board mode
designer (WhiteHorse).
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS also provides a SOA Designer, Logical data center designer,
Class designer with two way code synchronization, along with validations.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS, very good question, I have answer for you further in this
chat
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
You can see “Design for Operation” in action from following
slide
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/DesignforOp.JPG
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
And a validation result against Operations for Design here
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/verification.JPG
and Class designer in action here
http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/Classdesigner.JPG
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The other interesting part in VSTS vision is “Platform for
innovation”. VSTS provides a highly extendable environment
by providing Web service based, open protocols, client APIs, extending
today’s VSIP.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
It means anyone can develop their own applications, process tasks
with VSTS using this powerful and extensive feature set.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Now the last topic of this session : how VSTS enables us to design
software in better ways
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
arabinda please use "Submit Question" option
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Visualization is a key role player in any software design, especially
distributed systems.
Integration of various sub systems of design increasingly makes
it more complicated, as the system goes more granular in service
oriented architecture.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Since most of these sub systems use different programming technologies,
it will be very difficult to share the design-data between them
whilst the integration.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
(*) Next major part of Designing Distributed Systems is the synchronization
between Design and Code. But even with best practices, System design
documentation becomes outdates as the coding starts and goes further
with dynamic changes in Functionality.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Currently there are lot complications in enforcing security in design
level and maintain the same policy till the deployment. Having a
weak link between Security configuration from Design surface to
Deployment platform makes a distributed system to have a improper
security configuration.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
To address this, VSTS has got Distributed System Designers (DSD),
which provides an “Integrated design Experience” along
with visual design and validation onboard. DSM uses a meta model
called “System Definition Model” a.k.a SDM, which describes
the connectivity, relations, configurations between system entities
including runtime environments. SDM is a part of Microsoft’s
Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI).
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I think this answers your question 'VSTS'
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS Uses a datawarehouse to maintain all this data
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
SDM is based on a multi-layered model that includes applications,
application hosting environments, network topology, operating systems,
and physical devices. With this model Distributed System designers
to describe and force constraints, policies at every level.
Find more on SDM here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/dsi/sdm.mspx
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
There are four types of Distributed System Designers here
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
• Application Connection Designer
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
This helps a developer or architect to define and configure applications
that will be composed into systems for deployment.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
2. Logical Datacenter Designer
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The Logical Datacenter Designer (LDD) is used to create diagrams
of interconnected logical servers that represent the logical structure
of a datacenter.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
you can have a look at LDD here • http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnvsent/html/vsts-arch-fig02big.gif
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
3.System Designer
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
The System Designer is used to compose and configure systems from
the applications that are defined in the Application Center Design.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Check System designer in action here http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnvsent/html/vsts-arch-fig04big.gif
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
4. Deployment Designer
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
With Deployment designer you can define the deployment of a specific
system into a target logical datacenter. The Deployment Designer
will typically be used by developers and architects.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Deployment designer in action : • <http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnvsent/html/vsts-arch-fig05big.gif>
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Folks, let's move in to QA session
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Please compare the features with vss so that it can be
easy to understand for us??
A: VSTS gives more performance than VSS, the SCC part of
VSTS was totally written from the scratch. There will a converter
available to migrate VSS database to VSTS SCC
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: is nightly build process is possible through VSTS?
A: Yep, a Build server is available in VSTS team Foundation
which enables scheduling builds, automation of builds etc..
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Can a Project Manager(As you said PM is also in SDLC )
assign certain tasks from VSTS to Developers and other related team
member like what we do in MS Project?
A: Yes, VSTS System has a Client product (not released yet)
which can be used by PMs. they do not required to install VSTS system
at all. Adding to this VSTS is very much extensible via e\web services,
Office products like Excel, MS Project
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: can we do physical and logical database design using vsts
A: Yes, You can do
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: How close is this with CVS?
A: VSTS SCC is more larger in contrast with CVS
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: How this whole data is managed in VSTS (Analysis Data,
Reports, Communication Data, Testing results) ? Any Data backup
strategy it supports? ( I don't know completely if this is applicable).
A: I think I have answered this in DSI part of the chat
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Can i do a cost analysis and time sheet using VSTS
A: Yes, You can do this. VSTS provides very Rich reporting
facilities for Bug Tracking, Work Item tracking
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: What is the Team Foundation in VSTS ?
A: if you can http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/VSTS_Skeleton.jpg
Team foundation is a base services platform server for VSTS System
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
VSTS Foundation server enables tracking reports, bug tracking,
work flow tracking, Project management, team portal updations
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Is VSTS will be useful for the windows platform only ?
