1. Click the Download button to download the template file to your computer.
2. Right-click the downloaded .zip file and click the Unblock button (see Figure 3).
3. Unzip the file to a folder named as the Template you are adding.
4. Select all of the files from the DesignTemplate folder contained in the folder, right-click the files, and select the menu option Copy.
5. Right-click your project node in the Visual Studio Solution Explorer window and select the menu option Paste (see Figure 4).
6. Select the Visual Studio menu option Edit, Find and Replace, Quick Replace and replace [MyMVCApplication] with (the name of your project) .

I was trying to write some tests to test the Create method in my Controller and I needed to mock the User.IsInRole("Administrator") so that I can continue with my testing.  So I was looking around for some help, and I found this very interesting blog from Scott Hanselman.

Its a library of MvcMockHelpers using either Rhino Mocks or Moq.

I have just came across this post by Suleman on how to configure Exception Handling and Logging in the Enterprise Library 4.0.  I found it quite helpful and thought I might share.

The link is as follows

http://www.imason.com/imason_Blogs/b/suleman_ibrahim/archive/2009/05/25/configuring-enterprise-library-4-0-for-exception-handling-and-logging.aspx

This may sound quite simplistic, but took me some time to find out.  If for some reason the default server of VS is not working with your application, you can run your website on your local IIS and then attach a process (CTRL+Alt+P) within VS.  The process is called w3wp.exe and VS should start debugging normally

After about 4 hours battling with this error, and wondering why my website could not load, I managed to figure out what the problem was!  Since I have installed a trial version of Windows 7, IIS 7.5 works differently from Vista’s IIS 7.

So I did the following procedure to get rid of the error and now my website is up and running again on my localhost

• go into Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
• expand node with your computer name on left side and select “Application Pools”
• now in the window on the right side, right click “Classic .NET AppPool” and select “Advanced Settings…”
• find “Identity” property and change its value to “LocalSystem”

That solved the problem!

Just started re-designing and re-developing my personal portfolio atwww.johannmontfort.com. The idea is to use MVC+EF+Silverlight+RIA Services+LINQ amongst others.

At the moment I am battling with EF since its the first time I am using it. Its not as easy as LINQ2SQL to use, however its nice to learn a new ORM which I beleive in .NET 4.0 will be much more stable and fun to work with.

So yeah created my database using SQL Server 2008, and now the fun part started with creating the model. Still in early stages though.

I had been wondering and tinkering to move to Brussels since last year.  It was always my wish to work in the centre of Europe.  However, in Feb last year, I got the contract with Microsoft, so I decided to hold on to my plans for a later date.

So after my contract with Microsoft finished, I decided to take some time off and start searching for a job in Bruxelles.  I admit it was not easy since my French is still in its early stages, and I am not fluent at all.  So it had to be either an English or an International company.

Last April, I got a call from Neil, who is the head of IT at Enhesa, and he told me that they saw my CV and that they were interested in having me over for an interview.  I said sure, when do you want to interview me?  He told me, can you make it next week?  I was shocked but I accepted that and after an initial interview, I was offered the job.  No need to say I was really exicted and happy, although the thought of leaving Ireland after 3 years, and moving to an “unknown” territory scared me a bit.  But its not the first time I have done this.  First moving to Australia, which was quite hard because of the diversity of cultures, and then Ireland.  However I accepted the challenge to move here, and so far, I do not regret it.

Its been already a month and a half now in Brussels.

Things I like are:-

Public transport:-  This is the first thing that really struck me here.  Its quite cheap compared to the rest of Europe, especially Ireland!  And the network is so vast it covers the whole of Brussels.  If you are going to stay in Brussels, you don’t really need a car.  Even to get to the airport, it takes like 15-20minutes from Central Station.

Belgian Food and Beer and Beer and Beer and Beer:-  One of the things the Belgians do very well is the cuisine and their beers.   I have heard that they have around 350 different beers produced here.  Till now I have managed to try at least 10, and they are really really nice.  Even the cuisine is very exquisite.  When you come to Belgium, you have to try the moules and the frittes!  I admit, the moules are not one of the things I really like, however I tried them and they are really tasty.  And the frittes…………..no comment, you really have to try them! Ah and what about the chocolates?  OMG, they are amazing.  You cannot come here without devouring a box of Belgian chocs.  And there are lots of shops that sell them, especially near the Grand Place.

