More on using the StyleCop TFS 2010 Build Activity– handling settings files

In a recent build I wanted a bit more control over rules used by StyleCop; in the past I have just tended to have the correct ruleset in the Program FilesStyleCop directory and be done with that. This time I wanted to make sure different rules were associated with different given solutions. The StyleCop build activity does allow for this; there is a property to set the path to the settings file. In my build process template I set this property as below, via an assignment activity ...

August 16, 2011 · 2 min · Richard Fennell

Do you find editing TFS Build Process Templates slow?

… of course you do. Microsoft have today released a patch to improve performance and reliability of workflow designer which should help with the Build Process Template design surface. See Buck Hodges blog for details

August 9, 2011 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Still time to propose sessions for DDDNorth

It is great to see a good wide selection of proposed sessions for DDDNorth, many from new speakers to the DDD events, which is always nice to see. There is still time for you to get involved and propose a session. Go on you know you want to….

August 8, 2011 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Where do I find the product key for Team Explorer Everywhere?

When TEE is installed you have to provide a product key if you do not wish to run it in 90 day trial mode. Those of you used to using MSDN Subscriber downloads would guess you press the Key button next to the Download button and a product will be provided. However this is not the case, all you get is the message the product does not require a key. ...

August 3, 2011 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

Linking a TFS work item to a specific version of a document in SharePoint

SharePoint in my opinion is a better home for a Word or Visio requirements document than TFS. You can use all the SharePoint document workspace features to allow collaboration in the production of the document. When you have done enough definition to create your projects user stories or requirement then you can create them in TFS using whatever client you wish e.g. Visual Studio, Excel, Project etc. You can add a Hyperlink from each of these work items back to the SharePoint hosted document they relate to, so you still retain the single version of the source document. The thing to note here is that you don’t have to link to the last version of the document. If SharePoint’s revision control is enabled for the document library you can refer to any stored version. Thus allowing the specification document to continue evolving for future releases whilst the development team are still able to reference the specific version their requirements are based on. ...

August 2, 2011 · 2 min · Richard Fennell

DDD in t’North

It was announced at DDDSW that there will be a DDD event on the 8th October 2011 in Sunderland, DDD North. As of today, session submission is now open. Why not proposes one yourself?

July 27, 2011 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

More tips and tricks using my Typemock custom build activity with TFS 2010 build

Every time I add the Typemock Isolator custom activity to a TFS 2010 build I learn something new that eases the process. In the past I have posted on the basic process to get the activity into your build, and I would also draw your attention to the ALM rangers guide to build customisation, which provides loads of useful information on this front. Today, when I added the activity to a build I made the following improvements to the settings to make life a bit easier. This build is one used wildcard scanning for assemblies containing test with a test configuration file (this is the red usage in the documentation, it will make sense if you read the documentation) ...

July 26, 2011 · 2 min · Richard Fennell

More on running multiple TFS build controllers on a single VM

I have been having a on-going project to run multiple build controllers on a single VM. Today I needed to reconfigure a on of the controllers to point at a different TPC. You have to do this the correct way to avoid problems. My error log was full of _Http communication failure: _Exception Message: Cannot listen on pipe name ’net.pipe://build/ServiceHost/1’ because another pipe endpoint is already listening on that name. (type AddressAlreadyInUseException) ...

July 25, 2011 · 2 min · Richard Fennell

WP7 update fails when using laptop docking station, works when direct to laptop

When I plugged my WP7 LG-E900 today it told me there was a update. When I tried to install this it failed, twice. So I changed USB cable and plugged it directly into a port on my laptop, not my usually phone syncing cable plugged into my laptops docking station, and it worked. So not sure if it a USB cable quality issue, or a USB port issue, just something to remember. ...

July 22, 2011 · 1 min · Richard Fennell

WP7 update fails when using laptop docking station, works when direct to laptop

When I plugged my WP7 LG-E900 today it told me there was a update. When I tried to install this it failed, twice. So I changed USB cable and plugged it directly into a port on my laptop, not my usually phone syncing cable plugged into my laptops docking station, and it worked. So not sure if it a USB cable quality issue, or a USB port issue, just something to remember. ...

July 22, 2011 · 1 min · Richard Fennell