The session on SQL Server patch management was about the same thing that everyone related to patches at MS has been saying for some time: We know it sucks now, we are trying to make it better, but there’s only so much we can do. They are consolidating down to 2 patch installers, trying to support multiple instances better, better control panel interfaces and improvement/standardization of command line switches. (I wonder if they listened to me bitching on NTBuqtraq all that time ago)
The exhibit hall reception was nice, lots of free beer, free food and I think my t-shirt count is up to 5, and the hat count is at 3. One of the hats is for Marty (from AutoProf/ProfileMaker). I also spent some time talking to the Visual Studio 2005 Team System group about source control going forward. Visual SourceSafe isn’t going away, but they see the deficiencies in it when it comes to a larger team environment. And the fact that it doesn’t integrate well with the IDE, so they are addressing that with a ‘enterprise class’ source control system that doesn’t share any code with VSS. Now, if I could just get the developers to use it.
Second keynote in about 15 minutes.