MS AntiSpyware and Unit testing

I was just trying out the unit testing feature in VS.NET 2005 but had a problem with MS Antispyware blocking the auto created batch file every time i run my tests. And when i get the prompt from MS Antispyware asking me whether to allow or block the script, by the time i click on allow the script the test already fails. Since the name of the auto created batch file is different every time there was no way to make MS Antispyware allow just that batch file. I guess the only thing to do for now is to disable MS Antispyware every time i run my unit tests...
And according to the post at MSDN forum this seems like the only solution for now

SCJA Beta experience

I did the SCJA beta exam today. It was relatively easy but i still feel it’s quite different from SCJP. SCJP tests very deep in your core java skills. But SCJA tests the overall understanding on the entire java platform (standard, enterprise and mobile) as well as other related technologies often used along with java such as UML, XML and HTML. But the important factor is the exam doesn’t go very deep into these technologies and just tests your understanding of these technologies.
If you want to certify that you have a good understanding of the overall java platform and the kind of applications you can develop using various editions of java and you understand how other technologies such as XML and HTML etc works along with java and to show you can interpret basic UML diagrams the SCJA certification is ideal. But if you want to show your expertise on core java then go for SCJP.

Global error handling for Windows applications in .NET

Just had a situation where there was a need for a global error handler method for windows applications in .NET. This handler should be invoked whenever there is an unhandled error raised in the windows application.
A way to do this is handling the ThreadException event of the Application object.

For example:
/// <summary>
/// The main entry point for the application.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
 Application.ThreadException+=new System.Threading.ThreadExceptionEventHandler(Application_ThreadException);
 Application.Run(new Form1());
}

private static void Application_ThreadException(object sender, ThreadExceptionEventArgs e)
{
 MessageBox.Show(e.Exception.ToString());
}

Maybe there are other methods of doing this as well. But for a single threaded application this seemed ok.

Article on NHibernate

My article titled “Data access using NHibernate - Solving the object relational mismatch” is published in the special supplement on Enterprise .NET-SDA-Asia magazine June/July issue. This article looks into using NHibernate the open source .NET ORM tool in creating database aware applications. The SDA-Asia magazine is a bi-monthly magazine for the IT community distributed in Asia.

Dilbert cartoons

How many of you are fond of dilbert cartoons? The crazy workplace humour is really one of my favourite cartoon strips. I got hold of the rss feed for the daily dilbert cartoon and subscribed to it and receive a strip each day. So for anyone fond of dilbert, subscribe to the following rss feed:
http://www.tapestrycomics.com/dilbert.xml

Doing my MSc in IT from Keele

Started doing my MSc in Information Technology from the university of Keele. So after a very long time it's back to juggling studies and work...
Hopefully will be able to finish it off without any interruptions

Writing poetry

One of my favorite activity to spend time used to be reading and writing poetry(though I am very average in writing poetry) and I really like to learn to write haikus(haikus are very short poems of 3 lines usually of 5,7,5 syllables, with a twist in the last line. Even though it's just three lines a good haiku can give u a feeling of reading a very interesting novel in itself). So if anyone comes across on some good resources or books on writing haikus please post a comment here.
On the publishing side two of my poems are available at http://www.poetry.com/ titled "The Mask" and "From My Hearts Core". And the poem titled "From My Hearts Core" was published in a couple of poetry editions. But it has been a very long time since I did write anything else after that (a good 2 to 3 years)

Article on Transactions in .NET 2.0

Another one of my article introducing System.Transactions namespace part of .NET 2.0 is published in the simple-talk journal. If there are any suggestions do let me know.
Check it out at the following URL:
http://www.simple-talk.com/2005/06/22/net-20-transaction-model/

Minor tweaks to my blog

Changed a few stuff on my blog such as changing the MVP logo from the old one to the new one (though i felt personally the old one one looked better than the new one). Also changed my atom feed to include my full blog entry rather than just a part of it. Made the rss smart feed from feedburn also available through auto discovery.
So at the moment i have two feeds exposed in my blog which i dont think its a very good idea. So until i find a way to redirect anyone subscribed to my atom feed to my rss smart feed i will be sticking with both feeds in my blog.

Interview with our MVP lead

Technet web site featured an interview with Howard Lo our MVP lead about the MVP program. Check it at
http://www.microsoft.com/singapore/technet/flash20050531a1.mspx

Beta 1 RC???

Well when i downloaded the bits of indigo and avalon beta 1 RC, i was kinda confused. How can beta 1 be a release candidate? Or is it going to be just one beta and the next release is the actual version? Things became a bit clear after reading the blog entry at codebetter.
So quoting from the blog entry for anyone who was confused as me:

Beta 1 RC is available - "It's a feature complete version for Beta 1"
Beta 1 for Indigo (the real Beta 1, not the RC of Beta 1) is coming in
"Summer, 2005"