by stephen-w-thomas | Nov 30, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
I have another copy of my book “Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform” to give away. The book is a $60 value and I will cover the shipping costs to the winner any place in the world as long as the US Postal Service ships there.
| Contest #2 – What is missing in BizTalk Server 2010? What feature, concept, UI update, or tooling would make BizTalk a stronger, more robust, simpler, or easier product to work with? |
As a special bonus, I was able to get the book signed by co-author Richard Seroter. So someday when he becomes Microsoft CEO maybe this will be worth some money :).
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How to Enter:
Simply add a comment to this blog post with your idea to enter! Ensure you are a registered BizTalkGurus.com member so I know your email address if you win OR send an email to [email protected] with your idea. Please ensure you see your comment show up on this blog. Due to spam blocker and caching – it might take up to 24 hours. If all else fails, just send me an email.
Entries must be received by 11 PM CST Tuesday, December 7th. The winner will be announced a few days later.
Of course if you do not win a free copy of the book – the book is available on Amazon.com and PacktPub.com.
Looking for more information on our book? Read a sample chapter online Chapter 12 Debatching Bulk Data or watch The Story Behind The Book on YouTube.
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Congratulations to Rohit Sharma who won the Best Pattern Contest a few weeks ago!
Best of luck!
by stephen-w-thomas | Oct 26, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
If you consider yourself a hard core BizTalk Developer, then this session is for you!
A few weeks ago I presented a session on Server AppFabric to the BizTalk User Group in Sweden. This session was geared to showing how similar Workflow 4.0 and AppFabric are to BizTalk – conceptually at least. The goal of this session was to show how us BizTalk guys and gals can quickly pick up Workflow 4 and AppFabric because we already understand the concepts.
I would highly recommend this 60 minute session to all fellow BizTalkers out there!
This session is available on Channel 9 – http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/MSCOMSWE/Tech-Overview-WCFWF-Server-AppFabric-BizTalk-Conference-Stockholm
The code and slides are available for download at https://www.biztalkgurus.com/media/p/29973.aspx.
At the same conference, I gave a session which covered Windows Azure Platform AppFabric. This 30 minute session covers a real-world service bus solution and a walk through of the code behind the solution. It is available at http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/MSCOMSWE/Pattern-5–Remote-Message-Broadcast-BizTalk-Conference-Stockholm and the code and slides can be downloaded at https://www.biztalkgurus.com/media/p/29975.aspx.
If you are looking for other sessions from the multi-day conference in Sweden, below is a full list. We covered a wide-range of technologies from AppFabric to StreamInsight.
Day 1 (Sessions from September 8th, 2010)
Welcome and Introduction
Choosing The Right Tool in the Application Platform
Discuss the challenge of choosing the right technology for a given situation and present a decision framework for guiding evaluation.
Tech Overview: SQL Server
Look at the core components of SQL Server that are used to build applications (e.g. SSIS) and when to use them.
Tech Overview: BizTalk Server
Discuss what BizTalk is and when to use it.
Tech Overview: WCF/WF, Server AppFabric
Highlight key capabilities in WCF and WF and benefits offered by Windows Server AppFabric.
Tech Overview: Windows Azure Platform
Discuss Microsoft’s cloud offering and best usage scenarios.
Pattern #1 – Simple Workflow
Evaluate scenario that involves aggregating data from multiple sources and presenting a unified response.
Day 2 (Sessions from September 9th, 2010)
Pattern #2 – Content Based Routing
Consider options for effectively transmitting data to multiple systems that perform similar functions.
Pattern #3 – Human Workflow with Repair and Resubmit
Showcase using workflow 3.5 to send customer details to an AppFabric hosted workflow 4.0 Workflow Service. This workflow service controls the payment collection process and allows for updated information on a user to be sent back into the same running workflow instance from SharePoint.
Pattern #4 – Cross Organization Supply Chain
Evaluate how to build a supply chain to integrate systems in a PO scenario.
Pattern #5 – Remote Message Broadcast
Demonstrates a scenario where a traditional polling solution is augmented to support real-time updates.
Pattern #6 – Complex Event Processing
Addresses click stream analysis and creating actionable events from user and system behavior.
by stephen-w-thomas | Oct 25, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
Packt Publishing has given me a few copies of my book “Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform” to give away on BizTalkGurus.com. Over the next few weeks, I am going to have a few contests. The book is a $60 value and I will cover the shipping costs to the winner anyplace in the world as long as the US Postal Service ships there.
| Contest #1 – Below are the architectural patterns covered in our book. We started with a much larger list and cut it down to what we thought were the top 13 used in the enterprise. Besides the 13 listed below, what is another pattern commonly used in the enterprise? |
How to Enter:
Simply add a comment to this blog post with your pattern idea to enter! Ensure you are a registered BizTalkGurus.com member so I know your email address if you win OR send an email to [email protected] after you post your pattern. Please ensure you see your pattern show up as a comment on this blog. Due to spam blocker and caching – it might take up to 24 hours. If all else fails, just send me an email.
