Willy-Peter Schaub's Cave of Chamomile Simplicity

Moving TFS Sites to another server ... a non-trivial journey

Brian Harry covers the move of TFS Sites to another WSS server in http://blogs.msdn.com/bharry/archive/2006/10/30/moving-your-tfs-sharepoint-site.aspx. While the journey is possible, it is one that should be embarked on with caution at this stage.

Noodle ... what is an architect?

A colleague referred me to the http://www.ronjacobs.com/Noodle/default.htm site, which not only contains excellent material, but conveys the world of an architect in everyday terminology and brings the message home. I will definitely run the "Essentials of Architecture Analysis - Requirements and Constraints" video in the next project status meeting I am attending on Tuesday ... the clear definition of the goal, the certainty and many other fine points, will make the team smile ... I am convinced thereof.

TFS: During the VSTS Objective Domain Session and TechEd Chalk/Talks we had interesting discussions about "issues" ...

Planning and Sizing

The guidelines for planning and sizing are currently scattered across a number of blogs and we have therefore created a quick reference poster with our suggestions. The PDF poster “0202 Microsoft Team System Project Capacity Planning” can be located on http://www.drp.co.za/Media/Posters/PostersPDF/tabid/62/Default.aspx and the high-quality JPG on the same site, whereby you need to register to gain access to the high-quality poster.

Backup of TFS

TFS, with all its supporting services, requires great care and planning. Neither the restore of a Reporting Services, nor SharePoint site is a trivial task and TFS includes both of these and more. What we suggest that you include in your TFS backup strategy are the following artifacts:

§         TFS Backup & Restore Procedure
(http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms253070.aspx)

o        TFS Databases TFS Configuration Files, i.e. the web service web.config files.

o        RSS Key (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms400729.aspx)

o        SharePoint Databases (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2003/maintain/bureswss.mspx)

o        SharePoint TFS Portal Sites customisations using STSAdm.exe (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2003/maintain/bureswss.mspx#EZQAE)

o        To move a TFS implementation to another server refer to http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms404869.aspx, a reference that also proves invaluable during a restore. By the way, remember to prepare a huge cup of Chamomile tea or coffee before you attempt a restore and cancel all your commitments for the next few hours … the exercise is not trivial.

Offline Workspaces

Taking work home can introduce a non-exciting challenge, if the project files you are going to work on are not currently checked out. A server connection is necessary to check files in or out and files hat are not checked out are "read-only"! If, however, you have to work on a file you failed/forgot to checkout before flying half-way around the world, you can check out the file with the PowerToy TF checkout command before commencing with the editing. You can run the command line utility TFPT PowerToy with offline and online arguments to reconciliate. See http://blogs.msdn.com/buckh/archive/2005/11/16/493401.aspx for further information on this 'cool' tool.

Team Proxy Server

Be careful when integrating remote teams to your TFS server, especially when large files are exchanged (for example gaming solution teams). Check-in, Check-out or project administration can often timeout on slow or unreliable links. Welcome TFS Proxy Server, the timeout and excessive network calls buster ... Checkout http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2003/maintain/bureswss.mspx#EZQAE for info on this topic.

Build

If you are into Team Build, monitor MAZOCAR blog for some exciting forthcoming posts and also take a peek at http://geekswithblogs.net/etiennetremblay/archive/2006/10/04/93213.aspx.

Being a TFS Admin, but not Server Admin?

Have a look at http://geekswithblogs.net/etiennetremblay/archive/2006/09/27/92507.aspx and also remember the TFSAdmin widget.

Great BLOGs

Please visit the following blogs by the authors of those post and especially look at http://blogs.sarkhouston.com/mazocar/archive/2006/10/21/3551.aspx, showing some mugshots to put faces to names:

§         http://blogs.sarkhouston.com/mazocar

§         http://teamsystemrocks.com/blogs/mickey_gousset/default.aspx

§         http://www.geekswithblogs.net/etiennetremblay

§         http://blog.accentient.com/

One of the next attractions will be a quick reference poster of the build process, which Mike and I are working on.

Who is the TFS ITPro?

Supporting and maintaining TFS requires a variety of skills and a special resource, referred to as “the guy at the end of the corridor” by Etienne, or also known as Geek or Technology Specialist. We could probably also refer to the persona as the meat in the hamburger … the centre component and the most important.

The following chart shows that TFS requires a set of skills and experience and in a nutshell I believe that we should have the following actors:

TFS software and hardware infrastructure is best supported by a systems/support engineer, specialised in administrative tasks such as backup, restore, disaster recovery, monitoring and fixing of hardware … including fighting overheating computer rooms and ensuring that all servers are in a “happy” state.

