.NET Framework and Mainframe Collide

Collisions generally have negative connotations, however in this case it is actually a good thing.

The mainframe world, all too often associated with legacy systems that exist in some dark corner of buildings continues to this day to provide the essential back bone for many corporations essential and business-critical applications. While some companies seek to migrate data out of mainframe investments into data bases such as Oracle, or often SQL Server there are plenty who'd rather leave these resources well alone and bring on stream more up to date interfaces to these data asources.

That said, development platforms such as Java and the .NET platform however enjoy the majority of developer focus today and resources such as DB2 z/OS and non relational mainframer esources such as VSAM, IMS and Adabas get left behind.

Our solution? Shadow for ADO.NET. Available for use with the Shadow z/Direct product line, DataDirect's mainframe integration software stack. We are very proud of the work we've done here, so let me call out some of the major features:

• Integration of mainframe DB2 and VSAM data
• 100% managed code provider
• Support for the .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 on 32-bit and 64-bit platforms
• Support for ADO.NET 2.0 Common Programming Model
• Runtime compatibility with Visual Studio
• Support for a Metadata Collections based on the ANSI SQL Information Schema specification as well as collections specific to CICS and VSAM
• Support for common methodologies used to manage auto-generated values

Hungry for more ? Check out the Shadow for ADO.NET for details.

Afterglow on tonight's BoF

A quick word of thanks for everyone's excellent participation on our BoF tonight. While I was nervous that 60 minutes would be a long time to fill, especially considering I was not allowed any slides, given how the conversation flowed across all sides of the room, it was a very useful and enjoyable 60 minutes. Some of the key take aways included...

• Entity Framework holds great promise, and but is not a catch all for everything....
• SQL is not dead (far from it). For critical apps where you have to maintain absolute control as to how your application performs and behaves, there is no substitue for keeping your hands on the controls.
• The Data Cloud hold great promise, but everyone is nervous as to the prospect of exposing any data source into an uncontrolled, unmanaged cloud. Lots of concerns as to the security and governence of this.

We'll do this all again next week for Tech Ed IT Pros.... and of course as I didn't bring enough t-shirts for everyone, so stop by our booth tomorrow where I will be handing out our very popular t's.

See you tonight @ N320 C

Looking forward to see everyone at tonight's BOF session at 7.45. We'll have some very unique give-aways for the best questions!

Tech Ed Day 1: Coming out party for ADO.NET Entity Framework

At this years Tech Ed - Developers, I think it is fair to say that this is the coming out part of the ADO.NET Entity Framework, and with good reason too. From the early days when I participated in numerous all day sessions in Building 35, Microsoft HQ, it is very gratifying to see so many of the concepts we were introduced to move from the white board notions to become tangible component of the .NET Framework. Bring on the GA release of this SP!

The insert to the left, courtesy of the Redmond Developer news does a nice job of breaking out the major features of the .NET Framework 3.5 Sp1, of the the ADO.NET Entity Framework is probably the leading feature. Described, I think accurately as the 'data-driven' release, I can already report than I have a number of good conversations with attendees who are looking to find out more about this technology.

Hungry for more ? If you are attending Tech Ed Devleopers, there are a few excellent venues that I'd recommend you make some time for. Thx to Elisa Flasko at Microsoft doing most of the hardwork for me:

• June 4th 2:45pm-4:00pm TCD2B Using LINQ, the ADO.NET Entity Framework and ADO.NET Data Services with third party databases by David Sceppa
  

• June 5th 10:15am-11:30am T7D80 Advanced Entity Framework: Take Charge of Object Services by Julie Lerman

• June 5th Noon-12:45pm TAC34 ADO.NET Data Services Deep Dive by Mike Flasko

You can see more of Elisa's excellent recommendations here.

Of course, I've talked about my BoF before on Wednesday night which is already generated some great interest, but we are also exhibiting through out the week, where we have some very unique give-aways (you won't be disappointed!) and of course I'll be happy to talk about how DataDirect Technologies plans to support the ADO.NET Entity Framework. Come see us at booth 1232 in the exhibition hall.

Virtualization bottle neck or opportunity?

My colleague, Mike Johnson exposes the underbelly of virtualization on tackles a topic that is become pervasive through the IT software stack. As with any new notion, virtualization is not a catch-all and while the benefits are quickly realizable, there are some important considerations especially when your virtualized stack has to interface will real world resource contentions. Full details in his article here.

TechEd Developers 2008

Early reports from DotNet Connections experiences at TechEd 2008 indicates a bumpy start. Apparently I have no hotel for this evening and will be staying the in the glorious 'Quality Inn' as my original reservation at the Rosen Plaza does not kick in until Monday.

Otherwise, what looks like a very interesting week ahead. I'll post when time/battery power allows.