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The project I am currently working on is using Team Foundation Server for builds and we have a lot of build definitions.  The project is a large enterprise-level project, with multiple Visual Studio solutions.  Each Visual Studio solution has at least two branches – maybe more – and usually a corresponding build definition for most of those branches.  Hopefully that gives you a good idea of the number of build definitions. 

One of my coworkers at this client was nice enough to point me towards the Inmeta Build Explorer add-in for Visual Studio.  The add-in plugs directly into the Team Explorer window in Visual Studio and provides you an organized hierarchical list of the build definitions in your team project.  This is done using a naming convention for the builds in your team project.  The add-in uses “.” as the default separator, but the developers of the add-in were nice enough to make it customizable.  And the Inmeta Build Explorer add-in is a client plugin, so only the developers on your team that are interested in using it have to install it – if you don’t look at the build definitions on a daily basis, then you don’t have to install it. 

Just to give you an idea of the structure of the builds underneath the Inmeta Build Explorer node, here is what the Inmeta Build Explorer add-in looks like in our team project.

Another nice feature of this add-in is the ability to easily queue up the “default” build for a specific build definition.  If you right-click on one of the builds, an option named “Queue Default Build(s)” is available on the context menu.  Selecting this will automatically queue a new build for that build definition, bypassing the build properties window that lets you override the default build settings. 

You can get the Inmeta Build Explorer on the Visual Studio Gallery. 

http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/35daa606-4917-43c4-98ab-38632d9dbd45

Caffeine, pizza, and anxiety are regular tools for a production deployment.  Watch and learn how Team Foundation Build 2010 and MSDeploy can turn the last hurdle of software development into a moment of zen.  Deploying software can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be if you practice the hard things along the way.

In this webinar, we’ll take a look at how to configure a new Team Build definition for Continuous Integration.  Then we will walk through creating an MSDeploy package from an ASP.NET MVC project, and automate the execution of the MSDeploy package to remote servers using our Continuous Integration build definition. 

The webinar will be April 28th from 12pm-1pm EST.  For more information and to register to attend, check out the Strategic Data Systems website.

Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Pub by Crown Publishing. ISBN 10 9780307463746. 

So I know that this book has been out for awhile, and actually, I have owned this book for awhile.  Actually, if we’re being exact, I’ve owned two copies of this book for quite some time now.  It’s a funny story… ok, so not actually, but anyway – here is why I have two copies of this book.  I ordered the book off Amazon.com when it first hit bookshelves.  However, I wanted to read it so badly and I couldn’t wait until it was shipped to my house, so I picked up a copy at the local Books and Company store.  I took that copy home, and started to read it.  And, eventually, the copy I had ordered off Amazon.com finally arrived.  Although at that point, life had already moved on and I never did remember to take back the original copy I had picked up at Books and Company.  So, now I have two copies.  And I finally finished reading one of those copies just a couple weeks ago on the plane, and here is the review.  This blog post does have a point – I promise.

Rework is one of the most interesting – and most realistic – business books I have seen in a while.  And it’s one of the more unique business books I have read.  It’s unique because, in all of its simplicity, the authors of this book seem to understand how to start (and run) a business more than most others. 

The authors start off with some very basic suggestions on how to start your own business.  But rather than walk you through the step-by-step process for creating everything from business cards to marketing material, they help the reader consider the most important things first.  You don’t have to give up your 9-5 job to start doing something you love.  You can start working on something with a little as an hour a day, and if you’re truly passionate about this interest and it’s more than a hobby, then you will stick with it – oh, and about those business cards – they can wait.  The key is to prioritize your list of tasks and expenses, and focus on the most important things first. 

The book continues by discussing how to build your idea into a productive business, when to grow (or not grow) your business, and how to deal with everyday business scenarios like hiring, marketing, and bad press.

If you’re looking for a no-crap book on how to turn your ideas into a sustainable business, then look no further – start by reading Rework.