Microsoft has released an update for the Lync client for Mac. This update fixes the following:
Microsoft recommendl all Lync users on Mac install the update. You can find more information at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2690036:
As many of you know, I’ve long been an advocate of all IT Pros (and devs!) learning more about PowerShell. There are a lot of ways to do this, and one great way is to attend a short (read 2 day at the weekend), jump start events. And as it happens, there’s one coming up soon.
This weekend coming, April 21-22, I’m holding the latest PowerShell PowerCamp, a weekend PowerShell jumpstart training event. We’re holding the event at Microsoft’s London offices in Cardinal Place Victoria from 9:00 till 5:00 – two long days of PowerShell, PowerShell, and more PowerShell.
The details of the agenda remain as I first published them back in January. There’s still a couple of places should you fancy the opportunity to learn more about PowerShell, so if you fancy it, let me know by emailing DoctorDNS@Gmail.Com and I’ll take it from there.
If you are a PowerShell Junkie, you know that the PowerShell Scripting Games began last Monday, and the first five events, in each category, are now posted and are being judged. If you are not a PowerShell junkie, the PowerShell Scripting Games is an annual competition amongst beginner and expert scripters to show off their scripting skills (or to learn more!). I described this in my blog last week (http://tfl09.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/2010-powershell-scripting-games-begins.html). For a more light-hearted introduction, see Sean’s We Will Script It:
The Scripting Games are a time for YOU to both show off your skills, and to lean more. For the judges, it’s turned into quite a lot of work, and a learning opportunity too!
The number of entries, so far, way exceeds my expectations. As of today, here is the count of entries:
If you are good at counting, or can use PowerShell to do the maths – this is tallies to just under 1500 scripts entered so far – and we’re only half way through the overall event. WOW! I certainly did not expect anywhere near so many entries!!! This just goes to show the momentum and traction that PowerShell is getting. But it’s sure ended up being a lot of work for the judges – having to review every script and mark it. I had hoped that this year, I’d be able to rate every script, but so far, I’m way behind – I’ve rated probably not much more than 500 so far, and given my real life job, may get further behind as the week goes on! What a really nice problem to have. I may not end up rating ALL the scripts, but I’ll do my best.
In judging the entries so far, there are several things I’ve noticed:
There have been far too many scripts entered for the wrong event - if you are entering Beginner Event 1, then please don’t submit the script for Advanced Event 1 or any other event! Also, some folks are not reading the specific details that the script is meant to deal with. While some of the solutions are great, they are not ones that meet the criteria of the event(s). And while thinking about it – see Ed Wilson’s comments on the Games so far at: http://blogs.technet.com/b/heyscriptingguy/archive/2012/04/07/six-observations-about-2012-scripting-games-early-entries.aspx.
So far, this has been a pretty cool competition, and it’s taught me a few things already. If you have not yet joined in, there’s always time to do a few entries. And remember, it’s taking part that counts, not whether you win or lose – everyone’s a winner here!!
And finally – if you are looking at the Events, wondering a) how to solve them and b) feeling like you SHOULD know(!!), and you live in the UK, consider coming along to the PowerShell PowerCamp weekend – we’ll be covering some if not all of the event scenarios during the weekend so who knows, attendance at PowerCamp could mean you are next year’s winner.
As many PowerShell fans know, today sees the beginning of Microsoft's PowerShell Scripting Games. The Scripting Games are a set of 10 PowerShell challenges in two classes (Beginner and Expert). The idea is simple: you sign up for either of the classes and each day for 10 days you get a scripting challenge involving writing a PowerShell Script. After solving the challenge and writing your script, you submit it to Poshcode.Org. Once submitted, a stellar panel of judges review it and each script gets up to 5 points. At the end of the Games, the folks with the highest scores win prizes. Easy!
Each individual event is to be posted at noon Seattle time (i.e. 20:00 here in the UK). So consider this a bit of homework! Once posted, you have 7 days to submit an answer. Once submitted, your script gets judged by the distinguished panel of judges based upon a set of judging criteria. You should read these criteria as they can affect the score your submissions receive.
To see all the links for the Games, visit here. This has pointers to how to register, details of the judges, and everything you need to know about the games. For each contest, you’ll also get a Guest Commentary from someone in the PowerShell community looing at how they would go about solving the problem. Speaking for myself, I look forward to reading both the scripts entered by the competitors AND to the guest commentaries. I am sure to learn something – it happens every year!!
So if you think you have good PowerShell skills, or if you just want to learn more – come on down, enter and enjoy the contest!
