Doug wanted to know if the new DSL toolkit runs on the December CTP of VSTS. In a word, no. The March DSL Toolkit requires Beta 1 of VS05 Beta 1 or Beta 1 refresh. However, at some point, there will be a version of the DSL Toolkit that runs on VS05 Beta 2. (“At some point” meaning not on the day that VS05 Beta 2 ships but some short period of time after that.)
This is why I use Virtual PC. I can install the CTP build in one VPC and the Beta 1 build w/ DSL toolkit in another.
Yesterday, I mentioned that you need VC++ installed to use the DSL Toolkit. Apparently, it’s needed for building a DLL related to VS integration. However, Gareth let me know that they should be able to do that with managed code in a future build which means they won’t have a dependency on VC++. I didn’t install VC++ because I was trying to save space in my VPC where I’m running the VS2005 beta 1 bits.
I guess we’re still three months out, but TechEd Bloggers is just getting ramped up. Not to many registered bloggers yet. So far, I’m the only registered blogger in the staff category. Last year, I was staff and speaker (the only track owner also presenting I might point out) but this year I’m in marketing so they didn’t let me speak! 😄 Actually, I picked all the ARC track sessions and speakers, so I have no one to blame for myself. Yep, no one to blame but myself for significantly easing my own workload to only worrying about organizing the track, hanging out in the ARC cabana and hearding speakers (note to self, get Ted’s mobile number before the event starts) without the added worry of having to present.
Who else is going to Orlando?
I’ve been doing a bunch of thinking about the use of heavily stereotyped UML class diagrams and how similar it is to the DSL approach. I’m working on a new post, but I wanted to parrot Gareth who announced earlier today that the March 05 CTP build of the DSL toolkit is now available. I’m installing it as I type. Well, not exactly true – I’m installing VC++. This drop apparently requires it.
It’s Thursday, and the Class Designer team is sticking to their new entry every Thursday policy. I don’t want to just post a link to their blog every week, but if they keep doing stuff this cool I’ll have no choice.
Eugene Chigirinskiy could have just posted a screen shot showing tooltips at work in the class designer. But instead, he’s built out an HTML image map on top of said screen shot and set up the areas with titles so that as you hover over areas the screen shot, tooltips pop up the same way they do in the tool. Awesome! I have no idea how long it took him to do this, but that’s dedication!