Yesterday we (myself & Rattan Singh) visited Stockholm. I have uploaded some snaps here.

Finally we launched our own web site for T-Mug (Trivandrum Microsoft Usergroup)

http://www.t-mug.org

Discussion forum

Well, I didnt even think about such a scenario while talking to Trivandrum usergroup members regarding 64 bit Windows. My intention was to help the UG members to prepare for 64 bit migration & development. Is there any one who can help me to migrate (?) to 16 bit:) My requirement was simple (at first). Just to invoke .NET component from third party windows application, which provides some interfaces ( DLLs). I have created a win32 dll, which uses CCW to call managed components. Unfortunately the third pary appplication was not able to detect my 32bit bit dll.

I gave my application exe to my colleague (Depends.exe), he failed to open the same. Third party application is 16-bit:) Now time to search for a 16 bit compiler. Downloaded & Installed Visual C++ 1.52. Thanks to MSDN team since still they keep 16 bit version. I dont know my plans (16 -Bit -> 32 bit -> Managed) will workout. Microsoft says generic thunking will work for NT/2000. Lets see.

I was going through Eric’s blog related to Assembly performance considerations. Here is his summary.

Factor functionality into assemblies based on:

• Performance - There is overhead in loading each assembly. All other things being equal, the fewer assemblies an application loads, the quicker the load time.
• Versioning - All code in an assembly must version at the same rate
• Security - All code in an assembly has the same identity and is granted the same level of trust.Performance
• Prefer single, large assemblies to multiple, smaller assemblies
• Helps reduce working set of application
• Large assemblies are easier for NGEN to optimize (better image layout, etc)
• If you have several assemblies that are always loaded together, combine into a single assembly

Now my turn. If you are designing an enterprise level application with multiple developers I would suggest horizontal layers, rather than a single assembly. If your team size is too big, you can even divide the horizontal layer into vertical slices according to funcitonality. But this is just to save development/manintance time (thinging about scalability too), while deploying we can merge the same into one assembly. So design decision has to be a compromise between the performance & scalability.

I don’t care any thing other than location (room number) and time when I get a meeting reminder from Outlook (like to work with) or Lotus Note (I dont have other option) . But this is past!! Now I have to check one more thing, Language Meeting is in English Or in Swedish ?

I am not sure how many of you know the history of Trivandrum usergroup. We officially started the MSN based Usergroup on 7th Feb 2003. ie about 12600 hours back . At that time we were less than 10 in number but we had some (more than 100) great ideas. The first thing was to setup our own web site. But for what ? We could have discuss techie stuffs during our evening tea or in MSN chat room itself, since we are less than 10. So we kept that as a low priority. We managed the UG meetings info, mailing list etc using MSN group. We were growing while(1){members++; }

Hope you know our Band-Width-Seeker (Nish) who represents the low bandwidth community. Low b/w Community means the one who cant load the MSN Group messageboard Nish registered a new mailing group in yahoo.

Due to mail deliver delays/instability we are now going to be using a new YahooGroup mailing list for all threads and discussions. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trivandrumusergroup

Now we have 500+ members in MSN and 150+ in Yahoo. Now we are big. Much greater than 10:) We have a core committe, good library, recognition and great support from all. So we registered a new domain www.t-mug.org as a non-profitable organization. Site is still under construction. Expecting your co-operation and wishes to T-Muggers.

Now I am in Vasteras, Sweden. Approximately 1 hour drive from Stolckholm, capital of Sweden. Vasteras seems like an industrial city, most of the buildings owned by ABB (www.abb.com), and spread all over the city, like Microsoft buildings in Redmond,US. I took Stolkholm-Vasteras Flybus from Stolkhorm airport, they dropped me near to Ta Inn hotel. I saw the hotel name board from the bus stop, it was not easy to carry my heavy bag. But there was no other way Reached there at reception, got the key - Room 102. Dont know any thing to do with this number, but I remember I had 102 during my stay in Leeds. May be European hotel prefer 102 to this Indian guy:) But room didnt meet my expectation. I was expecting one studio (room with cooking facility) with WiFi connection. I had taken some curry powder, noodles etc for first 2-3 days. Went to reception and asked them to change the room, unfortunately no vacant studio. Hopefully I can get one studio by next week.

Time nearly 3PM (6.30PM IST). Two things to do, had to get food and to check internet avaialability. Hungry won After bath, went to Central (near by town), with a Vasteras Map. It was sunny day, hence I found North & South (other wise map cant help me ) Reached near to Stadium, that I could locate in map too. Then things becoming easy. Located MacDonalds, ordered two MacChicken Sandwitch and sprite. I knew thats heavy, but I was to hungry. 84 Swedish Krones (SEK) . Remembered my old theory, never convert foriegn currency to rupees when your are at abroad Located another super store, bought some bread, banana, drinks etc, enough for 2 days. Back to room.

Time to check the internet connection. Took my laptop, inserted the Wifi card. Oops driver missing. Searched for LinkSys CD in all bags. Finally got and installed. But its not able to detect any Wireless connection Went to reception and told, she did some thing there and asked me to check the again. No luck. She told she is zero in computer and I have to wait till tommorrow. Then she allowed me to use the computer at reception. That was old Windows 98 system with g.r..r sound while booting. Oops thats Swedish version of Windows My intention was to check how its connecting to internet. Somehow managed to locate what ever I need. Thats not a wireless lan. Then back to my room, located one network point near to my bed. Connected Got my friends. Asked one of them to inform my parents about my trip. Yet to buy calling cards. Hopefully I will be getting one studio (without internet) by next week. Another difficult question. Which one I should take, Ineternet & Hotel food ? Or Cooking without inernet ?