Entries must be received by 11 PM Monday November 1st Central Standard Time. The winner will be announced a few days later.
The fellow authors and I will review the suggested patterns and what we determine to be the “best missing enterprise pattern” will win a free copy of our book. Who knows, you might even see it written up later on if we release an update to the book.
Included Patterns
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Simple Workflow. Covers a use case that involves aggregating data from multiple sources and presenting a unified response.
Content Based Routing. Looks at how to effectively transmit data to multiple systems that perform similar functions.
Publish-Subscribe. Addresses a scenario where a message must be reliably sent to multiple endpoints.
Repair/Resubmit with Human Workflow. Builds a process for easy human interaction with failed messages inside a system.
Remote Message Broadcasting. Demonstrates a scenario where a traditional polling solution is augmented to support real-time updates.
Debatching Bulk Data. Explains how to take giant sets of data and insert them into databases for analysis.
Complex Event Processing. Addresses click stream analysis and creating actionable events.
Cross-Organizational Supply Chain. Demonstrates how to build a supply chain to integrate systems in a PO scenario.
Multiple Master Synchronization. Covers methods for arriving at a single version of truth from multiple, often conflicting master data sources.
Rapid Flexible Scalability. Looks at creating temporary environments that can be easily created and deleted as needed.
Low Latency Request-Reply. Contains a retail scenario where high performing query services are established.
Handling Large Session and Reference Data. Discusses usage of distributed caching to scale large workloads in web applications.
Site Load Burst and Failover. Looks at leveraging Windows Azure platform elastic resources and high SLA for building a low TCO solution.
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Best of luck! Of course if you do not win a free copy of the book – the book is available on Amazon.com and PacktPub.com.
Looking for more information on our book? Read a sample chapter online Chapter 12 Debatching Bulk Data or watch The Story Behind The Book on YouTube.
by stephen-w-thomas | Oct 13, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
I have posted online all the sample code from my book, “Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform”. You can download it at https://www.biztalkgurus.com/media/p/30260.aspx. This code contains various samples using BizTalk, BizTalk ESB Toolkit, Server AppFabric, SharePoint 2010, .Net 4.0 Workflow, SQL, Stream Insight, Azure, SQL Azure, Platform AppFabric Service Bus, Server AppFabric Caching, and more. Of course, you will get the most benefit of this code using it alongside with the chapter of the book that walks through it.
The book is available now on Amazon.com and PacktPub.com.
Thanks to our friends in Sweden we now have a Commercial for our book! I have not seen many commercials for Technology books, but this video gives some context of the “why” behind our book. You get to hear from Richard, Ewan, and myself about why we wrote the book and why we picked to release the book at the European BizTalk Conference in Stockholm, Sweden to a room full of top notch, hard-core BizTalk people.
This video is available at https://www.biztalkgurus.com/media/p/30247.aspx and on YouTube.
If you are looking for more detailed information on the types of solutions covered in the book, I have put together a video walking through Chapter 10 – Repair and Resubmit with Human Workflow. This solution uses SharePoint 2010 to store customer information. This information is processed by a .Net 3.5 workflow that sends the data to a Server AppFabric hosted .Net 4.0 workflow service for processing.
This video is available at https://www.biztalkgurus.com/media/p/30249.aspx and on YouTube.
by stephen-w-thomas | Sep 29, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
I have an MSDN Subscription voucher to give away! The voucher is good for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate with MSDN subscription and will give you access to many Microsoft products for 1 year. This is a great benefit to anyone doing development and I believe it now includes monthly time on Azure and Platform AppFabric.
The software is good only for development and testing purposes and this subscription is Not For Resale.
I will be having a drawing for the voucher on Sunday, October 10th, 2010 at 10:00 PM CST.
How to enter:
- Ensure you do not already have an MSDN subscription – this will not do anything for you in that case
- Email, post to Facebook, or by any other means possible get me a picture or Link to a picture of yourself holding a copy of my new book – Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform or just a picture of the book will work as well. It must be clear this is a picture of the book and not a digital image of the cover.
- Email to <CONTEST CLOSED>
- If you already bought the book and have not received it yet – simply take a picture of the invoice or forward the invoice to the above email address.
- No purchase needed to enter. You do not have to buy the book – if you can find it in a book store or have a friend that owns it that works. If you can not find a physical copy of the book any place, simply take a picture of the book page on Amazon or Packt website and use that picture to enter.
- All entries may be posted to this website so keep that in mind when entering.
The winner will be announced on my blog shortly after the drawing and of course I’ll be posting the picture!
I will email the winner the Registration Key for the MSDN Subscription.
