What would otherwise be hosted in a packed convention center in downtown Seattle filled with flash, hype, and grand statements on technology, Microsoft's annual tech convention took a different approach this year. Condensing a 3-day event to a 48-hour marathon of online content, Microsoft's build conference adopted a more intimate tone. Flash, or not, the developers of Ablesoft were focused on one thing - the tech. We made sure to take the necessary steps to avoid missing one moment. Following that experience, here are some of the takeaways from the Ablesoft team:
Respect the Elders
Since its inception in 2002, Windows Forms (WinForms) was introduced as Microsoft's first user interface technology for building .Net Framework applications. Because of its power and relative ease of use, developers and organizations utilized the technology for business applications. Many which are still in use today. As with any 'legacy' technology, over time whispers of obsolescence quickly gain traction to fear that the technology will not be supported, or in other words dead. In this recent build conference, Microsoft clarified that WinForm apps will be adapted for the future - so the technology can live to see another day.
Microsoft’s open source offering to developers.
Sharing is Caring
With the recent explosion of virtual working, Microsoft has advanced 2 years in 2 months with their collaboration tools according to Satya Nadell, Microsoft's CEO, in his keynote. That future puts an emphasis on collaboration across employees and developers with Microsoft Teams, open source communities, and environments that foster co-creation across developers. A few updates:
Microsoft Teams – With the Power Platform, will give the ability to add low-code programs to carry out workflows. I.E. sending automated on-boarding materials through to a new-hire through Teams. For more examples, click here.
Open Source Communities – Starting with the acquisition of GitHub in ‘18, Microsoft has continued to tout its push to open source communities where developers can share programming pieces for quicker application development.
Converging Technology
Where is the Microsoft giant bounding towards these days? To a centered, inward peace. With the proclamation of agile, modern, and open development being the future, Microsoft is seeking to converge many of their development technologies, such as WinForms, WPF, and UWP into shared platforms. This journey ends with businesses using polished applications while lowering their maintenance costs across time. So, Microsoft is more of the 'Big Friendly Giant' than a tormenting one:
Microsoft keeping their little developer friends content.
Collaboration Technologies – Microsoft Dev Ops and Microsoft Teams will pair together as a tool for developers to communicate, track requirements, and monitor the development of programming for applications.
Despite missing out on the perks of conventions with the complimentary coffees, lunch buffets, and free vendor swag, the Build conference was viewed positively by the Ablesoft team. Microsoft is providing a clearer path with the unification of their technologies which is energizing our developers in forging our future technology approach. Stay tuned for more.