We then encounter the first subject expert, namely the process, work item and build specialist, which is often a combination of 2-3 specialists knowledgeable on process methodologies such as Scrum, XP and MSF, build customisation around MSBuild and TFS Build and the work item type customization and associated processes/workflows.

The most visible persona is the TFS user, which could be a developer and/or tester or project manager or simply an interested team project stakeholder. These individuals often only see and know about VSTS, oblivious to the powerful engine room hidden on the other side of the copper wire.

We then have the glue between all these parties, a persona I have defined as the TFS ITPro, for Team Foundation Server IT Professional or Technology Specialist. The ITPro is knowledgeable on all aspects of TFS, most likely not an expert in every intricacy, such as customising work item types of builds. The individual is, however, able to coordinate all TFS related activities and designs, knowing the impact of any change to the TFS ecosystem.

This topic was one of the OD/Redmond and TechEd’2006 SA discussions and we realized that many of our TFS installations are probably done on inferior hardware, but more importantly supported by the wrong resource(s).

Any thoughts on this matter?

TechEd 2006 South-Africa

I only drove to TechEd2006 today (~4.5hours drive in total) to host the TFS and WCF Chalk&Talk sessions, whereby we had interesting discussions before and after the sessions.

Unfortunately the chalk&talk sessions were not advertised in the daily agenda, were hidden away on the other side of the conference area and when talking to TechEd attendees many did not even know that these sessions exist. IT is sad, because many of the MVPs invested immense passion and effort in the preparation of these sessions.

We discussed the challenges and sizing guidelines of TFS, all of which will be covered in subsequent BLOGs.

I hope that everyone has fun for the rest of TechEd … I am back home, enjoying maths and chemistry studying with my boys, and eventually UNISA studies when everyone is fast asleep.

Scrum'ing in the bits-bytes-rain

Great TFS/VSTS Feeds

I had the pleasure to work with a number of TFS/VSTS "Geeks" ... one a "French" Canadian. Visit them on the blogs as listed in my TFS Blog list, bottom right on my workspace.

Tomorrow I will start my journey back home, with a 5.5 hour flight from Seattle to Washington DC, 8.5 hours Washington to Dakar and 8.5 hours Dakar to Johannesburg. 22.5 hours of pure flight time, not including the frystrating customs and baggage control points. Thanks to ET I am also wondering where I am going to put all the "stuff" we bought ... games, geek mugs, ... may the force be with us.

List of excellent widgets and the realisation that coffee is a science in the US

Some interesting TFS artifacts which have become defacto in my VSTS toolbox. Thanks Steven for maintaining a compete list of the widgets on http://accentient.com/widgets.aspx.

Build ins-and-outs, by Etienne on http://geekswithblogs.net/etiennetremblay/archive/2006/10/04/93213.aspx.

Latest Installation script by Etienne … the coolest things since sliced cheese with holes is referenced on Steven’s blog on http://blog.accentient.com/PermaLink,guid,ec08f1c6-65fc-425c-9e09-bf0ebc8c62a8.aspx

VSTS Power Tools Team Foundation Power Toys on http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=3F21144A-4E98-4CE0-830F-D1F3E8AC9D67&displayLang=en

Update the data ware house NOW, rather than waiting for the update interval can be achieved using TFS Warehouseupdate on  http://julien.lavigneducadet.com/index.php?2006/08/02/5-tfs-warehouse-update-with-authentification

TFS Warehouse Status Monitor and Update Tool on http://paltman.com/files/4/teamtools/entry138.aspx

Team Build Sidekick addin on http://www.attrice.info/cm/tfs/TeamBuildAddin.htm

Team Foundation Sidekicks on http://www.attrice.info/cm/tfs/index.htm

TFS Event Subscriber on http://www.gotdotnet.com/codegallery/codegallery.aspx?id=6da8d4eb-f456-4e22-9a73-851c7341cff4

Check for Comments Check-In Policy on http://blogs.vertigosoftware.com/teamsystem/archive/2006/08/22/3417.aspx

We are having fun at the OD for TFS session in Redmond and the comment by Charles “we are flipp’ing you with the bill Frenchie” was the highlight at dinner this evening. Etienne will most likely blog on it in more detail on his blog at http://geekswithblogs.net/etiennetremblay and correct any details I missed in translating the American lingo to SA English.

What I have realised is that in America everything is big. The food arriving on one plate in Seattle would feed a family back home and I will not even get started on the selection of coffees and tea, or the complex ordering process. At home one orders a coffee or a tea ... here you need a science degree and a 8-way processor to make a decision on what, who and when you want your coffee.  

