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Over 15 years ago, I joined Microsoft and I have worked in and around Visual Studio ever since. It seems like eons ago given how much things have changed in this industry, this company, my life, and the world over the past 5716 days. It amuses me that my earliest projects live on in MSDN Library: the Online Bookstore sample and an article about coding techniques and programming practices. Fast forward through Visual Studio .net 2002, Visual Studio .net 2003, Visual Studio 2005, Visual Studio 2008, Visual Studio 2010, Visual Studio 2012, Visual Studio 2013, and now Visual Studio 2015 Preview and you end up where we are today. When I joined Microsoft .NET 1.0 was in development and wasn't even public - now it's open source. 

Late November is when many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving and give thanks for what they have. I'm thankful for my time at Microsoft and the many awesome and interesting people who I worked and traveled with over the years. When she was little, my daughter, Stephanie, used to draw on my whiteboard (at least the part she could reach), and now she's a college graduate and engaged to be married. I'm thankful for what my career and benefits at Microsoft have afforded her. And most of all, I'm thankful to my wife, Nicole, for putting up with the countless times I worked weekends and holidays, brought a work laptop on vacation, missed dinner with the family, and pulled all-nighters readying for another product launch.

All the journeys of this great adventure
It didn't always feel that way
I wouldn't trade them because I made them
The best I could, and that's enough to say

Some days were dark
I wish that I could live it all again
Some nights were bright
I wish that I could live it all again

Walt Disney is quoted as saying, “I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.” Let’s not lose sight of one thing – that Micro Soft was all started by a developer tool.

 The future disappears into memory, 
With only a moment between, 
Forever dwells in that moment, 
Hope is what remains to be seen.

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Comments

  • Anonymous
    November 28, 2014
    Nice post

  • Anonymous
    December 02, 2014
    Nice Post

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2014
    Thank you, I enjoyed your "Top 10" the past years. Good luck in your new projects.

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2014
    Are you still with Microsoft? eternally grateful for your "Top 10" blogs. Are you stopping this effort as well? Rob

  • Anonymous
    December 09, 2014
    Nice Post, thank you for your work.

  • Anonymous
    December 10, 2014
    All the best and good luck on your new adventure :)

  • Anonymous
    December 14, 2014
    Nice Post~

  • Anonymous
    December 22, 2014
    This it the best one, Happy Holiday!