Way of Life:- The Belgians, and the large expat community, seem to enjoy their time fully, sitting outside of bars and cafe’s sipping some nice beer or wine, especially in these hot months of summer.  I say hot months, since from when I arrived here in the beginning of June, the weather was very kind, sometimes even unsupportable with the heat and high temperatures, sometimes even in the low thirties.  Its something different from what I experienced in Ireland, where everybody goes to the pub and drinks, drinks, drinks.  I compare it a lot to the way of life back home in Malta.

Language:- As I said before, my French is not good at all at the moment, (i am planning to take some classes), however I have always managed with my English.  Even here in Brussels, since there is a huge expat community, English is accepted everywhere, unless you need to work with French or Dutch speaking clients.  However, having said that, knowing some French in the French part, and some Flemish in the Flemish part is always helpful and quite nice to have. If you show the Belgians that you are making an effort to speak the language, they appreciate that a lot, and I find it they will warm to you more.  But this is everywhere in the world I guess.

Cost of Living:- Compared to most European cities, the cost of living in Belgium is quite low.  Renting can be quite affordable, depending which are you are renting in.  An average, good restaurant will total an average of 30-35euros per person, public transport is quite affordable, a trip for a whole hour if bought in advance will cost you something like 1.10euros, and you can take anything from the tram, to the bus, to the metro since they are owned by the same company.

Things I do not like :-

Housing:- Before I came here, I was of the idea that renting here in Brussels is cheaper than in Ireland.  But it depends on which part of Brussels you are renting.  Since most of the Xpats live in the Ixelles and Etterbeek area, where the European institutions are set up, renting here is quite expensive.  For a 1 bedroom flat, moderately sized, you expect to pay between 800-1000.  I also noticed that flats here are in the majority quite old, with some being renovated now.  I did not find lots of newly built developments around Brussels.  Here you also pay for the “charges”, which include the lift, common area and water.  On a positive thing, there are lots of flats empty, so its a buyer’s market.  You can find a flat easily within a week.

Pollution & Traffic:- I noticed here that the air seems heavier to breathe compared to Dublin, where there is lots of greenery. Even traffic can be very heavy at times, and I must say that you must be very careful when crossing a zebra crossing, even if the light says green!  Always look 2 times before you cross the street!  On a positive side, only Brussels central is heavy on traffic, when you start driving outside the city centre, then its much better.

So all in all I think it was quite a positive start to my stay here in Brussels.  How long will I stay here?  I have no idea yet, I have a permanent IT job in the city centre which I really like, and so, at the moment, it feels like I will stay here for long.

As many IT contractors agree, this is a tough time to be an IT Contractor, especially here in Ireland and in the UK. I have been contracting for the last three and a half years, 6 months in Sydney Australia and 3 years here in Dublin.
Until last year, contracting here was quite good. I used to be in a contract and be inundated with calls from agents about new contract prospects. Even the pay was very good. However everything turned upside down from last January, when my contract with Microsoft ended. I knew that the recession was bad, but not as bad as I thought. I am getting calls less frequently, and normally it’s more a call to “touch base” rather than concrete offers. In the last 2 months, I have not even been put forward for an interview, let alone a job offer.

I had the wrong idea that companies would go for contractors in this recession, since in the long run, they cost less than permanent staff for the same expertise level. However it seems like companies are more prone to hire permanent staff, and re-skill them to match the company’s expectations. Another thing that I have noticed is that companies are also searching for multi skilled IT staff, since let’s face it, it’s a buyer’s market. Companies can choose from a plethora of IT senior developers at the moment. Some companies also have the fear that when the business picks up again, it will be hard to recruit again.

Will this recession last long?

I have no idea, however, hopefully, I am expecting that by May or June, things start to get back on track. The housing market in the UK is already feeling some upturn in the prices. The US financial rescue plan may help the global economy get back to its feet. The European Leaders are also helping the economy by agreeing a £12b financial crisis rescue package.
Will this help the credit crunch and revive back the trust in financial markets? Let’s hope it does and things will start getting back to normal.

