This is the newest development model I've developed for Tensioncore as a whole. I use C#, VB.net, PHP and MySQL to rapidly deploy new applications.
Using these languages and coding models together with MySQL connectors, intranet websites (secured) and Visual Studio, I've been able to produce single, ready-to-use applications in less than a work day (full production-use applications).
I might develop this story more later, I only just finished the minor tweaks over the last few days, just thought I'd share...
-Added Note:
I just realized that I've accomplished one of my goals in life; create a computer-related acronym! I always loved how Microsoft could repeatedly come up with new acronyms all the time and for years I've wanted to make my own, and now I have!! RCLAD
As an MSDN Plus subscriber, I really enjoy getting the fresh out-of-the-box Operating systems when they are posted, Windows 7 was no exception.
So far, my experience is far better than the first time around with the new OS. For starters it installed in like 20 minutes flat...compared to Vista which took nearly 3 hours the first time I installed it.
Secondly, an important thing for me since I test using Virtual Server 2005, is that the Virtual Machine Additions work like a charm from the moment I turned the virtual machine on. With Windows 7's Beta release the VPC (virtual PC) crashed whenever I attempted to load the VMAdditions, and not to mention BARELY WORKED. The performance is still an issue with RC1, but overall about 25 times better, faster and responsive.
The first thing to go to my black list is the UAC still being very intrusive with its entire screen overlay. Second...well I haven't got to a second yet.
Out of the box, it handles the enterprise-level networking like a walk to the grocery store (which for me is literally right around the corner). I have my virtual machines set up on a Virtual Network interface which is connected physically into my LAN so it has optimal performance. Oddly I usually have to do some network settings tweaks when I start a new VPC, but with Windows 7 I simply connected it to the network with Automatic Configuration, and everything was ready to go.
You can skip reading this parenthesis section if you only care about Windows 7 and not my network.
(You might be thinking: "well duh? what else would you do?", right? Well, with my network I've tailored most of it to require the manual configuration sort of as a security safe-gaurd, also mostly because I had no way to accomplish automatic governing before on my Windows Network other than the basic DHCP-Which I don't use for security reasons as well, rather I have a Domain Controller which has Group and Network Policy rules for joining computers)
...Back to the topic; I'm writing this post from Windows 7 on Firefox which seems faster than normal (on WS2008), a good plus. More importantly I DID NOT need to go into and configure my hosts file in order to view this website! (read it "DID NOT") (since the website is on the local intranet, 99 times out of 100 you need to add the website into your hosts file in order to view it in a browser at its domain name address).
Many applications I use have had 0 problem on Windows 7, although there are 2 apps originally designed for XP which don't work oddly enough, which sends me to my next plus point; Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode.
A new feature is available as a download for Windows 7 that essentially adds a Windows XP Pro Virtual Machine into your system. What this does is allows you to install programs to your Windows 7 machine that are meant for Windows XP, and run them IN Windows 7, while the program is being rendered and in fact run out of the "Windows XP Mode" virtual machine (seamless, fast, 100% virtual-made-compatibility with Windows 7).
The only downside to Windows XP Mode/Windows Virtual PC, is it requires Hardware Level Virtualization, and 2 gigs of ram.
I was very surprised and happy to see the Hostable Web Core added into Windows, since I've used this a couple times as a Great base for Mobile Websites.
As for the UI of '7 it's a nice clean update to the Vista interface which seems a little bland after using it now for 3 years. The taskbar is an incredible improvement to the sublte changes in the explorer add just enough touch for this OS to be a refreshing new look for 2009 (hopefully).
Nickness