Windows Azure Boot Camp is a two day deep dive class to get you up to speed on developing for Windows Azure. The class includes a trainer with deep, real world experience with Azure, as well as a series of labs so you can practice what you just learned.

Agenda

1. Intro to Cloud Computing and Azure
2. Web Roles
3. Messages and Queues
4. Using Azure Tables
5. Using BLOB Storage
6. Worker Roles
7. Diagnostics and Service Management
8. SQL Azure
9. Connecting with AppFabric
10. Cloud Computing Scenarios
11. Available Resources

What do I need to bring?

During the boot camp you will have opportunities to practice what you learn with labs. Having all of your software ready will make it easier to dive into the yummy goodness of exploring the labs. The lab files package will be given to you during the event .If you want to have everything loaded into a virtual PC that would be even better

In order to run these labs you will need to bring:

• Power strip or extension cord
• A computer or laptop:
  • Operating Systems Supported: Windows 7; Windows Server 2008; Windows Server 2008 R2; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows Vista Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
  • SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (or above)
  • Install the SDK and Tools

Windows Azure Boot Camp Schedule

• Cleveland, OH – January 19, 2011 at 8:30am EDT
• Austin, TX – January 19, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Waukesha, WI – January 25, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Cincinnati, OH – January 25, 2011 at 8:30am EDT
• Chattanooga, TN – February 1, 2011 at 8:30am EDT
• Tulsa, OK – February 8, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Columbus, OH – February 8, 2011 at 8:30am EDT
• Grand Rapids, MI – February 15, 2011 at 8:30am EDT
• Dallas, TX – February 16, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Little Rock, AR – February 23, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Chicago, IL – February 23, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Minneapolis, MN – March 9, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Indianapolis, IN – March 9, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Houston, TX – March 16, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Memphis, TN – March 23, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Overland Park, KS – March 30, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Nashville, TN – April 6, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Southfield, MI – April 13, 2011 at 8:30am EDT
• Downers Grove, IL – April 20, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Des Moines, IA – April 26, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• St. Louis, MO – May 4, 2011 at 8:30am CDT
• Bloomington, MN – May 9, 2011 at 8:30am CDT

If you can’t make it to the in-person events, there are a number of online resources to help with your Azure studies:

• Introduction to Cloud Computing and Windows Azure – originally aired November 29, 2010
• Windows Azure and Web Roles – scheduled for December 6, 2010 at 11am PDT
• Worker Roles – scheduled for December 13, 2010 at 11am PDT
• Working with Messaging and Queues – scheduled for January 3, 2011 at 11am PDT
• Using Windows Azure Tables – scheduled for January 10, 2011 at 11am PDT
• Diving into BLOB Storage – scheduled for January 17, 2011 at 11am PDT
• Diagnostics and Service Management – scheduled for January 24, 2011 at 11am PDT
• SQL Azure – scheduled for January 31, 2011 at 11am PDT
• Connecting with AppFabric – scheduled for February 7, 2011 at 11am PDT
• Cloud Computing Scenarios – scheduled for February 14, 2011 at 11am PDT

Hey everyone – if you’re planning to attend the WP7 Bootcamp event in Little Rock on Wednesday, the venue has changed!  Please make a note of the new location:

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2801  S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
Room: Reynolds College of Business Room 108

Start Dreaming. Start Building.

There has been a tremendous amount of buzz and excitement in the developer community as we get ready to launch Windows Phone 7. There have been over 300,000+ downloads of the Windows Phone 7 developer tools as developers are eager to take advantage of this next wave of computing. To help you along the way, my team is sponsoring a number of *free* Windows Phone 7 Boot Camp training events across the area. The purpose of these boot camps is to provide guidance around building apps and games that target Windows Phone 7 and lead  you down the path to start earning money in the Windows Marketplace.

Training and Hands-on Labs

Throughout the day, we’ll dive deep into the Windows Phone developer tools along with the services and components that allow you to light up your apps on Windows Phone 7. Bring your laptop! In the afternoon, we’ve set aside time for people to walk through various hands-on labs and give them an opportunity to get their hands dirty with the tools. We’ll have experts on hand to answer your questions as well.

