Programming in different languages is not an easy process, often getting confused at which syntax to use.  There are many online code converters

I’ve been using LINQ to SQL for some time, and each time I come back to the same example, so it’s about time I shared the example:

      //  Create a DataContext.
      Northwind db = new Northwind();

      //  Retrieve customer LAZYK.
      Customer cust = (from c in db.Customers
                       where c.CustomerID == “LAZYK”
                       select c).Single<Customer>();

      //  Update the contact name.
      cust.ContactName = “John Smith”;

      try
      {
        //  Save the changes.
        db.SubmitChanges();
      }

      //  Detect concurrency conflicts.
      catch (ChangeConflictException)
      {
        //  Resolve conflicts.
        db.ChangeConflicts.ResolveAll(RefreshMode.KeepChanges);
      }

Microsoft have release the January CTP edition of the Windows Azure Tools and SDK Kit

Windows Azure Software Development Kit (January 2009 CTP)

Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio January 2009 CTP

These newly released SDK and Tools include:

• Bug and performance fixes
• Improved integration with Visual Studio
• Performance improvements with execution and debugging scenarios
• Improvements to Storage Client and ASP.Net provider samples
• Added support to debug Silverlight in a web role

Following all the hype at PDC last year, Microsoft have not released Windows 7 Beta, download

Cut to the chase and go directly to the download

I’ve also managed to download a copy and place it on my server, but you’ll need a username and password to get the ISO file.

Microsoft has released BizSpark, produced for the new start up development businesses that need to get going with all the latests technology.  Providing the software, support and visibility required for a small business.

http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/Default/

What are you waiting for?

Another method for aquiring the latest technology is through the Microsoft Partner Programme, which provides all the software you need to start selling Microsoft products for just £199, it does not however include any development tools.

It’s nice to know who and when people are logging on to your servers, here is a very simple way of recording someone logging on and logging off the server

Create a file called:

logon.cmd

echo logon %username% %computername% %date% %time% >> “C:\logon.log”

logoff.cmd

echo logoff %username% %computername% %date% %time% >> “C:\logon.log”

Update ther Group Policy, via gpedit.msc  

User Configuration-> Windows Settings-> Scripts (Logon/Logoff)-> Logon
User Configuration-> Windows Settings-> Scripts (Logon/Logoff)-> Logoff

When the users log on and off a log file will be updated