To update existing Visual Studio project templates, follow the manual instructions here. Should you wish to change the default templates, they can be found at:C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplatesI wanted to set TreatWarningsAsErrors to true by default for all class library projects. First precaution, I took a backup copy of the original zip file prior to unzippi...

I have recently read a couple of blog posts that promote using Windows Server 2008 as a Workstation.  To avoid potential integration issues, I always think it's a good idea to build applications on an environment that mirrors test and production as closely as possible.  So when developing applications with differing deployment targets, for instance, IIS, BizTalk or even the Compact Framework, it'...

Software construction is often compared with building construction.  In fact, Steve McConnell devotes a whole chapter to software metaphors in his seminal work, Code Complete 2.    In recent times, I've taken note of some of the analogies used by colleagues and noticed one directly related to construction:   If you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.   Maslow's Hammer has been st...

I revisited the concept of the quality reduced product today when a product manager insisted that the software development team take a really low cost option.  I reminded the product manager that the typical steps in delivering a product in less time and for less money result in lower quality.  Whilst the product's end user willingly consented to this trade off, my warnings regarding the impact o...

This post regarding stakeholders is again inspired by and contains excerpts from the book Software Systems Architecture: Working with Stakeholders using Viewpoints and Perspectives. Software systems are not just used, they have to be built and tested, operated, repaired and of course paid for. Each of these activities involves a number of people, each with their own requirements and interests. The...