I will email the winner the Registration Key for the subscription. This is subject to all the Terms and Conditions of the MSDN Subscription that may have geographical restrictions or other limitation.
Want more information about the book? Read a Sample Chapter online at Chapter 12 Debatching Bulk Data or check out the book page on Amazon.com or Packt.
by stephen-w-thomas | Sep 20, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
In early September 2010, I got the honor to present three sessions on AppFabric and Workflow 4.0 to the BizTalk Users Group in Sweden at the European BizTalk Conference. While my sessions were not related to BizTalk, they are designed to show how easy it is for someone with BizTalk skills to learn AppFabric and Workflow 4.
I have posted the session slide decks and sample code (including the code generated from my 100% LIVE demo).
I did three sessions:
- Server AppFabric and Workflow 4.0 Overview – This includes some slides on AppFabric strengths and weakness compared to BizTalk and shows how simple it is to set up Correlation in Workflow 4.
- Server AppFabric with Human Workflow – This uses SharePoint 2010 and Workflow 3.5 with AppFabric and .Net 4 Workflow (Chapter 10 from my book) to allow data to be corrected and resubmitted to the same workflow process.
- Platform AppFabric with Remote Message Broadcasting – This talks about using Azure Platform AppFabric to broadcast messages through the Service Bus to destinations on numerous networks (Chapter 11 from my book).
The video recording of the sessions should be available soon and I’ll post the links once I have them.
by stephen-w-thomas | Sep 9, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
I am pleased to announce my book is now available for immediate delivery on Amazon.com!
The book is called “Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform” published by Packt Publishing.
This book is a detailed scenario-driven approach to architecting systems using Microsoft technologies covering BizTalk Server, .Net 4, AppFabric, Azure, SQL, and more. We dive into 13 real-life style scenarios and talk about various technology options available to solve the problem. One technology is selected for each scenario and a detailed walk-through it given.
The four other co-authors and I have been working on this book for nearly a year. We hope you enjoy it!
by stephen-w-thomas | Aug 30, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
I am pleased once again to be asked to present in Sweden by the Sweden BizTalk Server Users Group. This event is the “BizTalk Server 2010 Release Party” and will feature content and topics from my soon to be released book: Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform.
This is much more than just a simple presentation. This is a 2-day EVENT packed with great content from multiple speakers. I will be presenting alongside fellow co-authors Richard Seroter and Ewan Fairweather.
This event will be held in Stockholm, Sweden on September 8th and 9th. Full details are available at: http://bugs20100908.eventbrite.com/. The event is currently sold out but you can get added to a Waitlist.
We expect to have over 10 MVPs and over 40 people from outside Sweden in attendance!
I am looking forward to my second trip to Sweden and getting the opportunity to present to this group again.
Hope to see you in Sweden!
by stephen-w-thomas | Aug 2, 2010 | Stephen's BizTalk and Integration Blog
Looking back at some of my past blog posts, I realized it has been a long time since my last post. Wow – over 10 months to be exact. Let me give a little re-cap of what I have been doing in those 10 months.
- Went to India twice
- Went to United Arab Emirates twice
- Went on a month long trip to Australia and New Zealand
- Went on a weeklong trip to Thailand
- Visited London, Spain, Germany, Japan, Hungary, Hong Kong, China, and Greece
- Launched two major eCommerce Websites and numerous major marketing sites (working on the backend BizTalk pieces of course)
- Worked countless 80+ hour weeks
- Completed my first book
Yes you read the list correct! From the person who brings you grammar and spelling error-filled blog posts, I am pleased to announce I was a co-author of a book along with four others (Richard Seroter, Ewan Fairweather, Rama Ramani, and Mike Sexton). The book is called “Applied Architecture Patterns on the Microsoft Platform” published by Packt Publishing.
This book covers 13 Enterprise scenarios like Remote Message Broadcasting and Multiple Master Synchronization. For each scenario we review various Microsoft Technologies that can be used to solve the problem. We analyze the scenario based on a defined set of business requirements and a decision framework to arrive at one final architecture. That final architecture is outlined step-by-step and sample code is provided. The book also contains a brief primer on covered technologies.
This book shows the following technologies in a real-life scenario: Windows Azure Platform, Windows Azure platform AppFabric, Windows Server AppFabric – Caching (Velocity), Windows Server AppFabric – Service & Workflow Management (Dublin), StreamInsight, SQL, BizTalk Server 2010 (including the Service Bus), .Net 4.0 Workflow Services, and more.
We have set up a website dedicated to the book: http://appliedarchitecturepatterns.com/
Be one of the first to get the book by Pre-Ordering the book now at Amazon or directly from Packt. Packt has both a paper copy and eBook available with free shipping to numerous countries.
Look for more to come on my blog about the book, the chapters I worked on, how to download sample code (although it will not be very useful without the book), and videos of the scenarios I worked on.
