Agile, Scrum webcasts to join

Agile.org has some create webcasts on subjects concerning Agile, Scrum. You can either sign up to them or go to the archive listing. Couple of interest are:

Agile Practices in a Traditional Organization

Adopting Test-First Development

Release Duration and Enterprise Agility

On May 15th is Agile and Quality: It is not an Oxymoron but a Necessity

Click here to check out the public webcast series.

Testa Smile

Microsoft seeing work item history made easier

Dave Lloyd has updated GetHistory a power tool for displaying work item history. Now you can export the work item history to excel. If your company has a audit process that has to be followed this tool may help you report on changes to requirements, test cases, bugs in just a few steps.

Click Get History to get the newest version. Keep your eye out on this tool you never know what features Dave may add!

Testa Smile

ObjectSharp At the Movies … May 1st, 2012 9am to Noon

Here is what you will see and hear from ObjectSharp's Microsoft MVPs at this event:

Metro (Win 8 + Mobile)

The Metro interface has the potential to change how a lot of people use computers. You've already seen a little of it in the Windows Phone. More if you have downloaded the Windows 8 consumer preview. In this session, we will demonstrate how the power exposed by Metro (through live tiles, push notifications, immersive user experiences, etc.) can be harnessed to provide a usable and intuitive application.

VS 11/.NET 4.5

We're still a few months away from its release, but the beta version of Visual Studio 11 and .NET 4.5 is available and with a Go-Live license too. With Visual Studio, reduction and simplification are the keywords. For .NET, assistance with parallelism this session is the big topic. Between these and other topics, the tools that will make your development life easier are covered.

TFS 2012/Test Manager 2012

The word in the TFS/Test manager world for 2012 is "Agile". Lightweight requirements gathering through PowerPoint Storyboarding. Additional reporting, including a task board, in TFS and exploratory/agile testing through Test Manager. Lots of new features to delve into and they will be in this session.

Check out all about it here.

Testa Smile

Create Reports for TFS2010 Test Results

Check out instructions on how to create reports for your TFS2010 Test Results. There is also an example that you can follow.

Testa Smile

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Test Vs. QTP

Karthik K.K has posted on LinkedIn (click to see) a chart that compares the features of Visual Studio & Test Manager to Quick Test Professional (QTP).

I like the last item:

Visual Studio 2010 Test QTP Who’s Best
VSTS is cheaper and can be used for both development & testing. QTP is costlier and can be used ONLY for testing. VSTS

VSTS can also be used by Business Analyst, Project Managers, and Stakeholders. It can assist teams being Agile or Scrum or Waterfall thru a process template. The process template can be customized to meet your company need. VSTS reports on all aspects of a project and can tell you at any time where in the project you are at, the quality of the project to date, the status of your requirements/user stories. You can have a “Requirement to Test Matrix” in seconds at anytime.

If this alone has got your attention and you want to know more contact me directly.

Testa Smile

Windows 8 Camps coming…

What is a Windows 8 Camp?

A Windows 8 Camp is a free, two-day event. During the Camp, you’ll discover HANDS-ON how to build your first Metro Style App for Windows 8. You’ll learn from experts in a low-key, interactive way and apply what you’ve learned with support from Microsoft Canada.

How do I register? Click below for the city nearest you.

o Toronto – May 22nd to June 1st, Microsoft Downtown Toronto Office

o Montreal – June 4th to June 8th, Microsoft Downtown Montreal Office

o Vancouver – June 11th to June 22nd, Microsoft Downtown Vancouver Office

Where can I find Windows 8 resources?

 

· A Cornucopia of Windows 8 Goodness

· Windows 8 Consumer Preview

· Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Developers

· Windows Dev Center

· Visual Studio 11 Beta

Testa Smile

Toronto VS ALM User Group kick off meeting April 12th

The first Toronto VS ALM User Group kick off meeting is being held on April 12th @6:30pm sign up at TALMUG to get the details and register.

The User Group is for all roles within the Application Life Management team. Topics presented will vary from generic ALM practices to ALM with Visual Studio. If your involved in product management, a stakeholder, a business analysis or product owner, a developer or a tester this User Group is for you.

The goal of the first meeting will be to:

  • Define the group’s mission
  • Select an appropriate name
  • Document the roles of the executive
  • Recruit volunteers
  • Funding
  • Discuss how to reach out for sponsors
  • Discuss meeting locations
  • Discuss ideas for the first few meeting topics

Come out on April 12th and help us to kick-off this new user group code named TALMUG.

Testa Smile

Agile book pre order deal – Software in 30 Days

New Agile book by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland can be pre-ordered at Amazon for a great discounted price.

About the book from Amazon:

A radical approach to getting IT projects done faster and cheaper than anyone thinks possible

Software in 30 Days summarizes the Agile and Scrum software development method, which allows creation of game-changing software, in just 30 days. Projects that use it are three times more successful than those that don't. Software in 30 Days is for the business manager, the entrepreneur, the product development manager, or IT manager who wants to develop software better and faster than they now believe possible. Learn how this unorthodox process works, how to get started, and how to succeed. Control risk, manage projects, and have your people succeed with simple but profound shifts in the thinking.

The authors explain powerful concepts such as the art of the possible, bottom-up intelligence, and why it's good to fail early—all with no risk greater than thirty days.

I highly recommend reading this book.

Testa Smile

 

SharePoint 2010 Performance Testing Tips and Tricks

On Wednesday, January 25th I will be doing a session on Performance Testing SharePoint 2010.  This free session is online with a 20 minute presentation and demo and then Q & A starting at 12:25pm. Join us if you are available and can attend. Contact Denise Faustino for information on how to log into the session.

Denise's contact info.

Email dfaustino@objectsharp.com

Toll Free: 1-877-So-Sharp

Local: 416-649-3690

Testa Smile

Microsoft Blogs – Canadian Solution Developer

If you are reading this blog you should check out bloggers, Susan Ibach and Jonathan Rozenblit. Microsoft developer evangelist who are the resident bloggers at Canadian Solution Developer. Susan and Jonathan are posting some very informative information on ALM, TFS, Visual Studio, testing, events coming, events happening now and in the past.

The most recent blog is about LinkedIn with some great tips on setting up a professional profile. What not to do and what is important to do. Click the link below to see what they have to say.

Microsoft Canadian Solution Developer blog

Testa Smile