Winter Scripting Games: Profiles in Perfection
Mike Holden
As part of the 2007 Winter Scripting Games the Script Center is profiling competitors who recorded a perfect score in the 2007 Scripting Games. Here, in his own words, is a little something about Mike Holden, who received a perfect score in the VBScript Advanced Division as well perfect scores in both the Windows PowerShell Beginners and Advanced divisions.
Check out more Profiles in Perfection from the 2007 Scripting Games.
Mike Holden
I'm an IT consultant, working in a small consultancy in the UK (www.cardium.co.uk).
We're a Microsoft Gold partner, where each of us has specialties, mine being SQL Server DBA skills as well as the crafting of code to solve various solutions in the language and environment appropriate (e.g., VBScript, ASP.NET, batch, etc.) The advantage to a small consultancy like ours is that everyone instantly knows who is best suited to solve a particular problem using their area of expertise.
I've been writing VBScript and other code for many years now, from logon scripts for large corporations (which can get very big), to 10-liners for one-off specific system admin tasks.
Outside of work, I'm married to Janette and have two teenage children, Daniel and Rebecca. I enjoy running, having competed in the 2007 Great North Run, and am planning on learning to fly microlight aircraft this year. I also (I think I mentioned this last year) have a small apartment in Turkey which helps provide holidays for the family.
I enjoy a skiing trip once a year (see the picture), the most recent was to Andorra, which was very enjoyable. In fact, in honor of this, I'm going to compete for Andorra in this year's Scripting Games!
Scripting tips
| • | Get a good, language-aware script editor/development tool. You can only do so much in Notepad before it fries your brain! I'm particularly pleased the Scripting Guys are offering PrimalScript as part of the prize pot this year; it's my tool of choice and I must say, it's a belter. You can't beat a tool that knows what you're trying to type and helps you with it! |
| • | If you're unsure about the exact way a function works (as I often am), write a couple of lines of script to test it out. It won't take long (even using Notepad), and you can guarantee that the function will then provide the results you're expecting in your larger script. |
| • | Consult TechNet, and particularly the Script Center, when looking for script solutions to problems. If I hit an issue with something I'm unsure about I'll do a general search for the issue, but always check out the links to Microsoft sites which the search returns first. (I'm not just saying this because we're a Microsoft Gold partner either!) |
| • | VBScript isn't confined to administering and providing information about domains. I've used it to manage SQL Server installations, Citrix farms, etc. You'd be amazed at the number of third-party apps which provide good, documented SDKs and APIs. |
| • | Stand-alone scripts aren't always the best option. I've had script code buried in spreadsheets to make managing large numbers of users/groups easier, for example. (This isn't really news; people who script are likely to be aware of VBA!) Also, if less-technical users are going to use your scripts, an HTA can help with making input easier and nicely formatting output. People just seem happier these days dealing with a GUI! |
