The Patterns & Practices Team have recently released v1.0 of the web services security guide (in PDF format) that shows how to make the most out of WCF.  With end-to-end application scenarios, it shows you how to design and implement authentication and authorization in WCF. Learn how to improve the security of your WCF services through ...

[Cross-posted from Lamont's blog] An interesting panel discussion video was recently released to the TechEd Online Library that focuses on extending the role/disciplines of the Architect into the area of providing mentoring.  Taken from the TechEd Online Library: ''There are many disciplines that a software architect must master in ...

  The Patterns & Practices team has recently released the Composite Application Guidance for WPF which provides guidance for ''componetizing'' the development of enterprise-class WPF applications across multiple development teams, with each team owning a piece of the application, and then seamlessly integrating these pieces into one ...

Version 1.2 of the Visual Studio extensions for WSS has been released and available for download.  Version 1.2 provides support for Visual Studio 2008 in building SharePoint-based solutions.  The following tools are included: Visual Studio 2008 Project Templates Web Part Team Site Definition Blank Site Definition List ...

[Cross-posted from Lamont's Blog] Announced on the SharePoint Team Blog, the SharePoint Deployment Planning Services program has been launched and is geared at helping our Software Assurance (SA) customers sucessfully plan and deploy SharePoint Products & Technologies.  I think this program provides a great resource for those ...

[Cross-Posted from Lamont's Blog]  Version 2.0 of the OBA Composition Reference Toolkit was released to the web today, on schedule and with all the great new features promised for the release. Version 1.0 of the toolkit was released at the Office Developer’s Conference in February 2008. Watch the OBA Composition Reference Toolkit ...

[Cross-Posted from Lamont's Blog] Zach Rosenfield (a Program Manager on the SharePoint Team) posted an announcment introducing the SharePoint Administration Toolkit.  This promises to be a great resource for administering your MOSS and WSS v3.0 deployments.  The initial version of the toolkit contains a couple of useful ...

Over on the SharePoint Team Blog is a good post citing resources related to deployments of MOSS/WSS on Windows Server 2008.  With the pending launch of the next release of Windows Server, it's important to know the impacts it has on deploying SharePoint Products & Technologies within your organization.  The resources cited in ...

Microsoft recently released the initial version of Software + Services Blueprints.  These blueprints are a series of source code and guidance packages designed to provide an architectural bridge between vision and implementation by making it easier to build S+S applications. The blueprints serve as a good starting point for designing an ...

Microsoft recently announced the release of a new search solution, based on SharePoint Products & Technologies called Microsoft Search Server 2008.  On the Microsot Enterprise Search Team Blog, the search team unveils the latest product as a part of the SharePoint family that provides an optimized search solution for your ...