Baltimore Area Microsoft Developer User Group

Speaker: Tronster Hartley

Topic: Game Engines

RSVP: Meetup

Location: 338 Clubhouse Road Hunt Valley, MD 21031

Date: Wednesday, September 19th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
“Game Engines” are a type of middleware that game studios and simulations based business leverage to provide an excellent product at a reduced cost. Tronster will break down how there has come to be a proliferation of game engines in the billion dollar game industry, as well as explain how these expensive systems can easily be utilized by programmers familiar with Microsoft technologies.

Bio :
For over a decade, Tronster, a native Baltimore developer & electronic artist, has utilize Microsoft technologies in architecting solutions for Educational, Medical, and consumer based software. In recent years he’s been focused in the game development sector; having worked on EA’s “Command and Conquer” franchise, as well as lead the creation of the UI framework for Firaxis’s anticipated XBOX, PS3, and PC game “X-COM: Enemy Unknown.” When not working on a AAA title, Tronster is either teaching game development concepts at UB & UMBC, or is spending time building the local indie game scene with his own studio “Geek House Games”.

Speaker: Ashton M. Lamont

Topic: MVC 3 Razor with EXTJS 4 MVC (SENCHA)

RSVP: Meetup

Location: Dark Horse Saloon
2324 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD

Date: Wednesday, August 15th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
I will demonstrate how to use EXTJS in an a Microsoft MVC environment. We will look at concepts around EXT DOM stores, models, controller, and views and how they serialize with ASP.net MVC.
In addition I will demonstrate Visual Studio Extensions related to JavaScript development. As well as going over how to use, Coffee, Less, and SASS(Compass) in Visual Studio to support EXTJS 4 Theming and development, and how this can be applied to any other CSS and JavaScript work

Bio :
Mr. Lamont has been developing professionally for over 15 years with a focus on large database development and acquisition software to be used in web applications. Most of his career has been in GIS(geographical information systems), where as a consultant he has worked for governments of all sizes. He has also worked for Rand McNally for their data management, online mapping, and print map teams. Mr. Lamont has transferred these skills into working in the educational & test publishing market, and now most recently to working in the online marketing/lead generation market.

He is Graduated of the University of Maine with a degree in Spatial Information Science & Engineering.
Mr. Lamont is skilled in a variety of development languages and varying platforms, with primary focuses with SQL Server, Oracle, C#, JavaScript (DOM), and HTML5 in a windows server environment.

Speaker: Pete Brown

Topic: Win8/XAML/Metro

RSVP: Meetup

Location: DoublePositive Marketing Group, Inc., 1501 S. Clinton Street, Suite 1520
Baltimore, Maryland 21224

Date: Wednesday, June 20th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
Windows 8 introduces Metro Style applications. This session will provide an overview of what’s new and try to help put what it all means into perspective.

Bio :

Pete Brown is a XAML and Gadget guy at Microsoft, as well as a former Microsoft Silverlight MVP, INETA speaker, and RIA Architect. He’s a father of two, and in complaince with local laws, husband to one. When not trying to blow stuff up, or electrocute himself (or talk about himself in the third-person)

Pete focuses on the community around code that has nothing to do with a browser (Windows 8 XAML, WPF, Silverlight, .NET Micro Framework, Robotics, and more), with a particular focus on XAML and things that blink in the night. Pete has written two successful Silverlight books with Manning, and has a Windows 8 XAML book on the way. It will be amazing, and your purchase will help him afford replacements for the stuff he has blown up in the course of research.

From his first sprite graphics and custom character sets on the Commodore 64 to 3d modeling and design through to Silverlight, Surface, XNA, WPF, WinRT and more, Pete has always had a deep interest in programming, design, and user experience. His involvement in Silverlight goes back to the Silverlight 1.1 alpha application that he co-wrote and put into production in July 2007, and his WPF experience predates that. Pete has been programming for fun since 1984, and professionally since 1992.