Prerequisites for the Hands-on Labs

Unfortunately training machines will not be provided. You are welcome to bring your own machine with WiFi capability. To prepare for the labs, please download the Windows Phone Developer Tools and Windows Phone 7 Training Kit prior to the event. (Note: please check the system requirements on the Windows Phone Developer Tools download page)

App Testing – Bring your XAP!

Have you been working hard over the past few months building the next Angry Birds or the next great Social App? Bring your XAP (or your source code) and we’ll provide an opportunity for you to test it on a real device!

Windows Phone 7 Boot Camp Agenda

8:00 am – 8:30: Registration Opens

8:30 – 12:00pm:

• Overview of the Windows Phone 7 Platform
• An In-Depth View of Building Applications for Windows Phone 7 with Microsoft Silverlight
• WP7 + Data

12:00 – 12:30pm: Lunch

12:30 – 2:30pm:

• Building Games for Windows Phone 7 with XNA
• Making Money with the Windows Marketplace

2:30pm – 5:00pm:

• Hands-on Labs and App testing

Sign me up!

The event is FREE – to register, all you need to do is click on a link representing one of our cities below:

My colleagues over on the East Coast are running a series of Windows Phone training events as well. Check them out!

• Glen Gordon – Windows Phone 7 developers – free training and app building workshops!
• Joe Healy – Windows Phone Garage East Coast Tour – Fall 2010

(Thanks to Dave Bost for letting me copy some of his content for this post)

Are you ready to gain access to the latest tools, turning your hobby into a source of revenue, or expand your network?

Stop dreaming. Start building. Join us for a new series of Windows Phone 7 Bootcamps where you can get an inside track on how to be part of the next step of Microsoft’s mobile strategy and get hands-on training for building Silverlight-based applications.  These free, live learning sessions explore the latest tools, discuss tips and technologies, and provide access to Windows Phone 7 experts.

ATTEND these special events and learn about:

• the Windows Phone 7 platform
• building Silverlight Applications for Windows Phone 7
• submitting your application to the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace

Take advantage of this opportunity to explore with a Hands-on Lab where you can leverage the Windows Phone 7 Experts and your peers as you build your Windows Phone 7 Application.

Events run from 8am–5pm

Seating for the live event is limited, so register today.

There are quite  a few interesting (and cool) events coming up in SCD over the next couple of weeks� Check these out, mark your calendars and let ALL your friends know about them!

Launch Event � Visual Studio 2010, Office 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 8:00 AM � 5:00 PM

The event date is now SOLID, but the location is not.  We�ll be showing off VS2010, Office 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2.  More to come on this launch once we have the info � I only just got the final word on dates this evening.

MSDN Events Presents: Visual Studio 2010, .NET Framework 4.0 and SharePoint Development

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 1:00 PM, North Little Rock, AR

Join your local Microsoft Evangelism team for a lively tour our latest version of Visual Studio and the .NET Framework. We�ll start with an overview the IDE and explore how you can use the latest features to develop great applications in a flash. Next, we�ll look at the newest changes to the .NET Framework and how you can leverage them today. Finally, we end the day by looking at the new tools in Visual Studio that will supercharge your SharePoint development.

SESSION 1: What�s New in Visual Studio 2010
SESSION 2: What�s New in the .NET Framework 4.0
SESSION 3: SharePoint Development using Visual Studio 2010

[ Event Details | Map & Directions | Add To Calendar ]

Software Engineering 101

Saturday, February 27, 2010 8:00 AM � 5:00 PM

This is a one-day, FREE event focused on core skills that modern developers need to have to be successful today.  This isn�t about learning the basics of Silverlight, WPF, or <insert_new_tech_of_day>, rather, this conference will help you understand how to build software that is better designed, more maintainable, and more testable. They�re spending the morning on fundamentals around object-oriented programming, the SOLID principles and a few other important skills, while the afternoon is all about hands-on skills development using Pair Programming techniques to work through a series of challenges. 

If you�re in Nashville, you can attend in person, but for those of you not in Nashville, there is still a chance to participate! The event will have an associated webcast that will allow people to play along from home.  You will need your own laptop with Visual Studio 2008  (or 2010) pre-installed before arriving.

There is more stuff on the horizon, but I�ll save that for later blog posts.  If you have any questions about these events, just let me know!