Agile Sharepoint development by 21apps and Andrew Woodward MVP

The past month seems to have been a complete blur,  so much new information to take in so many great people to meet and yet so many more that I wanted to spend more time with.

Listening

The SharePoint Conference 2009 (SPC09) in Vegas was, to put it simply,  AWESOME!  Seven thousand people in one place all buzzing with excitement about the new features in SharePoint 2010.   Although I had the privilege of playing with some of the bits before the event,  it really was at the event that you’re understanding as to the size of the investment,  the amount of improvements and the amount of information and knowledge that we are going to have to take in over the coming months and years became clear.  If you thought SharePoint 2007 was a big product – ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet!’  It was also great to be part of the Worlds Biggest SharePint at the Eye Candy Bar – Kudos to Andrew Connell for putting this on.

Speaking

One of the things that I find the most enjoyable about being part of the SharePoint community is the opportunity to share my passion and knowledge.   I do like to speak (not for some personal gratification) but to be able to share all of the cool things that I have discovered.  Having such a great platform to talk about just makes it so much easier. 

MVP Open Day

The week after SPC09 I attended the UK and Ireland MVP Open Day in Reading.   This is a great opportunity put on my Akim and Vicki (MVP Leads) to say thanks for the work we do,  but more importantly a way for people of different disciplines and social networks to get together and socialise.   Timing for this event was great,  I was able to demonstrate SharePoint 2010 to a fairly big audience and from the feedback I got I think people were impressed.

SUGUK Manchester

On Tuesday 10th November Mark Stokes has arranged the first official North West SUGUK event where we will be talking about all things SharePoint 2010 and also getting feedback on what the community wants from the user group – it’s your opportunity to really have a say on how the community works in your area.    Currently the event is full,  if you still want to attend please respond to the post on SUGUK but we may have to have bouncers on the door     – needless to say we will be continuing the conversation over a SharePint after the event.

SharePoint Conference Slovenia

The 27th November sees the second Slovenia SharePoint Conference, having never travelled to this part of the world I thought it would be a great way to visit, enjoy some local beers over the obligatory SharePint.   The timing of the event is great as it allows people to get hands on with the SharePoint 2010 bits (hopefully they will be out by then).

Training

Having guest taught a number of SharePoint training courses for Combined Knowledge over the past few years,  and having spent time helping review the 2010 courses I am going to be in Ullesthorpe for the week of the 30th of November for the first SharePoint 2010 Beta Developer Track.  If you are looking for an early insight and training in the latest platform get in touch with Zoe and see if she can fit you in. 

SharePint

Do I really need to say anymore?   At any event or during ant trip I will be looking to take part or organise a SharePint where we can talk about SharePoint over a Pint.   I’m preferring good local brewed ales lately so recommendations always welcome

Having authored this post I think I really need to offer an apology as it does seem like a little bit of self promotion,  it is not meant to be – more like I’m going to be here, would love to meet up.

The End of 2009 is going to be the start of things to come in 21apps,  I am really excited about the changes taking place and look forward telling you more.   Rest assured that I will be blogging more technical stuff and providing more information on how to improve the way you develop your SharePoint projects.  

2009 has been good 2010 is going to be awesome

Looks like I’ve been a little slack in my planning for SharePint at the Best Practices Conference in Washington DC – Andrew Connell has trumped me big time with what looks like the SharePint to end all SharePint’s at SPC in Vegas.

What’s the reason for my delay you may ask?

In part because I have been busy, but the main reason is that I will be in the Reston area a whole week before SharePint will take place and thought what better opportunity than to do a bit of a local tour to see which venue really stood out as a great SharePint venue.

Here is what I do know:

SharePint will on Tuesday 25th August – starting around 7pm till late

Here is what I want from you:

Help me to find the ideal location for the SharePint – Best Practices DC 2009 Edition.
Mapping potential venues, please add your recommendations.

Perhaps we can make this a tradition,

The pre-SharePint tour – In Search of the Venue

If you want to keep up with what’s happening and want to join the search follow me @andrewwoody,  @sharepint or search for #sharepint on twitter.  To help us get a feel for the numbers and to warn the bar please add a +1 comment to this post,  include your twitter name if you want.

What better way to spend a Thursday evening,  first a couple of great sessions by Steve Smith and Mark Macrae (his first time speaking at SUGUK).

Sessions:

Session 1 – Understanding the relationship between IIS/Web Applications , SQL, SSP’s and Site collections – Steve Smith

In this session I will explain the logical relationship in the SharePoint Architecture and show you some usefull tips when creatng and managing them.

Session 2 -

Business Information and MOSS 2007 – Creating Interactive Dashboards using PerformancePoint Server – Mark Macrae

Start time – 6.30

Finish – 9pm then to the pub down the road

Break in the middle with Pizza and drinks

Location:

ID-Live offices, Strelley Hall, Nottingham. NG8 6PE

For directions and and to sign up go to the SUGUK site.

And to round the evening off in great style, the first Nottingham SharePint.

The Broad Oak

Main St., Strelley, Nottingham, NG8 6PD

As if written by the Bard himself, perhaps?  Wherever there is a gathering of SharePoint people you will likely find a SharePint. From foreign cities at global events, in bars around the world, people are getting together to SharePint’s.

Questions you may have about SharePint

1. Where do you find a SharePint happening near you?
2. Can you arrange one?
3. Who organises them at big events?

Where do I find a SharePint?

