Post Meeting: Writing Maintainable and Robust Applications with Visual Studio Team System

Thanks for everyone who came out to our first meeting last night. We had 25 folks and some excellent questions and dialog. Thanks to Randy Pagels for sharing VSTS/TFS with us.

I tried to capture the questions and answers below. Please post additional inquiries, topics you would like to see covered at future meetings or any thoughts as a comment to this post.

We'll announce our next meeting speaker and date on this site in the coming month. Thanks for coming!

Q&A
Q. Can TFS integrate TFS with Clarify?
A. Yes via API/web services (true with just about any 3rd party tool)

Q. Does the TFS Setup account still need admin rights to create databases on SQL 2005 for TFS 2008? (setupwarehouse.exe)
A. For TFS 2008, only need to be a member of the SQL Server sysadmin role…not admin on the box as in TFS 2005. Information here.

Q. What's a label?
A. Good explanations here and here.

Q. Can I perform conditional deployment within OOtB features of TFS Build?
A. TFS performs limited deployment (post to a file share) with OOtB features. If needs are extensive, use PowerShell or customize the TFS process workflows.

Q. Can I run load test upon check-in?
A. Would require customization.

Q. Can I version database schemas and database artifacts?
A. Yes.

Q. How does Database Pro persist refactor instructions?
A. The refactor log file.

Q. I'm not able to download VSTS and/or TFS off my MSDN subscriber downloads.
A. Check your MSDN subscription (requires Premium) and/or check with your MSDN administrator

Q. Are there Team System best practices available? Real-world experience?
A. Yes but you have to hunt for it. Resources:

• TFS Best Practice Analyzer
• follow Brian Harry's blog
• follow J.D. Meier's blog
• Team Development with TFS Guide
• 5 Best Practices to Improve Process and Methodology
• Team System Rocks
• follow the VSTS MSDN forums
• TFS Branching Guidance
  

Writing Maintainable and Robust Applications with Visual Studio Team System

Meeting Date & Time: 4/29/2008 5:30PM

Session Description:
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System is an extensible, life-cycle tools platform that helps software teams collaborate to deliver modern, service-oriented solutions. Visual Studio Team System is designed so every role in the development team has an integrated, seamless experience with the tools they are most comfortable with.  Code Analysis, Code Metrics, Code Profiling, and Unit Testing are tools that are part of Team System and can be used through the software development lifecycle to improve quality. The impact of software defects is one of the reasons it is difficult to control the costs of the development and deployment activities on software projects. It is commonly accepted that defects that get resolved later in the development cycle cost more to fix. Learn how you can reduce defects by using the tools provided in Visual Studio Team System Developer Edition 2008.

Speaker Bio:
Randy Pagels - ALM Technology Specialist, Microsoft Corporation
Randy is an Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Technology specialist for the Heartland District providing expertise on the Visual Studio Team System and Team Foundation Server products. He helps customers get the most out of their ALM tools by explaining best practices, installation, and configuration through presentations, workshops, or quick starts. Prior to Microsoft Randy worked as a developer for 16 years in the IT area of DTE Energy. He has architectured and development many .Net web applications using agile methodologies.

Inaugural Meeting

Please join us for our inaugural meeting Tuesday April 29th at 5:30pm at the Polaris Microsoft offices. An agenda will be announced soon.