What I am doing in this downturn?

Re-Skilling: Since I have a lot of free time at the moment, I am looking at new skills, especially Microsoft skills, such as the new MVC Framework and the Data Entity Framework. I want to also see what new features SQL Server 2008 has an how to leverage from these new features. I am also finding time to read some technical articles and to also see technical videos and how-tos. I am also building some small web apps that I have been planning for a long time but never had the chance to dig into.
Keeping Positive:- Although it’s quite hard, I am trying to be as positive as I can be. Every cloud has a silver lining they say, and I believe that things work in a cycle. In the .Com bubble between 1995 and 2001, the new Internet sector and related fields saw a big boom in IT skilled persons and also the salaries rose significantly. Then there was a slowdown in 2002, and another boom in 2006, when the market was revived again. I just hope that the next upturn does not take another 3 years to materialize.
On the LookOut:- I believe that as jobs dry up, and the markets get worse, it’s time to keep a look on every possible opportunity that may arise. I also think that in two or three years time, there will be a big mobility of workers, where nobody will call home just one country, but Europe will be your home, with the countries becoming like cities. Long commuting for work will be the norm.

It all started in the middle of February 2008.  I got a call from an agent that Microsoft Ireland had an opening for a software developer for a 4 month contract.  So I submitted my cv and got an interview.

The interview process was quite tough.  I had an hour face to face chat with the interviewer and then a technical test on the whiteboard.  Everything went well and 3 days later I got a call that I was to start the following Monday.  Obviously I was really excited and thrilled by the opportunity that stood before me.

I started working with Microsoft on a prototype for a localization website for the live.spaces.com suite of products.  The localizers could visually see what their translations looked like from the website.  Once this prototype was accepted, I started working on the real product itself, and created the new database design and also a migration script to move all the data in the new database.  My contract was extended 2 times, and I spent 10 months in all at Microsoft.

It was also a very critical project, so an agile methodology was applied.  Releases were between 4-5 weeks and very tight deadlines.

It was also interesting that I could use all the latest software from Microsoft, even before they were released to the public.  Microsoft also offers its employees a nurturing environment where they can be most productive.

Another interesting thing that I noticed at Microsoft is that you have personal freedom at work.  Nobody tells you what to wear, or what time you got in or you got out.  As long as the work is done, and deadlines are met, no questions asked.  I think Microsoft provides a great example to other corporations of what a productive work environment can be like.

I was also impressed by the amount of highly skilled people working there.  Chatting with technical people is like referencing a human encyclopedia.  My manager once told me that we only employ “exceptional people” and he was damn right!

So I must say that working with one of the “Best Companies To Work For” in Ireland, was an amazing experience, and something that I really wish I could experience once again in my career.

Thanks MICROSOFT!

I had heard a lot about this city, however after visiting, I can say that it really is a nice and beautiful city.

We arrived in Krakow on Friday, a very sunny and hot day compared to Dublin standards.  It was around 31C.  After settling in the hotel, we went for a walk around the city.  I could see that its quite an old city.

The main square is the second largest in Europe, and one can find lots of things in this square, such as shops, markets, street entertainers and nice bars.  You can also meet the picturesque horses and cabins.

One of the main attractions in Krakow is the Wawel (castle), which is a majestic location.  Its a burial

place for previous kings of Poland.  It was quite a walk to get there, but it was utterly worth it.

And if you are in Krakow, you have to taste their range of beers.  I tried the Zwyiec dark, which I could compare to a Guinness.

On our last day there, we got a mini van to Wieliczka to

visit the very famous Salt Mines.  Initially, I thought that it would just be some small dungeons with some salt attached to it, or some salt conservation unit.  How wrong was I!  Its literally a small village underground, completely built out of salt.

Its amazing how all this could be dug.  And we only went down 3 levels, the guide said that there were more levels underground, which were not accessible to the tourists!  There were statues and carvings made entirely of salt, and the most impressive was a whole church made out of salt, which status of the holy Mary, Jesus Christ, and obviously Pope John Paul II.