The Application Integration and EAI Architecture guidelines I mentioned in the last post seem to me to be an answer to Michael Earl's Plea to Microsoft Architects because they talk about problems that really matter today and how you can apply currently-shipping technologies to solve these problems. The guidelines have contributions from a great bunch of Microsoft Architects (at least I think they qualify for this title) such as Maarten Mullender, Keith Short and Pat Helland (who have given some top presentations at TechEd and PDC recently).
Don Box has already responded to Michael by saying he'd like to see a list of top 10 MSFT bloggers who are focussing on helping people apply shipping bits to the problems that matter. I agree, but think part of the problem is that many of these guys aren't blogging but are writing great content for MSDN Enterprise Development site (nice reorganisation) or the Patterns and Practices group. For better or worse, blogging seems better suited to short, time-relevant information such as thinking about the design of upcoming technologies. The problem is that blogging helps make a topic seem alive and current and creates a sense of community. It would be nice to combine these benefits of blogging with high quality content already available.
Adding life to the Patterns and Practices content
I'd like to see some way of using blogging and the community to increase the value that comes from the Patterns and Practices and MSDN material. Every time I go back to it I'm impressed with the content, but sometimes it seems impenetrable, and well, a little dull. I wonder what can be done to bring it to life and get more dialogue going in the community?
I know that the Patterns and Practices group are now doing webcasts (disclaimer: I haven't had a chance to participate yet). Perhaps there could be some more focussed community involvement or debate around the architectures or concepts? I know that Shadowfax, the Patterns and Practices group's project to apply service oriented solutions with currently shipping technology, is available for download. Perhaps there could be some key questions the group are looking for feedback on?
Perhaps there needs to be a pub architecture club, similar to the Extreme Tuesday Club (now open in Brisbane, Australia). Either that or find some way to get the like of Pat Helland or Maarten Mullender to start blogging?