Simple Search for Umbraco v0.2 released

I have added a new umbraco related project to our.umbraco.org. It is called "Simple Search for Umbraco" and provides a simple way to let your site be searched. It is based on iterating through the umbraco.presentation.nodeFactory objects and it is easy to install and to use. This blog now uses this search via xslt output.

View

• the project homepage
• add issues to the codeplex issue tracker
• leave comments in the forum or mail me

Just let me know what you think about it.

Summary of my CG09 session

I have finally finished the summary of my Codegarden 09 session 'Using Webservices in Umbraco'.

I have packed all together in a zip file you can download here.

Tool Presentation: Balsamic Mockup

Last week I joined the DNUG Frankfurt to speak about Umbraco. This motto of this meeting was 'Cool Tipps Camp' where six other tracks showed some other stuff. The tool 'Balsamiq Mockup' was presented by Stephan Schneider and I wanted to forward this info to you as I think it is a great tool.

Balsamiq Mockup is a tool used for defining the structure of a web site or web application. Yes, there are some other tools around this defining websites so why am I so excited about this tool? It is a program let you define the structure without the design. You can edit a browser window to a certain state of the web application and it looks like painted with a pencil. That gives you the opportunity to separate the structure of the website from the design. Check out the webcasts on the start page and some screenshots here.

Balsamiq Mockup opens in a window with a tabbed toolbar where all the 'widgets' are placed like a browser window, an IPhone, navigations sliders, calendars, buttons, etc. You can change some properties on the widgets and you also can put in some basic functionality (link to other mockups like links in a web page). With you can save and export these mockups, co-workers can add notices and finally you can get c# code out of it (with a plugin you have to buy).

In the state of defining the structure of a web site you shouldn't talk about design. I think the design comes afterwards when you know how the website is structured. In many discussions with my 'clients' I had the problem that if I was showing a sample behaviour live in a browser all clients wanted to talk about the design: 'this button has to be a bit more blue' (what is more blue?) and 'the navigation bar looks a little bit crappy' instead of talking of the way to navigate through the web application and which kind of navigation should be used. Perhaps with Balsamiq Mockup I will help me define better web site structures with my clients.

Balsamiq Mockup is based on Adobe Air and costs about 80 $. It's worth to have a look on it.

Speaking at the DNUG Frankfurt Meeting next Wednesday

Next Wednesday I got a timeslot from about 25 min at the DNUG Frankfurt Meeting for presenting Umbraco (speaking there in german). This is not really enough time to show the complete power of Umbraco but I can introduce umbraco in Germany. Perhaps I get more time in one of the following Meetings.

If you are interested just go to the DNUG Frankfurt website and check in.

Retreat and Codegarden 09 roundup

My plans had been to write every day a summary for the Retreat and Codegarden 09. I don't know why I didn't managed it (I am so sorry *g*). So I will try to give you my roundup of these great event(s) right now, nearly two weeks after Codegarden 09 and the Retreat.

Day one (Thursday)

The first day I arrived at Copenhagen in the morning. It was great to see all the guys I met the year before and also the new ones who joined the first time. I was a bit nervous to meet all these guys. Therefore that the retreat house opened at least at 3 pm we had to kill time in the great an fabulous BonBonLand. I was wondering why all security advices had been written in Danish and German. Per pointed out that BonBonLand and also the retreat house are in a tourist region mostly used by germans. I also had to take a rollercoaster as training for later usage with my childs (my wife wouldn't do that in life).

Finally we arrived at the retreat house where we continued some social talks to get known each other. We also played the legendary retreat football game with AJAX.

Day two (Friday)

The second day we started with some Open Space sessions. This had been great talks. The most important talk for me had been the Umbraco cross roots promotion therefore that I am disappointed about the low popularity of Umbraco in Germany.

The day ended with a great BBQ, some social talks and the unavoidable Podcast (I am soooo sorry).

Day three (Saturday)

The third day started by the principle discussion about using ASP.NET MVC in Umbraco which will be done for v5. I am totally exited about this because I love this Framework. Afterwards most of us helped hacking the new our.umbraco.org site. I also had to prepare my session for Codegarden.

This evening we had great fun driving carts, and I became third in a team together with Alex (thanks Alex).

Unlike to the year before this saturday we got neighbours (all from germany) and I could see some typical german behaviours (confirming some prejudices).

Day four (Sunday)

This morning we had to leave the retreat house returning to Copenhagen. We drove directly to the venue where we prepared the rooms.

This evening I finished the preparations for my session. Afterwards a small group of us took a beer in a near cafe.

Day five (Monday), Codegarden 09 day one

Finally Codegarden 09 started with the Keynote from Niels and Per. They presented the new community site (our.umbraco.org), the roadmap for Umbraco with v5 going to MVC. Wow.

Afterwards the sessions took place. In my session I talked about using webservices in Umbraco. Although I had to compete to the 'Wired.co.uk building for massive traffic' session I had an audience from about 40 to 50 people. All demos went well although the time was short. Direct after the session and also later the day I got some very good feedback for the session (YAY).

Later I joined the Perfomance optimizing ASP.NET session (thanks Mads) and had some good talks.

As an special guest Tor Norretranders talked about getting laid via sharing your shit. A great philosophical talk.

But nothing can be better than the great and one and only Ole Erling playing for the Umbraco Bingo. Wow, nice end of day one.

Day six (Thursday), Codegarden 09 day two

The second day of Codegarden is traditional an Open Space day. So we got some great themes for this day and I joined some of them taking good ideas and new motivation with me.

Fortunately there was midsummer in denmark and we haeded to the venue from last year where a big party was. Afterwards the others took me to another bar or something else. Great ending of the week I guess.

Day seven (Wednesday)

I was in bed about 3:30 am. Kenneth and me we stood up at 6 am heading to the airport.

Arriving home I had to catch some mice and had to clean the first floor completely because of the mice (received one's just desert I guess).

Conclusion

Again this had been a great week with awesome people. I learned a lot, got some motivation and new ideas.

The most important things I take with me from this week are:

• Umbraco goes MVC
• LinQ to Umbraco
• the new community site
• don't wait, just do it
• share your shit

My thanks are going to Niels and Per who invited me again and made this week to an awesome week I will not forget.

A special thanks goes to Doug for his great pictures he is sharing with us. Also Peter uploaded some pics, thx.

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