Sense of Accomplishment

I feel good.  Right now I am working on creating prototypes of different Human/Machine Interface models in Silverlight SDK and soon to be Flex.  I am working with XAML and C#.  I have never worked in either one before. Until Yesterday, I did not know any c#! However, I do know C++ and some Java, but as close as the name sounds, C# and C++ are very different.  So, I did some (actually a lot of) reading, and have been learning it on the fly as I develop my prototype(s).   I have been doing this for two, and this morning, I have a working prototype! Well, it only does half of the stuff I want it to do right now, but it’s a start.  I should have the whole thing working by tomorrow morning.

 I have been coding my applications in Visual Studio, and yesterday I discovered Microsoft Blend.  It is a wonderful program! It allows you to design the application in a very rich WYSIWYG editor.  Actually, the program interface reminded me of Photoshop with the amount of design possibilities that you have.  The program works by allowing the user to draw in vector art, and add any type of element that you would normally code into the program.  While you are drawing the element, Blend writes the XAML code behind the scenes.  So, when you are done designing, you can switch views and see the picture or application interface you just made, but completely in XAML code!  It is so nice! After you finish the design, it is easily imported into Visual Studio where you can further tweak and add to the code with the vastly improved intellisence interface used in Visual Studio 2008.  I am making good progress with this first prototype.  We'll have to wait and see how quickly I can do it in Flex.  But that will have to wait.

After lunch today, I have a Behavior and Value Session with the Human Resources Department for the rest of the afternoon.  "Honeywell Behaviors and Values are reflected in every project, process and product that the company offers and are the standard by which every employee is measured. Without any exception all Honeywell employees must abide and uphold these behaviors and Values."  I do not know what to expect, but I was told that it is group games and team building activities.  So, I am looking forward for a chance to get up and leave my desk and do something fun.  And then, tomorrow, I am looking forward to finishing up my first working Silverlight web application! :)

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