.Net

If you develop/configure for SharePoint and also use Stack Overflow (if not, go check it out!), support the cause of SharePoint Overflow: Happy supporting!

Visual Studio 2010 SP1 is now ready to be downloaded! MSDN subscribers can download it with their account, while others will have to wait until Thursday, March 10 to get it.

Happy updating!

Update: Here is the download link

When using Silverlight to develop web parts for SharePoint 2010, you might use the Silverlight Client Object Model to access SharePoint data. But what happens if you try to move out of the Silverlight web part and, for example, put Silverlight in a SharePoint dialog box? Answer: Unhandled Error in Silverlight Application Object reference not set to an instance of an object at ClientContext.Current.

The problem arises because the Silverlight web part injects the SharePoint context into the HTML object parameter for the proper functioning of the Client Object Model. Therefore, you need to inject the SharePoint site URLs where the Silverlight is currently displayed into the initParams (MS.SP.url):

If you ever develop applications for Windows Phone using location services, there is a GPS emulator that allows you to simulate movement and thus test your application without going outside with your phone.

Other “recipes” for Windows Phone.

The Orchard project recently released version 1.0 of their product. I had talked about it previously here, and I decided to install it again.

Installation

The installation is done via the Web Platform Installer and I also used Web Matrix on a virtual machine to do my tests. The installation is almost automatic and very pleasant. No need for obscure configuration.

Once installed, you just need to start the Orchard site with the Web Matrix interface to see the initial site configuration page (Site name, admin user, password, database). Again, it is very simple and intuitive.

I just came across the Microsoft Gadgeteer website while doing some research for La Machine.

Gadgeteer allows you to quickly create prototypes without necessarily knowing electronics, just plug in, write a few lines (in NETMF of course) and you’re done. You can see a full demonstration on the Channel 9 website (Included below).

<object data="data:application/x-silverlight-2," type="application/x-silverlight-2" width="512" height="288"> <param name="source" value="http://channel9.msdn.com/scripts/VideoPlayer.xap?v=3.2"> <param name="initParams" value="deferredLoad=true,duration=0,m=http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/ch9/6d32/4015d252-f215-4945-9d48-9e0901306d32/dotNetGadgeteer_ch9.wmv,autostart=false,autohide=true,showembed=true, thumbnail=http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/ch9/6d32/4015d252-f215-4945-9d48-9e0901306d32/dotNetGadgeteer_512_ch9.jpg, postid=0"> <param name="background" value="#00FFFFFF"> <a href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=124807" style="text-decoration: none;"> <img src="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=108181" alt="Get Microsoft Silverlight" style="border-style: none"> </a> </object>

For now, this product is still within Microsoft Research, but we could hope to see it commercialized by spring or summer 2011.

In a previous post, I mentioned that I had acquired a FEZ Domino. I then started the project of building a robotic platform from it and improving it over time. So here is the beginning of The Machine.

Components

I bought a few components from RobotShop to start the construction of The Machine:

• 4WD Arduino Development Platform from DFRobot. It includes 4 motors (4WD).
• The 2A Motor Controller Shield for Arduino from DFRobot. With 2 outputs for the motors.
• Some hardware pieces.
• Some wires.

I also used a Logitech Dual Action USB game controller to control the robot. The Fez Domino supports joysticks, keyboards, and mice, so no driver needed.

For those who are not aware, you can download the Visual Studio Async CTP to get a preview of what is coming in the asynchronous world! This is just the CTP version, so there may be changes between this version and the official release.

Also, visit Eric Lippert’s blog to learn more about the topic.

Pyxis 2 is an OS running on the .Net Micro Framework (NETMF). It can theoretically run on any NETMF platform, but it is currently configured only for GHI Electronics (Tinyclr.com) products.

To learn more, read the NETMF team blog or visit the official site. The code is available as open source at pyxis2.codeplex.com. Here is a video to whet your appetite:

Pyxis 2 Beta Released!

In the November edition of MSDN Magazine, Peter Gruenbaum explains how to write good reference documentation for APIs in his article titled “A Coder’s Guide to Writing API Documentation”.

My attention was particularly drawn to Figures 2 and 3, which explain how to comment while maintaining consistency throughout the API. I have reproduced them here:

Figure 2: Reference Documentation Style

Figure 3: Reference Documentation Example