Learning WP7. Step 1: Imagine

I have already developed and delivered introductory training to Windows Phone 7 development. And it worked pretty well for .NET developers that attended it. I started it with...

When you are learning the new platform, you usually start with capabilities, tools and etc. One can create a large presentation on the topic and most trainers do. But what could be learned from it?

I did platform presentation too, but my focus is on learning. And learning means "being capable of something new".

Take away.

Attendees will have a practical task of imagining themselves almighty WP7 developer and describing the projects they would have implemented with platform capabilities. Real value:

• Project management practice of developing vision/scope document,
• Deeper understanding of platform capabilities,
• Training focus - have a project in mind will focus on required things to learn,
• Collaboration: share project descriptions in OneNote (for example) and people will communicate and discuss,
• Free ideas for future training tasks already described and evaluated.

2.5 months later

Time is passing by. The team is experienced in building WP7 Silverlight Apps.
Delivered 1 phase of the project, gathered Knowledge base, created Project template for future use and tested Marketplace submission strategy.

The team is ready. Just sent info to the Sales - hopefully we will get a billable project someday.

Meanwhile, Sandbox is expanding. We have several new members, User Group is forming and meeting is imminent. New mobile conferences on the way.

Summary.

If you work in the right direction - you will get results. We did, and we will continue working. First application is in the Marketplace, interest in Windows Phone platform is only growing and it is time to be starting a local community.

Next step

Now I have internal project at my disposal, a dedicated team, but still inexperienced in this field and a will to continue.

Just need to allocate enough time to do it.

The Holidays

The New Year holidays are not good for projects that are done in one's own time.
Lots of duties emerge and less and less time is left.

I will just wait till the end of the presents-party-sleep-watchTV time. And I will start anew.

It's great that tomorrow is the day.

Buying Devices and Development Account for Windows Phone 7

It took me a week and a lot of nerves to buy a few WP7 devices and a XNA dev account.
Anyway it is finished. I hope it helps guys find new motivation to continue.

Sandbox development for WP7 is progressing, but should move a bit quicker. I have to make it move forward as personal example.

Vision

Goal: Develop projects. Achieve new heights.
Now to:

• Develop small stuff. Easy to create a vision. Could be implemented within days, weeks. Do it first - rethink later. Follow: "make it work today, make it right tomorrow, make it fast if you love it".
• Complete the smallest working thing in one go.
• Share ideas. Create a team and make them add new "small" ideas.
• Attractive platform. There must be something fundamentally attractive making the development - fun. For me this is "Windows Phone 7", but it may be something else.
• Think ahead. There must be a dream of going big. An idea to level up the team to something greater. A way to evolve the projects if they hit.

So WP7 platform was what I needed. It is new and cool, it has known dev platform (Silverlight), mobile is fun for most. It is ideal for "small" stuff.

I got lucky to meet a few enthusiasts with considerable skill just at the moment I needed them, I got help from colleagues and got acquainted with a few more great guys.

It's been about a week, we have 4 projects in development already. All having progress. 3 of them are "playable" already.

Grand opening!

This is the first post in my new blog. (though "Russian" is my native language, I will be using English)

I have pestered the idea of "Sandbox" for a year and it just happened to start on its own. Like an initiative that doesn't involve a direct reward for the effort it has all the risks of dying too soon but my hopes are high this time.

About me.
Name: Ivan Kirkorau
Occupation: software developer (and all other roles), trainer, sorcerer...

I am spending most of my work time on training software developers in MS technologies and solving problems, all kinds. And its its toll on me, I am losing the skill of developer.

Here comes my savior. "Sandbox" - a group of enthusiasts initially inspired by me to form development team(s) and create working projects and have fun while learning and honing one's skill.

The idea has nothing new on the top, many of them died without ever completing anything. I was looking for the key ingredients that will help keep the focus and fun.
Now I hope I have found some for the starter. As it grows I will need more.

... next post about ingredients.