PDC09: Building Data-Driven Applications Using Microsoft Project Code Name "Quadrant" and Microsoft Project Code Name "M"
Session by Chris Sells, Douglas Purdy. Slides and video at http://microsoftpdc.com/Sessions/FT50
Just to share my notes, thoughts and session highlights:
First the history about "Oslo" to clarify things up:
"Oslo" 2007: Very broad vision to generally enhance developer productivity. In 2008 things like .NET Services, WF4 runtime and AppFabric ("Dublin" part) emerged out of this.
"Oslo" 2008: Modeling platform. "M", "Quadrant" and the "Repository".
"Oslo" 2009: SQL Server Modeling. Still consists of the three previous parts above.
Confusing that the same code name was used for different things. But well, the above overview should clarify it up.
So the rest will be about SQL Server Modeling of course:
SQL Server will be the shipping vehicle. The three "Oslo" parts are now described as:
"M": An open data language
"Quadrant": A developer tool for SQL Server
"Repository": SQL Server to store your data
So the big surprise (for me) is that "Quadrant" has changed from being a tool for visual DSL's to a SQL dev tool.
Some statements about "Quadrant":
- It’s a data navigation tool / database data browser.
- Now can also write "M" inside.
- Allows you to quickly build forms over data. Also with master detail functionality.
- Can work with huge datasets.
- Purdy also calls it the MS Office Access for SQL Server.
T-SQL and SQL Server management studio (SSMS) are positioned to be for IT/DB pros.
"M" and "Quadrant" are the counterparts for developers.
They see the "Oslo" stuff as more abstract. Comparison with VB over C/C++ is made. Where C/C++ is T-SQL and SSMS and VB is "M" and "Quadrant".
So all cool stuff I think. Even now it's still positioned as a modeling platform. My main question is: Where can I do Visual DSL's today? Last year the team showed stuff like building WCF services and workflows with boxes and lines in "Quadrant". I need boxes and lines to do Visual DSL's. So where are they? Are they ever going to come back?