A: yes, VSTS 2005 was developed for Windows Platform, but
you can connect to Team Foundation servers from other platforms
as well. VSTS is extendable via web services
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: What are the Integration Services?
A: Integration services are the part of VSTS extendibility
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Will there be any way to port the current application
managed in VSS easily into team system
A: Yes, VSTS ships with all sorts of Converters for previous
systems
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: so you mean we can do all other necessary tasks of code
validation, maintenance etc with VSTS, without use of third part
tool... but if I want to integrate any tool line nant with VSTS..
how can i do that??
A: Yes, http://one.aspxconnection.com/sudhakar/VSTS_Skeleton.jpg
has a side bar on the right side for Industry partners, which means
it is highly extendable for 3rd party
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Generally there are various models of SDLC... is all available
in VSTS?
A: yes, It supports most of them
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: VSTS was originally written in 1994
A: Good point mayank :-)
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Is there any meassurement for projects size that should
use VSTS or any kind of project use this?
A: Yes, VSTS for workgroups supports limited users and limited
projects
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: is vsts will work for different OS? or only for the windows
OS?
A: I have already answered this raghu
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Can we get VSTS as a standalone product i mean to say
can i get only vsts without vs.net 2005
A: VSTS comes with a stand alone client which provides all
sorts of connectivity to VST System
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Can u suggest which SDLC model you and MS recommends?
A: Sorry, I cannot :-), since this is out of chat context.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Where can we access beta bits of Visual Studio Team System?
A: http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/teamsystem/
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Will vsts have features like automatic code generation
after a person completes the design
A: Yes, class designer does two way sync for your design,
check the diagram
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: What is the License costs of VSTS
A: right now it is in Beta, so no license issues as of now
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Will vsts have features like automatic code generation
after a person completes the design
A: answered
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: how does VSTS allow to analyse the deviation of final
product from the original arch.?
A: All The DS Designers will have verification of Design
for Operation at any point of time
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: Is there any option to roll back the architecture and
analysis?
A: I did not get you...since the design and deployment
scenarios
can be in sync, there will not be a state of roll bacl
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: can u suggest some useful links on vsts articles.?
A: chk <http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/teamsystem/>
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: can we use vsts on linux or different OS?
A: You can use VSTS services via Extensible APIs
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: in senerios like development in both onsite and offsite
how will the source code + design be maintained
A: everything will be stored on Team Foundation Servers,
and highly distributed communication will be there.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: can VSTS be used to share code between onshore and offshore
development sites?
A: VSTS has inbuilt SCC to share code, and to do a parallel
check in, and Integrated Check-in
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: can developer use project manager's tool??
A: Yes, the stand alone client can be used by anyone.
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I have few references to share with all of you as we reached the
end
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Team system Home
http://labs.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/teamsystem/blogs/default.aspx
Full VSTS Blog Post Archives
http://blogs.msdn.com/robcaron/category/5240.aspx?Show=All
My Blog
http://weblogs.asp.net/ssadasivuni
subhashini (Moderator):
We are almost done with the time
subhashini (Moderator):
In case you ahve additional queries, please mail sudhakar
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
please feel free to question me at sudhakarATgmail.com
subhashini (Moderator):
sudhakar@gmail.com
subhashini (Moderator):
WE thank you for participating in this chat
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Q: IF DEVELOPER can use project manager's tool how secure
data is of PM :) ??
A: It depends on the Role of the VSTS User
subhashini (Moderator):
and we would definitely want to hear more of sudhakar
subhashini (Moderator):
Thank you all of you for your time
subhashini (Moderator):
Thanks Sudhakar
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Thanks Very Much All, Please fell free to shoot me your questions
subhashini (Moderator):
The next webchat is scheduled on dec 22'nd
subhashini (Moderator):
BizTalk Server 2004: An Introduction to Developers
One of the innovations in the software segment for application development
is the BizTalk® Server, which is the Microsoft® Business
Process Management/Enterprise Application Integration platform that
embodies the SOA paradigm.
Learn more about the BizTalk server on the following:
What is BizTalk Server 2004?
Architecture
BizTalk Server & Visual Studio.NET 2003
BizTalk Server & EAI
Chat Expert: Naveen KS (MVP )
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
I will be doing few posts on my blog on the same, watch the space
Sudhakar[MVP] (Expert):
Bye Folks
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