CHAPTER 55: WM's Project Prototype Presentation & Experiencing Visual Studio 2005 for the first time

"Why don't you grow up, you little b-stards?"
"What's the matter, dear?"
"Nothing, I'm just talking to the plants."
- (Not The Nine O'Clock News)

Prior to official project/assignment submission and presentation next week, had WM’s prototype presentation today. So the group of Terrabytes presented it to Randolph.

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It was a comical adventure. As usual, our group leader Chee Ee was the sole ‘star’ member who briefed nearly the entire thing to Randolph. And as usual, Chee Ee conversated in his usual manner, ‘Chinese-influenced English’ style with a touch of Malaysian slang (“….like that one ah?” and “…how---ah?” and “…ya lah”). But what was comical was that as he explained through each part of the system, some webpages didn’t turn out. Instead, what came out were error pages.
This happened occasionally, on around 4 times, as Chee Ee desperately tried explaining the system to the lecturer. As it happened, all of us together with Randolph apart from Chee Ee smirked about it, but I could sense our entire group felt embarrassed by it.
The other comical part was when he came to the part where he showed the page that had Shoun’s part (Shoun’s doing the Flash animations for the system), he didn’t have yet Shoun’s Flash animations on it, so he left a blank space to indicate to Randolph that Shun’s Flash works would be located on that space. But the comical thing was that on that blank space, Chee Ee left a typed sentence of “Shork Nark’s flash”. As I saw that, I couldn’t stop myself giggling but at the same time trying to cover myself up in front of Randolph. Even it was the same with Afzal, and he immediately whispered to “ …baik je name…”.
The final ‘comical odyssey’ was when SHoun wanted to present his Flash works to Randolph. Taking over from Chee Ee, he confidently inserted his thumb drive into Chee Ee’s laptop (claimed by Chee Ee having the fastest speed among laptops in APIIT). So, as he was opening his thumb drive’s folder, he was looking up and into all his related folders, up and down, inside and outside. He kept on scrolling, and it seemed like there was trouble.
He looked back with the expression…………the expression that he forgot to copy his work into his thumb drive from his home. So he told Randolph that he forgot to bring.
Randolph again smirked, and so did the rest of us. We all smirked ‘bout it, but the sense of embarrassment was still present. Once again, I found myself covering up my face after another comical incident.

Well, …..now we gotta submit it AND present it next coming Thursday. May luck favours Terrabytes next week.
(…we really need it).

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Attended the first workshop of the DotNet SIG workshop events, after Friday prayers. Basically learning about how to use the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 by applying ASP.Net. The rest of the brotherhood, Harvin, Afzal and Shounak all took part in presenting to the 20+ students that attended (packed up in Lab 1). Kalai Anand was there. So was our SIG president Ammar.

Basically the first workshop was to introduce about how to get start working on building application with .Net by using the MS VS 2005 software.
What the homeboys presented was that they accessed the Microsoft official website regarding Visual Studio 2005. Then from there, they set out the necessary tutorials that we participants follow and need to do based on the guidelines and tutorials from the website. From then, we all experienced what it was like using Visual Studio 2005.

Very complicating at first, VS ’05 had lot of stuff on it interface, so many to choose from. But maybe with time, it would be a breeze. Gotta study this, could be a potential tool to use for upcoming FYP adventure.
From my understanding (and from what Afzal told me), building an ASP.Net application is basically by using the C# or VB.Net language. There isn’t exactly an ASP.net language. (I hope this info is valid, I’m not an expert or professional).
The ‘amazing’ thing that I can say about MS Visual Studio 2005 is that, like Harvin says, it’s capable of building applications in a quick matter of time……..not much coding has to be done. Amore of a drag & drop techniques are used, but of course, some coding would be needed for further complex situation.
Basically, the session today was building a simple webpage. And the functions that Visual Studio offers is just like the application offered from DreamWeaver or GoLive. The extra edge is that VS 2005 can do more than just a webpage or website, …other programming applications a galore.
But I found it complex, ‘cause there are so many functions and buttons to choose from the software’s interface. And there’s plenty to needed to understand.

On a different note, when I was in Lab 2 (since Lab 1 was full), as I was following the guides on the site, suddenly during one moment somebody approached and said to me “Need any help?”.
Turned around, saw it was Mafuz, grinning. Talked with him. He asked me what the whole deal was about. Told him that it’s a workshop organized by DotNet SIG, and explaining on Visual Studio 2005. Then, he was being funny, and asked “I demand to know who is the organizer”, saying it in autocratic manner and hitting the table (softly) a rolled up paper. Of course, being funny. Then he enquired some more about the whole thing,. I told him that Shoun, Afzal, Harvin are all involved in this, saying that they’re the organizers. Mafuz replied in a sarcastic manner, “…ahhh…….I know how to do this. It’s nothing .”. (I don’t think he even knows how to build a .Net application, but of course, he was being funny).
He said some more “I demand to know who is the organizer”. After that I told him and pointed out to Lab 1, to Dr K. “There’s the chief organizer, Kalai Anand”. In a whisker, Mafuz turned around and raised up both arms, shaking them as if he was shivering and replied “OH NO, PLEASE! NOT KALAI ANAND!”.
Mafuz soon left.
Another comic relief on this day.