Microsoft’s Professional Developers Conference formally opened in Los Angeles Tuesday morning.
The company’s chairman and chief software architect, Bill Gates, has his eyes on the future. He wants Microsoft’s legions of developers to help the company keep moving that way as well.
Microsoft disclosed in a press release that some new technologies would be available for developers:
• “Atlas” is the code name for a Web client framework for building Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX)-style applications using Dynamic HTML (DHTML), XML and script.
• The Language Integrated Query (LINQ) Project is a set of language innovations for the Microsoft .NET Framework that makes it simpler for developers to access data. LINQ comprises a set of language extensions to C# and Visual Basic and a unified programming model that extends the .NET Framework to offer integrated querying for objects, databases and XML.
• Windows Presentation Foundation “Everywhere” is a subset of the full Windows Presentation Foundation, a powerful platform-level presentation and display engine.
In a morning keynote, Mr. Gates extolled the virtues of Redmond’s next-generation Office 12 productivity suite, and its Vista (formerly called Longhorn’) operating system. Both products have been announced as arriving in 2006.
Tabbed navigation appears as a feature of Office 12. As part of a redesigned interface, tabs will appear in the toolbar, and they will be relevant to the task at hand: Write and Page Layout in Word, Sheet and Formulas in Excel, Slides and Design in PowerPoint, for some examples.
For Vista, the long-awaited 64-bit operating system from Microsoft, the Community Technology Preview program will be in place to get the company’s partners and customers involved in Vista’s development. Microsoft has been heavily promoting its concept of “Foundations” during Vista’s development.
CTP developers will be able to use Microsoft’s WinFX programming model to build apps that tie into and take advantage of the Presentation and Communication foundations of Vista. Microsoft sees this as a way for developers to build better applications.
The company, as always, possesses unbridled confidence in its work. Going back to last week’s Business Summit 2005 in Redmond, I asked CEO Steve Ballmer via email about Microsoft’s forays into the CRM and ERP spaces, and when he thought his company might take the lead in those markets.
His answer characterizes the company’s confidence: “I think we are there today.” For anyone who might think Microsoft isn’t paying attention, please note this response arrived at 5:30 PT on a Saturday. They are always paying attention, and it starts at the top.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
