This session was on the Patterns and Practices Group at Microsoft. It was hosted by Jackie Goldstein and included James Newkirk (originally ThoughtWorks, and now Dev Lead for the Patterns group. Aside: he's writing an exciting looking book on Test First Development in .NET) and another guy from the team.
Easier to Contribute
Several participants mentioned wanting to make it easier to contribute changes to the patterns and application blocks. So that if a company makes changes they don't need to maintain them separately in their own versions. The team is looking at using the community workspaces. James Newkirk mentioned using the Adapter pattern to switch between the shipped source code and any local revisions.
Improve the Help Files
The documentation is currently very class based, what the members and classes are, rather than on how to use them. Sometimes the samples are too simple and don't show how to use the advanced features.
Some of the QuickStart/JumpStarts are too difficult, especially the User Interface Process (UIP) model based on the Model View Controller pattern. One participant mentioned integrating the help files into the Visual Studio collections.
An MCT trainer asked for Microsoft Official Content (MOC) that used the patterns group. The MS people said they are trying to get out there and integrate it with MOC courseware.
Conflict between RAD perspective and Architecture
Visual Studio promotes a RAD, drag-and-drop, visual-designer backed RAD tool. One participant said they'd like a Visual Studio Add In to help integrate the patterns. Often the keynotes at the PDC are the quick RAD solutions and this comes across as what Microsoft thinks is Best Practice. Guidance is harder to market. One of the Microsoft guys said that marketing the RAD features was a more important goal for Visual Studio than marketing the architecture. Marketing the Architecture is harder.
Integration with the Visual Studio and Language Teams
Apparently the community around the patterns group (bloggers and speakers like Scott Stansfield from Vertigo) had forced the the Visual Studio and Language teams to work closer with the Patterns Group. There is a disconnect between internal Microsoft Groups. The Patterns group said they didn't know that the ASP.NET Starter Kits existed until after they were released).
FX Cop for Architecture
Someone asked for an Architecture Cop like a FX Cop. Apparently someone in the patterns group also had this idea. I'd like to see improved checklists as a first step on this one.
Why isn't there more focus on the GoF Patterns?
James Newkirk said they will highlight them as they use it.