It looks like the core Silverlight 3 tools are now available:
Though the tools needed for development seem to be public, I’ve yet to see the end-user run-time; though I imagine we’ll see that in the release anticipated for tomorrow.
Time to have some fun. 
Update: Client run-time is now available.
I’ve been working on a project recently that uses avatars, while planning out this specific feature it occurred to me – why should we re-invent the wheel? There’s already at least one service that specializes in doing it right: Gravatar.
While building something as simple as avatar support takes a relatively small amount of time, when working against a tight deadline or a tight budget every minute counts. In the world of an ISV (especially a young one) the balance of user satisfaction and development time is critical. Using a service such as Gravatar is a great way to give the users what they want with minimal impact to the timeline.
With a super-simple implementation we were able to get it running within a few minutes – compare that to at least a few hours to build a custom system. Plus, reduced server load as we aren’t hosting the images and a cleaner, simpler interface as it’s one less option the user has to look through.
I normally don’t write posts just to point out an article by another author, but the latest by Jeff Atwood is a must read:
Hardware is Cheap, Programmers are Expensive
I point this out because this is something I’ve been fighting recently. It’s easier for management to tell the development team to fix a performance issue than to request money for the new hardware that’s needed.
In the long run it would be much cheaper to just throw more hardware at it – though that requires higher level approval. Whereas assigning a couple developers doesn’t require going nearly as high.
Ladies, do you know where your husband is? If he’s anything like me (or the rest of my team), he’s at the office. At 4AM. Again.
For the third week in a row I find myself at work at the wee hours of the morning preparing for a project launch. Though today more than ever I find myself asking questions; what takes priority, the needs of a company, or the needs of a relationship? What’s more important, the health of a project, or my own health? Should I be working to make this project a success, or sleeping to stay healthy?
Normally these questions are simple and obvious – yet so often we choose our projects over ourselves, our companies over our loved ones. Why? Is it the drive for success, the challenge of doing the impossible? Maybe it’s the money? Why do developers so often sacrifice so much?
This isn’t a guide to better managing time, or a treatise on setting priorities; no, it’s a developer’s lament. So much is given for a company that does little but ask for more; yet more we always give. We know there are things far more important, but yet so much rides on our efforts, so many people counting on us; how could we dare let them down? Though I appreciate my paycheck, it doesn’t drive me to do more – it’s the people, the challenge, the fact only I can make this happen.
Sometimes though, I wish I could bring myself to accept failure; maybe then the pressure wouldn’t be so great. Maybe then, I could sleep at night.
But this is what we do, we make the miracles; we do the impossible. Every day we face another challenge, every day we find another solution. Now if we could just find a solution for all this time lost from what matters most.
For those that missed it (like me), the Windows Vista User Experience Guidelines has been updated with some additional content. This update add content in the following areas:
These guidelines are crucial to ensure the most consistent user experience possible. Though many don’t, this is a document that all developers should read. I firmly believe that consistency is the most important single factor in design, and following an established style such as this is a great way to ensure that a UI is as consistent as possible.
If you’d like some background reading, the XP version is still available.
The great Lutz Roeder has released a new version of the .NET Reflector. From what I’ve seen; this version is extremely nice. This has long been a required tool of any serious developer. With this update Reflector has reinforced its position in the list of tools you just can’t live without.
Scott Hanselman provides a great review; check it out for the details on what’s new.