Pete’s site and blog is at 10rem.net, and you can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pete_brown

Please RSVP: Meetup

Speaker: Temesgen Meheret

Topic: Behavior Driven Development

Abstract:
The major challenge in software development is the effectiveness of the communication as information flows between the different stake holders; analysts, developers, testers and product owners. Also as application developers we have a tendency to focus more on the internals of our fine grained implementations.
Behavior Driven Development is a way of thinking that will help developers re-focus more on what matters most – the behavior of the application. The change is from thinking Inside-Out to Outside-In. This session will try to present how we can use BDD combined with Domain Driven Design concepts to build applications that meet our clients’ needs.

Bio :
Teme is a software engineer and Architect at Videology. He has extensive experience in building large scale web applications for different industries. He is very enthusiastic about what he does and loves to work with people who feel the same way.
“Do what is right and not just what works!”

Speaker:Terrance Brown

Topic: Team Foundation Server

Abstract:
Provide participants with a overview of Team Foundation Server (TFS) 2010.

Participants will be able to obtain knowledge of Version Control, Project Management and Administration within TFS.

Bio :
Terrance Brown is an astute businessman, pastor, and community activist. Mr. Brown is the CEO and President of TVCOFA Corporation – a company that focuses on informatics in the fields of public health, medicine, and education both nationally and globally. Under Mr. Brown’s leadership, TVCOFA Corporation has become a leader in the field, a certified vendor for Federal and State government, and a preferred vendor for several Fortune 500 companies.

Mr. Brown received his education in electrical engineering and computer science from Auburn University and later received a Information Technology (IT) Systems degree from University of Phoenix. He has lectured nationally on IT and public health informatics, and has received several awards for research to include the US Surgeon General Award for his work on Lung
Cancer from former President Bill Clinton. Mr. Brown also holds leadership positions with several non-profit organizations (NPO), and is a member of the Board of Directors as well as the Regional Executive Director for Jane’s House of Inspiration – a NPO focused on eliminating illicit drug use at the individual, family, and community levels. In addition, Mr. Brown is active in empowering inner-city and rural African-American youth and young adults in Maryland, Alabama, and Georgia. He helps them to embrace learning and to seek excellence as a means of overcoming poverty.

Mr. Brown is an outstanding mentor and counselor who is truly dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities realize their full potential for success and productivity.

RSVP: Meetup

Location:
Dark Horse Saloon
2324 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD

Date: Wednesday, May 30th, networking begins at 6:30

Level: Intermediate

Sponsors: LCG Technologies, Apex Systems, Inc.

Speaker:Dave Clausen, Geoff Snowman, Mike Wolf, Paul Tyng

Topic: HTML5

RSVP: Meetup

Location:
Dark Horse Saloon
2324 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD

Date: Wednesday, April 25th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
This month we are having a panel discussion on HTML 5 and the various libraries that local experts are using to implement sites on both mobile and desktop platforms.

Panelists include :

• Dave Clausen of Cloud Patterns
• Paul Tyng of LocalUp
• Mike Wolf of Cynergy
• Geoff Snowman formerly of Microsoft

Bios :

Level: Intermediate

Sponsors: LCG Technologies

Speaker: Ray Barley

Topic: SQL Server 2012 BI Reporting

Location: DoublePositive Marketing Group, Inc., 1501 S. Clinton Street, Suite 1520
Baltimore, Maryland 21224

Date: Wednesday, March 21st, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
This session will provide an overview of the new BI reporting features in SQL Server 2012. It will cover the following topics:

• PowerView – interactive web-based drag-and-drop data querying and visualizations
• PowerPivot – new advanced analytic capabilities in Excel
• SQL Azure Reporting – providing reporting in the cloud
• BI Semantic Model – provides a complete view for reports and dashboards across heterogeneous data sources

Bio :
I am a Principal Architect at RDA Corporation (http://www.rdacorp.com) focused on SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Sharepoint. I am a frequent contributor to MSSQLTips.com; view my profile here:http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlserverauthor/14/ray-barley/. I am a co-author of the book SharePoint 2010 Business Intelligence Unleashed (http://www.informit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0672335514).

Level: Intermediate

Sponsors: DoublePositive Marketing Group, Inc.

