An App Idea? Brilliant!

I think I actually have an idea for an app to write. I'm not ready to share what it is yet because I need to completely wrap my head around what it is I want to do with it, but after the funk I've been in I wanted to share that I am starting to dig my way out. It has been a while since my creative juices have been flowing so it is nice to have this feeling again.

Windows Phone 7 Development

I recently went to a WP7 talk by Chris Koenig at the Fort Worth .NET User Group. It really piqued my interest as he went through some simple examples of creating apps for the Windows Phone 7 OS. I have dabbled in doing a little Android development and I have to say that Microsoft made the task of creating apps much easier than in Android. If you haven’t had a chance to give WP7 a look, I suggest you give it a try. History has shown that there isn’t much money to be made in the current market-based mobile app development, but it can provide a nice break from the monotonous work of the 9 to 5 job.

WP7 Resources Links
Chris Koenig WP7 Resources
AppHub
Blankenblog - 31 Days Of Windows Phone 7

What’s Next?

I have to admit I have come to a bit of crossroads when it comes to this blog and my journey in software development. I think I am in need of some sort of change. When you begin to feel like you are doing routine things over and over it means it is time to try something different. That is where I currently find myself. I have been doing normal Java development since the early 2000’s with only a few small detours. I think it is time for me to truly branch out and start learning the principles and practices of other technologies. Now I just need to decide what those technologies are… Any suggestions???

Book Review: C# 4.0 How-To

I have recently started to attempt to learn more about the latest .NET 4.0 release, primarily where C# is concerned. I have been primarily a Java developer, but have dabbled in C# from time to time so I like to see some of the new things the language has added. Luckily, I won a contest on Ben Watson’s blog for a free copy of his book, C# 4.0 How-To. I received the book a week ago and have slowly been making my way through it.

C# 4.0 How-To is a book is written in the cookbook style. It provides numerous examples of how to do the most basic things using the framework. It has examples on WCF, WPF, Silverlight, and even includes a simple example on using ASP.NET MVC. I have really enjoyed it so far.  It is not a book for someone just getting started with programming, but is the perfect book for someone like me who has experience with modern OO languages, but does not know the ins and outs of the .NET framework. I am pretty sure that as I get started with some personal projects I have in mind, this book will sit by my side the entire time.

PhoneGap

I have recently started looking into getting into the mobile app development craze. I was looking for something that would possibly make this easier as I have no background in that area. A friend of mine told me to take a look at PhoneGap and so far I am pretty impressed. PhoneGap is a mobile development framework that lets you deploy your app across all the different phone types. Basically, you write your app using html and JavaScript and then PhoneGap takes care of the rest. I am looking forward to digging into it a little deeper, but thought I would go ahead and share it so others looking to get started on mobile apps might have a little help taking the first baby steps.

Links:

Getting Started with PhoneGap

.NET Rocks! Episode - PhoneGap with Jesse MacFadyen and Filip Maj