TechEd 2006 - Chalk & Talk Sessions

You can find me at TechEd 2006 covering two of the chalk&talk sessions as outlined below:

Team System from an early adopter, evangelist and user's view
2006/10/24 Chalk & Talk Room B 10:30-11:30

Walk on the wild side with Willy through Visual Studio Team System. Interact on the findings and issues plus discuss his recommendations. He will cover his passion for TFS and provide insight on its use in a production environment. The TFS Scrum methodology template has added immense value to the BB&D development environment, come long for a fast and furious expose.

Windows Communication Foundation from an early adopters and evangelist view
2006/10/24 Chalk & Talk Room B 14:30-15:30

Chalk or cheese! Scratch the board with Willy and discuss Windows Communication Server (WCF, ex Indigo). From the pain of early adoption though evangelism of the WCF technology al the way to - Adoption and readiness, what WCF adoption programs are planned and what must South-African developers, analysts and architects do to be ready.

See you there.

Errata: .NET Enterprise Solutions … Interoperability for the Connoisseur

Our second book is finally available and shipping. Packed with a wealth of information covering interoperability it is also littered with TLAs.

For those that hate TLAs (three lettered acronyms) as much as I do, we extend an apology for undocumented TLAs within the book. Here are two of the TLAs and their actual meaning:

POX – Plain Old Xml describing basic XML.

WXS - W3C XML Schema, used to express shared vocabularies, allowing machines to carry out rules defined by humanoids.

Redmond ... a vibrant Microsoft home base ... and no sleep.

After 24 hours of flying from Johannesburg to Dakar to Washington DC to Seattle, I am sitting with some of the greatest and most passionate TFS guys defining the VSTS Objective Domain … I am the Zombie in the front-row, really battling with lack of sleep. It is 3AM back home, 6PM in Redmond and there is no sign of the night introducing a few hours of quality rest.

What amazes me every time I have the pleasure of visiting Redmond, is the vibrant energy that exists on the Microsoft campus. The Microsoftonians are the most passionate information technology experts and it is this passion that makes the new technologies as great as they are.

VSTS - Scrum Methodology Process Template (Q&A)

I recently raised some queries with the creators of the TFS Scum Process Methodology template and would like to share some of the responses I received from van Howard Rooijen. (Thanks Howard ... and please keep up the 'excellent' product)

Why are the forms and reports not displaying units of time? Early adopters often get confused with the days in backlog items and hours in the rest.
Product Backlogs Items are estimates in terms of days – because if you estimated in any smaller unit of time, you would be inferring a level of accuracy that you do not have at this point in time. Sprint Backlog Items are estimated in terms of hours because they represent the decomposed lists of tasks that are required to complete the product backlog item. The Items don’t have labels specifying what the units are, as we didn’t want to dictate that users enter days or hours, as if they were practicing User Stores they might enter Story Points instead

Should teams reduce the remaining time of sprint backlog items in scrum meetings or reduce to zero when done ... or is it up to the team? We are effectively reducing every day, while others believe that it is an all or nothing approach.
Team Members should re-estimate the tasks they are currently working throughout the day. If they believe they have 5 hours left – then the sprint backlog item’s “work remaining” field should be reduced to 5. If they think it’s completed and ready for testing, the “work remaining” should be set to 0 and then the task should be assigned to the tester for testing (who once happy can mark the work item as “done”)

Reading the process guidance one should add backlog items, then sprints and sprint items which are associated to backlog items, which can only be done by right clicking on a backlog item. Why is this so? Why is there no option of defining the encompassing backlog item when adding sprint items separately?
Create Sprints first – then you can create Product Backlog Items (I generally do this via the  “all product backlog items” query viewed in excel) then synch with TFS and then in the ide right click on individual product backlog items and select the “create related work item” menu option and select “Sprint Backlog Item”. It’s a bit fiddly but it works. The main problem is that TFS doesn’t support hierarchical relationships between work items. Hopefully with features that will be contained in TFS SP1 we can nest custom controls into the work items that could make managing these relationships much easier.

How can one find out which sprint items belong to which backlog item, using the query manager? There "seems" to be no relationship when working in the work item query manager.
You can’t – the work item query language isn’t complex enough to handle those types of queries – but there are reports supplied inside Scrum for

VSTS: Installing the Check for Comments Check-In Policy

Vertigo Software have released a neat check-in policy that verifies that comments are checked. See http://blogs.vertigosoftware.com/teamsystem/archive/2006/08/22/3417.aspx for more details.

Now if we could configure TFS to disable the "override policy failure and continue checkin" checkbox...

VSTS FAQ - Good link for the common questions and answers

Visual Studio Team System Chat

Join members of the Visual Studio Team System product group to discuss features available in Visual Studio Team Foundation Server, Team Editions for Architects, Developers, Database Pros, and Testers. In addition, discuss what's new in Visual Studio Code Name Orcas September CTP and Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals CTP 5.

Join the chat on Wednesday, October 4th, 2006 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time.

To add this to your calendar, click here.
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