Varad, The .NET Guy!

Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) is a technology that eliminates the mismatch among different data domains.  With LINQ, there is no need to learn separate query syntaxes when querying over diverse data domains such as XML, Relational and Objects.

Check out the MSDN Channel9 Session on LINQ.

More information is available at The LINQ project site.

Blinq is one of the exciting tool for ASP.NET and SQL. Looks like its better use Blinq for creating Admin modules to manage the Master Tables in an application database. Its very simple to create web pages without any code and it all happens just linking the SQL Database to the tool. Wonderful!

ScottGu's excellent blog post on Using LINQ with ASP.NET Part I and Part II is worth a read and practice.

James has just posted these links. Keeping it here for self reference [I]

• Microsoft .NET 3.0 MSDN Site 
• Download .NET 3.0
• .NET Framework 3.0 FAQ
• Whitepaper (Deploying Microsoft .NET Framework Version 3.0)

And here are some additions

• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Community
• Clearing the confusion

Today's HOT Topic in .NET Blogsphere is that TestDriven.NET of Jamie goes commercial.

We have been using his TD.NET extensively in most of our projects and are amazed with its features. It is AWESOME!

Read more here TestDriven.NET Enterprise & Professional

I will go for the personal edition quickly and need to follow-up with my BOSS on getting the Enterprise version :)

I still remember the day Jamie helped us (over mail) on resolving an issue we had with NUnit & NCover while generating a coverage report. We always appreciate his time in bringing this product a remarkable one among all .NET Developers!

Thanks a lot to Jamie. All the very best to TD.NET Commercial Versions!

Microsoft Launches CodePlex, Vehicle for Sharing Source Code.

Read more here

Just for self!

To execute an Oracle stored procedure in a package that returns a refcursor follow the below command:

SQL> set num 2
SQL> set linesize 1500
SQL> var refc refcursor
SQL> exec pkg_report.sp_get_bdg_clnt_grd_smry_det(2899, :refc);

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

To print the executed results, use the below command:

SQL> print refc

 

This recent article on July'06 MSDN Magazine details about the features of ASP.NET ATLAS. The detailed explanation on overview, Atlas architecture and usage of Atlas with web services is very informative for all developers. Thanks to Matt for this great article!

Also check out ScottGu's blog for more information and useful posts on Atlas. Its worth to subscribe/bookmark the Atlas tag of his blog.

There are many stuffs about Atlas at Nikhils blog as well. All good set of resources for ASP.NET developers!!

Today's HOT News is that Bill Gates is stepping down from its day to day job activities and going to concentrate/involve more on his Gates Foundation..

Read more here > Microsoft Announces Plans for July 2008 Transition for Bill Gates

Big news from Bill G > View the video

The Man behind Microsoft is now going to serve for Humanity! All the very best Bill!

I am very much happy to see a white paper / success story of Satyam Computer Services (my previous company, I can say my Parent Company!) about implementing Enterprise Library in delivering a complex system for CheckFree.

Read the complete story here patterns & practices Partners: Satyam

I had a good time working for Satyam (5 yrs) in Microsoft Solutions Group :)

Its definitely a wonderful news for all Microsoft Developers. Microsoft has decided to make all Visual Studio Express Editions permanently FREE of cost.

From Scott Gu

Find the announcement by Somasegar

_{“Software has the potential to transform everyday lives. By making the Visual Studio 2005 Express editions available free of charge, we’re putting the power of programming into the hands of an exploding community of recreational programmers,” said S. Somasegar, corporate vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft. “This community has asked for it, and we are excited to provide it.”}

Get the core Visual Studio 2005 Express here