The Code Room Episode 2: Building Mobile Apps and Bluetooth Enabled Kiosks

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theserverside.net/articles/showarticle.tss?id=TheCodeRoom_EP02' target='_blank'>http://www.theserverside.net/articl...heCodeRoom_EP02</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The pressure cooker of The Code Room is back, this time coming from the Westfield Mall in Seattle. Four experts on Windows Embedded, Compact Framework, and ASP.NET are challenged with building a fully functioning kiosk that can be accessed from a Bluetooth phone application to search for products available in the mall and then use the phone to take a picture of the product and send it to the users MSN Spaces site. The lovely Jessi Knapp is back hosting the latest episode of The CodeRoom, joined by .NET personality Rory Blyth. The four developers chosen for their expertise in Windows XP Embedded, Compact Framework, and ASP.NET experience..."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.theserverside.net/articles/content/TheCodeRoom_EP02/images/TCR02_01.jpg" /><img src="http://www.theserverside.net/articles/content/TheCodeRoom_EP02/images/TCR02_02.jpg" /><br /><br />Ok, this is one of the most hardcore geeky things I've <i>ever</i> seen - but it's <b>GREAT</b>! I've never heard of the Code Room before, but I think it's absolutely brilliant. The producers of this show took a reality TV style and mixed it with developer content. Not being a developer, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this, but it was quite entertaining. Especially when Doug thought Neil Enns was a homeless guy. :lol: Ultimately this is marketing for Microsoft's developer tools, but it's easily the most entertaining marketing of it's type that I've seen. Maybe we'll see some of these guys on <a href="http://www.sirlinksalot.net/beautyandthegeek.html">Beauty and the Geek</a> soon. :worried: The more I see these "build a program in three lines of code" demos the more I think I want to start developing. Maybe 2006 will be the year I unleash the monster developer within. :lol: The funniest thing about the entire episode? At the 18:20 mark they were struggling with ActiveSync and trying to figure out why it wasn't working. A direct quote: "It's ALWAYS ActiveSync!" :devilboy:

[mcsouth]

Where did you see this? Is it on MS's site, or??? Couldn't find a link in your post to the show/info about where to see it...

Sounds interesting - I must admit that I would like to learn how to code, but the closest that I've managed to come is reading a bit of C at work in order to figure out how to troubleshoot embedded controllers on our equipment.

[_4saken_]

take a look here: http://www.theserverside.net/articles/showarticle.tss?id=TheCodeRoom_EP02

google helped right away ;)

[Garry [WMA]]

I was fortunate enough to attend the premiere of this Code Room at MEDC Las Vegas with all of the stars. It was hillarious. My CFO who was also at the show and is no-tecchie and never programmed also thoroughly enjoyed it. Kudos to all envolved.

[SteveHoward999]

Nice geek t.v. :-)

I run a conference that always ends with a similar code challenge ... build an entire application in 2 or 3 hours. It is amazing to see what people can do in such a short space of time.

[Steven Cedrone]

They also have their own web page, but it doesn't look like it has the new episode yet...

www.thecoderoom.com

[NeilE]

They actually had to shoot the segment with me twice, because the first time they piled out of the stretch hummer they walked right past me! What kind of homeless guy has a laptop in the middle of Pioneer Square!? :roll:

If you want to see some behind-the-scenes pictures check out Rory's photo blog at http://www.thecoderoom.com/cs/photos/photos/category1001.aspx - You would not believe how tense it was backstage watching them code!

Neil

[boling8080]

As much fun as it was to watch, it was 1000 times more fun to be in front of the camera.

Doug

And yes, we walked right past Neil the first time!

[lapchinj]

...What kind of homeless guy has a laptop in the middle of Pioneer Square!? :roll:...
A Microsoft programmer type of homeless guy 8)

Jeff-

[T-Will]

I just watched the first episode and it was really very interesting and entertaining. They made a great choice on Jessi the host. :wink: