Secret Microsoft Communications

Async coding in C++ means never having to say you are sorry

Surf4Fun — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:53:29 GMT

Maybe. That is a paraphrase quote from an old movie called "Love Story", that is seriously boring, unless you are with someone you either love or hope to, then it is still boring if you actually watched it. Like Dr. Zhivago or whatever...(read more)

Visual Studio 2012 Express for Windows 8

Surf4Fun — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:25:36 GMT

This is a quick and cheap way to get into Windows 8 store development. Windows 8 is awesome. I am convinced that Win 8 is simply beautiful, and an easy way to get your apps in the store. I see students getting multiple apps into the store...(read more)

TouchDevelop: Build Windows Store apps easily and quickly

Surf4Fun — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:09:15 GMT

I just completed a simple app and got it in the store in about 24 hours. Students that I work with have gotten apps in the store in less than 3 hours or so. It isn’t difficult but you do need to get some practice. Like a doctor who is...(read more)

XAML/C++: Why learn C++ and not Python?

Surf4Fun — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:46:14 GMT

Important links: Starting to learn about XAML can be found at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms752059.aspx Now the blah-blah, useless stuff, but the following is the reason for the title and article Python is definitely easier to learn...(read more)

XAML/C++: Why is it so hard to use XAML and DirectX

Surf4Fun — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:49:56 GMT

It isn’t. Seriously. Ok, it’s harder than say building an Ohm’s Law app using TouchDevelop (see http://www.TouchDevelop.com ) and if you follow the MSDN documentation, it will seem nearly impossible.. But if you take a look at the book...(read more)

Khan: Super fun discussion with someone’s brilliant future student

Surf4Fun — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:36:57 GMT

Sometimes in my job you meet a student, in this case a high school student I will refer to as Khan. Last night we had a great discussion about orbital mechanics and the design of launch vehicles. Not that I needed a relief from my normal job...(read more)

C++: Working with Direct2D in XAML, today the Viewbox

Surf4Fun — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:37:00 GMT

XAML and Direct2 or Direct2D In this case we will use the template provided with Visual Studio, this template is not found in the C# nor the VB template library. In this case we are using the term template as in Document Template and not the C++ template...(read more)

C++: DirectX and 3-D editing in Visual Studio

Surf4Fun — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:37:00 GMT

Weird. This has been a hidden story since VS 2012 came out. Not sure why. Did you know that you can do 3-D editing in Visual Studio? Check it out, and it isn’t documented very well on the MSDN sites, sure there are a few videos and so...(read more)

C++: Hey yo, why haven’t you got an app in the store? Students at CSULA did, with C++

Surf4Fun — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:17:23 GMT

Yep. Over the next few days, I will be highlighting some apps that students from Cal State Los Angeles created in a class I taught that they got into the store while learning how to use C++ for the first time! Let’s get started, here is the first of the...(read more)

XAML/C++: Jedi OutCast and Jedi Academy Open Source?

Surf4Fun — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:44:00 GMT

OMG, which stands for Oh my gosh, I am going to church in a few minutes, but just discovered this while reading Softpedia or whatever. Sadly, LucasArts shut down, bummer. Oh well, Disney knows what they are doing from a business point of view. License...(read more)