5 comments about Microsoft Visual Sourcesafe 6.0 CD.

1. Source control is critical, and for small scale operations this app works great. Occasionally there's some db corruption, but in general you should do alright. But it really doesn't scale, lacks many features, and hasn't had any significant feature additions, or development effort in years. Sometimes I think there are no developers currently working on this app at all. There's got to be a better way.



2. If all you ever want of your revison-control software is ``check-in'' and ``get latest version'', then perhaps this is the tool for you.

   If you want to have branching for separate development paths, tools for merging contributions from separate sources, and abilities to affix attributes and labels in non-trivial ways then you are out of luck. To get these features, try ClearCase by Rational Software.

   There is no comparison with the config-spec methadology of ClearCase, which allows one to specify exactly which file/directory elements are assembled into your ``view''.

   If Microsoft truely believed in their product Visual SourceSafe, then wouldn't they use it themselves? No. They use ClearCase.
   QED.




3. Source Code Management, no doubt, is a vital part of any development shop. Any team based development effort needs a centralized repository in which to store their work.

   That being said, I would implore you to choose another product - such as the open source CVS (which can hook into VS.net with the right plug-ins).

   VSS is a buggy, unreliable, unbearably slow...and fundamentally unuseable product. This is *not* the sort of system you should use hold vital data that ammounts to months and months of hard work.

   For your sanity and your time, DO NOT buy this product. As each version seems to bring very little in the way of rethinking this disaster, Microsoft has made it very clear that they could care less about source control.

   (by the way, MS doesn't even use this product in-house).




4. (...) Microsoft does in fact use VSS in-house for their production. I know this, because I worked there.
   VSS is an excellent program to use as long as you have the staff (which any decent IT department should have) with the know-how to use it. We didn't have any problems incorporating it into part of our daily routine, and we used it to produce the entire Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit, both online and print versions. We also used it for Windows 2000 Help, and we used it for the Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit as well.
   Since moving on from Microsoft, I've found other such production tools to be clunky, and I heartily recommend VSS. Obviously you need someone in your IT department to have the know-how to implement it, but that's the same with *any* such software program. The time and money you save by eliminating human error in the writing and editing process for any style of development is huge, and VSS is absolutely indispensable for professional-level development of product. Once you get everyone accustomed to using it, it becomes second nature and a seamless part of the normal production process.



5. As a CM on a project using Visual SourceSafe I speak wth first hand knowledge when I tell you it is very limited. For a small project it is sufficient as long as your manager doesn't start asking for multiple labels, all types of history queries, multiple views, et cetera. Otherwise you will be spending all your time writing scripts to fill in the holes this product leaves. The other annoying problem is documentation. Not only did Microsoft force you to print all the help, very few other publishers have put anything out on it. "Real World Software Configuration Management" and a couple others have been helpful, but I put together my own manual and tools from some good info at some Forums.
   
   Look hard at RCS or ClearCase before buying this one. We had SourceSafe inhouse so they wanted to use it. I point out the limitations, but I will say it is fairly easy to use and with no more than 4 GB database. It runs relatively error free and is easy to fix with Analyze if you run into problems. Pricewise it is decent, but it lacks the features and support you may find your project wanting. If you have a small database, don't mind writing some scripts, and want to keep cost down, then this may suit your needs.

1 comments about Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 2005.

1. Fast delivery as promised, product for as great price. Will use again.

5 comments about Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Standard 2003.

1. This program installed easily and works good. Saved me from setting in a computer lab at school for hours at a time.



2. Good book. Good software that came with the book.
   dtpEndDate.MaxDate = Today



3. The product installs and runs easily. When attempting to register the product, the page was not found. Presumably they are readying for the 2005 verson. The MSDN Library "help" files are exhaustive, but that makes it difficult to find information specific to Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Standard 2003. At times it is quicker to use an on-line search.



4. We were unable to locate or open the example programs.



5. Visual Basic is very easy to learn and use.
   It's one of the most popular programming language.
   
   I learned it from zero using a second hand book from a local store and I manage to program a simple paycheck calculator for my friend's small business.

