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Editor's Note

Connected Systems Developer Competition

Last month, we told you about a contest to help design the next-generation PC hardware and we know you're working feverishly on your entries for that. Well, this month we have news of an even more exciting competition—one that MSDN Magazine is proudly co-sponsoring.

We hope you've turned to the Editor's Note first this month so we can tell you that the Connected Systems 2005 Developer Competition is currently accepting entries from the development community. If you're programming with Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005, and/or BizTalk 2004/2006, and you've come up with something creative, this could be your big chance for fame and fortune. We know what you're saying: "But I write Microsoft Smartphone applications using Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server Mobile Edition. Is this contest really for me?" As it happens, this is your lucky day.

Our competition is divided into 15 application categories—a measure of how far we've come in 20 years. Back in 1987, the categories would've been "best memory manager," "most annoying TSR," and "game that best uses all 16 possible screen colors." Now, look at your choices:

  1. Best extension of a SQL Server database using functionality provided by the CLR in SQL Server 2005
  2. Best integrated application using XML in SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005
  3. Best application using the Business Intelligence features of SQL Server 2005 (Reporting Services, Integration Services, Analysis Services)
  4. Best tool to provide additional functionality to SQL Server 2005 that is not already included in the product
  5. Best occasionally connected smart client application using SQL Server data
  6. Best integrated/SOA application utilizing SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, BizTalk 2004, or BizTalk 2006
  7. Best extension of a video gaming experience using Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005
  8. Best information worker solution using more than one Office system application and Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System 2005
  9. Best Microsoft Smartphone application using Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server Mobile Edition
  10. Best use of Managed DirectX, Visual Studio 2005, and SQL Server Express
  11. Best Visual Studio 2005 PowerToy utilizing SQL Server Express
  12. Best extension of Visual Web Developer and the Personal Web Site Starter Kit; application must consume a publicly available Web service
  13. Best sample demonstrating key product functionality not already included in the BizTalk Server SDK
  14. Best adapter not already supplied by Microsoft or adapter vendors such as IWay
  15. Best implementation of a generic pattern (for example, request/response) on the BizTalk Server platform

There are lots of awards available to entrants, but the big pot is a cool $50,000*. (*Actual temperature of money may vary. Prize will most likely be awarded via an oversized novelty check.) The judges will choose one finalist from each of the 15 categories, and then select one overall winner. Novelty check, here we come.

Sound like it's up your alley? Well, what do you have to lose? Just remember, there is a time factor here: the final date for registration is August 30, 2005, and all entries must be submitted by September 15, 2005. There's a full list of rules and requirements on the official site, Connected Systems Developer Competition. Get coding!

One thing we've noticed in these rules is that, unfortunately, Microsoft employees are not eligible. We had developed the most amazing extension of a video gaming experience using Visual Studio 2005 and...okay, we admit it. We've got nothing. But if you have something, we hope to see your entry!

—J.T.

Thanks to the following Microsoft technical experts for their help with this issue: Kawarjit Bedi, Arjun Bijanki, Justin Brown, Christopher Brumme, Scott Densmore, Gert Drapers, Steve Lasker, Martyn Lovell, Andrew Pardoe, Yaniv Pessach, Mahesh Prakriya, Peter Provost, Elliot Rapp, Andy Rich, Daniel Roth, Jay Roxe, Vipul Shah, Joe Stegman, Michael Stuart, and Ravinder Vuppula.

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