The best place to find a SharePint near you

Twitter Search: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=sharepint

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sharepint

Join Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63560793637

If you follow any SharePoint bloggers you will be sure to receive early notification of events.

Can I Arrange a SharePint?

Of course, check there’s not one already arranged – you will be amazed how important these are

1. Let people know when and where
2. Let @SharePint know so it can be pimped
3. Tweet it with the #SharePint tag
4. Promote it with one of the official logos
5. Arrive
6. Drink
7. Be social
8. Have Fun
9. You know the rest

Please Note:   Like Fight Club there are rules to SharePint:

1. No sponsorship
2. No sponsorship
3. If this is your first SharePint, You have to Drink!

If someone is happy to put some money behind the bar on the night, that’s a good thing   But please no banners, flyers or sponsored by.

What about the big Events

The big events like PDC, Tech Ed and SharePoint Conference tend to attract very large numbers of SharePint’ers and the SharePint event will be organised to reflect this.  If you attending one of these conferences just keep an eye on Twitter,  these are not to be missed events.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a bush for the past year you will have heard all about the fantastic Best Practices SharePoint conference’s that have taken place in Washington and San Diego.  Showing that you don’t have to jet across the Atlantic to see the best speakers the European Best PracticesT SharePoint Conference comes to London from April 6th thru 8th 2009.

Perhaps you looking to see Governance Man (Joel Oleson) for real,  share a pint with Andrew Connell, meet the infamous Bob “Praise Bob” Fox, the list goes on and on with probably the best bunch of speakers to gather in one place.

Whether your an IT Pro, Developer,  Information Worker or involved in business decision making you need to make sure your at the conference.

The three day agenda is packed with additional Lunchtime sessions recently added.

Myself I’m going to pick up where I left off discussing Test Driven SharePoint development from the recent SharePoint PodShows,  Monday 4:15 to 5:30.  Be sure to attend where I hope we can continue the discussion with Eric Shupps (SPTDD: SharePoint and TDD, Part One, SharePoint and TDD – The other view).

On Wednesday, Alex Pearce and I will be doing a lunchtime session on SharePoint in Education as part of the SUGUK.   In the UK we really do seem to be leading from the front on this area of SharePoint adoption and want to encourage more debate and community involvement to help Education get the most from their investment,   This will be an open mic session where people can share there experiences (good, bad and ugly).

Finally there will be the now legendary SharePoint by Day, SharePint by Night

Venue:  The Old Star, 66 Broadway, Westminster, London, SW1H 0DB

Date: Wednesday 8th April

Time: 7pm – till late – no ones speaking the next day

Look forward to seeing you all in London very soon.

Ever wondered if it was possible to do Test Driven Development on SharePoint projects?   Have you been reading the blog posts and white papers here at 21apps.  Got involved in the debate with Eric Shupps?

The SharePoint Pod Show team finally tracked me, Andrew Woodward, down for a series of in depth interviews late one night during the MVP Summit 2009.   The Pod Show is broken into 3 parts with Rob Foster asking about the basics of Test Driven Development and SharePoint;  Eric Shupps, the SharePoint Cowboy, asks about the value TDD provides to the Enterprise and finally Spencer Harbar asks the challenging questions about how TDD helps reduce the risks to the enterprise by adopting TDD.

Hopefully you will agree that some of the myths around TDD have been dispelled by these insightful SharePoint Pod Shows.   I encourage you all to sign up for the European Best Practices SharePoint Conference in London, 4th to 6th April 2009, where we hope to continue the discussion around this challenging topic.

Don’t forget to sign up to the legendary SharePint once again organised by the Andrew Connell.

Finally, in the words of Spencer Harbar (sorry Eric no pictures of Spence!)

People are starting to arrive from around the globe to the Best Practices SharePoint Conference

in San Diego.  As expected a number were to be found in the hotel bar.   If you want to catch up will all of the buzz search for the twitter tag  #SPBPC.   For those travelling in the location is great,  Sun is just rising and from the hotel room i’m overlooking the 18th hole of the Torrey Pines course, with views out over the sea.  This really is going to be a great event,  Ben Curry has done a brilliant job of getting top speakers.  This is not an Introduction to SharePoint, this is for people who know it, have deployed and what to get the most from the platform.

On a less technical note it’s count down to the SharePoint by Day, SharePint by Night San Diego Best Practices Edition.  Haven’t signed up yet,  put your name down here so the La Jolla Brew House knows how much beer to get in

Count down to the SharePoint by Day, SharePint by Night San Diego Best Practices Edition I thought it only right to give you a look at the current beer list.   There has been talk on twitter about which beers are the best,  I’m looking forward to having the debate with the ale in my hand.

Haven’t signed up yet,  put your name down here so the La Jolla Brew House knows how much beer to get in

Just a reminder that during the Best PracticesT SharePoint Conference in San Diego there will be a SharePoint by Day, SharePint by Night San Diego Best Practices Edition. 

Already we have a great lists of people attending, so if your at the conference or just in the San Diego area on 3rd Feb this is looking like it’s going to be a great evening.    Be sure to add your name to the lists so that the bar can arrange for enough beer.

Coming to the SharePoint by Day, SharePint by Night Best Practices Edition?  Want to show you enjoy a SharePint?

Grab a copy of one of these great new logos that were designed by Sam Dolan of Pink Petrol

With black text 472 x 151

With white text 472 x 151

I promised to give Sam a bit of love for kindly doing the these great logos, if your looking for someone to do some customisation’s for your SharePoint branding I recommend you have a look at some of the great designs that Sam has in his portfolio.