Speaker: Clarke Bowers

Topic: MVC

Location: Red Brick Station, White Marsh, MD

Date: Wednesday, February 15th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
I will cover the basics of building an MVC web site: the model, the view and the controller. I will discuss the new Razor view engine and compiler. I will explain the alignment between ASP.NET MVC and the HTTP protocol. I will introduce a few basic tools: Fiddler, Firebug and Trace. I will also demonstrate how to make a web site mobile friendly with HTML5 and JQuery Mobile UI.

Bio :
I graduated high school from the Boys Latin School, and I received a Bachelor in computer science from Lehigh University’s college of Engineering and Physical Science. For the last thirty years, I have worked as a software engineer. I run my own software engineering and software architecture business in Baltimore City. I have also taught computer science at Villa Julie College, now Stevenson University, and I carry several Microsoft certifications.

I have lead and designed a wide range of engineering projects. These projects include microbiology medical instruments for Becton Dickinson, and computer digital tape backend units. It includes web sites for Sheppard Pratt and National Public Radio. I computerized the Uniform CPA examination for the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts, and I am currently consulting for Constellation Energy. My designs have earned me five software patents. You can find more information on my business and my background at my web site http://www.cbsoftwareengineering.com/.

I enjoy playing squash, sailing and I am the past president of The Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Maryland. I am willing to swap programming with punched card stories.

Level: Intermediate

Sponsors: Red Brick Station

The meeting for January is canceled.

G. Andrew Duthie

Topic: Business Intelligence in SharePoint 2010

Abstract:
SharePoint 2010 provides a flexible platform to expose business intelligence (BI). Come and see a presentation covering capabilities that are available for exposing information to end users, including Charting capabilities, Access Services, Visio Services, Excel Services, and PerformancePoint Services, as well as development options and possibilities to further extend the capabilities that are available.

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Bio: Viktor is a senior consultant with LCG Technologies, with 12+ years of experience. Hacking at code since the age of 9, his focus in recent years has been on web development in .Net technologies, with a special focus on SharePoint. Viktor is one of the leading experts in the Baltimore SharePoint community. He has created enterprise level applications such as a publicly facing EHealth Record application using SharePoint that has a rich user interface and custom look and feel. Viktor utilized SharePoint and SilverLight to build a clinical trials project management system to accelerate the clinical development process. Born in Czech Republic, Viktor has been in Baltimore since 2000 and has worked at area companies such as RDA, Finra, SAIC and Amtote.

Location: Vibrant Commerical Technologies
307 International Drive,
Suite 210
Hunt Valley, MD 21030
Date: Wednesday, December 28th, networking begins at 6:30

Sponsors: Vibrant Commerical Technologies, LCG Technologies

G. Andrew Duthie

Topic: Going beyond the Soft in Software: Programming with Kinect and .NET Gadgeteer

Abstract:

Join Microsoft Developer Evangelist G. Andrew Duthie (aka Devhammer) for a tour of some of the fun new ways you can leverage your .NET coding skills to drive hardware. We’ll look at the Kinect SDK for Windows, as well as the .NET Micro Framework, and the brand-new .NET Gadgeteer open hardware specification, and how its modular architecture opens up the world of embedded device development and rapid prototyping to even those who’ve never held a soldering iron.

Learn about both fun and practical things you can do by adding a little spice of hardware to your software recipes in this demo-driven talk!

Level: Intermediate-Advanced geekiness

Bio: G. Andrew Duthie, aka devhammer, is the Developer Evangelist for Microsoft’s Mid-Atlantic States district, where he provides support and education for developers working with the .net development platform. In addition to his work with Microsoft, Andrew is the author of several books on ASP.NET and web development, and has spoken at numerous industry conferences from VSLive! and ASP.NET Connections, to Microsoft’s Professional Developer Conference (PDC) and Tech-Ed. Andrew has been participating in the user group community since way back in 1997, when one of his co-workers dragged him out to the Internet Developers User Group in Tyson’s Corner, VA, and he’s been hooked ever since.

You can read Andrew’s blog at http://devhammer.net, and follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/devhammer.

Location: Emerging Technology Center in Baltimore
2400 Boston Street
Factory Building, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21224

Date: Wednesday, November 30th, networking begins at 6:30

Sponsors: ETC, GBTC, LCG Technologies