No comments about Microsoft Access 2000.

5 comments about Microsoft Visual Basic Deluxe Learning Edition Version 5.0.

1. If you are a poweruser looking into programming, Visual Basic is the best language for you to start in. This "book/kit" contains everything you will need, however it is designed more for those who want to learn how to program, not those who already know another langauge and want to just learn Visual Basic.



2. The self-paced training manual clearly defines a solid understanding of the way Visual Basic works. By the time you finish this book you will be ready to tackle more advanced topics with confidence. This is an excellent choice for people with no programming experience as well as those of us with experience and/or formal training in other languages.



3. Excellent book - the practicality and teaching methods of this book are second to none. I had no prior experience of Visual Basic and after using this pack I'm confident of my vb abilities. Great job Michael. However, one question, where do I go from here ?. I want to learn more so have you an intermediate book at all ?



4. FINALLY! Someone gets it right. Being a Computer Engineer and programming expert, I was concerned about buying a package to learn Visual Basic. When learning other languages, I usually found it easy to just learn by crunching code, using only references. I am shocked at how affective this package is. It contains everything you need. Four CD's with help files, Visual Basic 6.0 (without all of the professional features) and 1.1GB of information by the Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN). One of the books included in this kit is a step by step approach to programming in Visual Basic. Although the book was written for the beginner, I have found it very interesting. It is a good book because it allows both novice and advanced users to learn at their own pace, without getting bored. The other book is the programmer's guide that accompanies the professional and enterprise versions of Visual Basic. This book is an excellent supplement, once one has finished the step by step manual.



5. dear sir i would like to have the fundemental book which is with examples like object+usage+1 example that IS for all objects if u have any book like this for VB 6.0 OR VB 5.0 let me know immeately i will buy it surely. please send me the NAME AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK AND ADDRESS WHERE I CAN GET IT FROM

5 comments about Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2005 [OLD VERSION].

1. I've used development environments as diverse as the LISP environment on dedicated Symbolics machines, Smalltalk, Centerline C++ on Sun,Borland's C++ IDE in the early 90s, and Borland's Delphi. After working extensively in Delphi for years for both Windows and Web applications, I switched to Visual Studio for Web Development in 2003. I can say without a doubt that Visual Studio 2005 is the most productive environment in existence.
   
   Everything about this environment save one thing (more below) is extremely well done. Some highlights in no particular order:
   
   * The Intellisense tools are smooth and very quick (especially compared with Delphi)
   * The project model is clean, simple and easy to modify (just copy files).
   * Preparing a web site for distribution or upload is ridiculously easy
   * C# is easily the most productive language available for general business development (I once mentored C++ for new developers at Bell Labs and have written my own Smalltalk environment so I don't say this lightly)
   * Microsoft has made enormous strides in making web development as easy as VB's original drag and drop model
   * The environment is easy to customize with macros, etc. and features a stellar array of productivity-enhancing features (outlining, refactoring, snippets, etc.)
   * There is a broad selection of third-party tools that integration with Visual Studio.
   
   Now, for all of its advantages, the one area where they could stand significant improvement is in the help system. For example, the help screens for most environment objects is essentially nothing more than the inheritance tree. It does essentially nothing to educate you about *how* a feature is used. This has been a problem for Microsoft for years and, unfortunately, VS 2005 has done nothing to improve the situation. Thus, you will want to have lots of web and/or written resources on hand when developing.
   
   I cannot comment on the team development features as I work alone on the software sold by my company.
   
   In balance, I've simply never seen a better development environment.



2. I was impressed by the improvements made in Visual Studio 2005 over its predecessors. I have found C# support to be quite good, and web development sees to be also one of the best ones that I've tried.
   
   However, for Java, C, and C++ development, it is light years behind its competitors. I have had excellent success with Eclipse for these three languages -- although Eclipse has not been that great with C# support. Regardless, I have found that Eclipse does put VS to shame in some of the most basic developer tasks, and I find that my hand motions are much more pronounced when I develop in VS (more clicking, etc.)
   
   Overall, VS is still a nice product, although I am starting to question whether it's really worth all that money for C, C++ development.



