thinking-out-loud

SQL Server Data Types

Ever wonder about the exact difference between data types in SQl Server?  This handy reference explains and gives some advice on their use.

I hadn't realized that SQL Server will create GUIDs with the "uniqueidentifier" type before.  That's what I get for using O/R mapping abstraction layers all the time.  Speaking of that, I've been using the Wilson ORMapper lately and really like it.

Atlas vs. Ajax.NET

I went to the DDNUG meeting on Thursday. Caleb Jenkins presented on Atlas, which is MS’s answer to Ajax.NET. Caleb is a good presenter who keeps the audience entertained. I think he’s a great addition the MS developer evangelism team. Coincidentally (not?), I phone-screened Caleb when he was interviewing to work at Geniant. At the time, he was the most knowledgeable .Net developer I’d interviewed and still probably ties for first.

Atlas seems pretty easy to use, especially for those who like drag-n-drop custom controls in your VS toolbox. There was a little confusion about which came first, Atlas or Ajax.NET. I guess some people think that Ajax.NET is knock-off created quickly after some guys saw an Atlas demo at TechNet or the PDC. Ajax.NET work was first published in April 2005 as far as I can tell. And, it looks like Ajax.NET is still the better tool since it isn’t still in beta, works with .Net v1.1, and has a Pro version with lots of great features.

Caleb dropped some URLs to the audience, so I thought I’d repeat them here:

• Official Atlas site by Microsoft: http://atlas.asp.net
• Ajax Gadgets for Live.com (and Windows Vista desktop?): http://microsoftgadgets.com
• Nice little debugging proxy for web dev: http://www.fiddlertool.com

Good to know

Sage Advice for someone of my age.