3. WOW, can't believe all the enhancements from VS2003! If you are a MicroSoft developer then this is the product for you.



4. As usual, Microsoft has released an unbelievably buggy, product that wants to force you to start all your work from scratch, even after the release of the first service pack. Trying to convert ANY project created with Visual Studio 2003 will result in a myriad of problems:
   1) Forms that won't load and present with various cryptic messages with no specifics;
   2) Random crashes that cause VS to close mysteriously
   3) Applications that will appear to run then at some point come up with errors claiming that you may have corrupted memory.
   etc.
   
   I admit that I have not started a brand new major project since all the issues on old projects failed in one way or another.



5. VS2005 is the best tool ever. i'm using it with Windows XP. and my applications are maily Database applications and Graphics. i program in C++ Win32 Applications , Dot Net(also C++). the performance is amazing. I faced only one problem when connecting to Oracle via Instant Client 10. and read more than one line in GetString(); i dont know is this MS or Oracle Bug or my own . at this point, the debug message does not give a moderate programmer a clue where is the real problem. but still i use MS 2005 on Daily bases and i love the performance and appearance and its compatibilty with all other applications/libraries. it is fun

1 comments about Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Professional Full Version.

1. I can't even rate this product. it took forever to get to me and it just came in cd case nothing else. not happy

1 comments about Filemaker Pro 9 Advanced.

1. Easy to learn. What I realy like is being to use the final database on my Mac desk top and on my Thinkpad. It is very easy to use on database on both operating systems.

2 comments about Filemaker Pro 9 Upgrade.

1. I've never used FileMaker Pro until I started working at my current job. They started off with FM3 and I came in under FM6 then upgraded to FM7. We now got FM9 and wow, what a difference! I'm working on the conversion from FM7 to 9 (there is really no need to convert your prior databses, I'm just adding features) and already it's looking better! Conditional formatting is a lifesaver...I have certain fields go "RED" when they are missing something that the DB user needs to see. Then for some fields I have blue or red text to indicate active or some sort of inactive status.
   
   Further is the existing tab control and web viewer. Beautiful things you can impliment. Since we use some mandatory 'webware', I can have my DB users access from within our database so they can do what they need to do there while viewing the record (instead of toggling back and forth).
   
   Let's not forget the export to PDF feature has been advanced to allow multiple reports/PDFs to be put together. Perfect!
   
   I'd love to do the SQL import/connection but it's not allowed, but I'm sure this is a super feature for anyone who wants to have one super easy to use database.
   
   FileMaker Pro is simply awesome...I was able to get a database completed in under 24 hours that was taking the place I worked for over 3 years in planning and meetings. Although it could never be the final solution (since we max out at the time 5 concurrent users and we needed unlimited), it got the job done. That's the power of FM...allowing the USERs (not IT) to get their databases up and running and the flexibility to modify as needed without IT involvement. Now IT can always be involved when you want to get complex, etc. But the power to build your own database for any project is there (I've done it for several).
   
   If you are using FM7 or below, this is a no brainer upgrade. For those with 8, it is a recommended upgrade. For those with 8.5 it's your call. The new features make it worth it and the upgrade pricing should meet everyone's budget.
   
   If you wan to do more with FileMaker databases, however, look for FileMaker Advanced (formerly known as 'Devloper' prior to version 8+). Upgrade: Filemaker Pro 9 Advanced Upgrade or Full:Filemaker Pro 9 Advanced



2. I have had Filemaker Pro 6 for years on my Mac. Use it daily. Never upgraded, but now needed new DB features, and was told by my programmer friend to get the new one. So, I bought the upgrade. It's fine except that you can't convert files from 6, because they changed the platform--something I found out after the fact, of course. My problem is that there was no warning that upgrading wasn't the right thing to do, that I should have bought new. I ended up having to upgrade the upgrade before opening it--for another $120, and with a bunch of rigamarole that included strings of ID letters/numbers longer than my arm. Just plain a hassle. The company should have clear policies on what CAN be upgraded, and not put people through this.

No comments about Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional with MSDN Premium.