ESRI Developer Summit Blog

Many thanks to the more than 200 attendees who took the time to answer the DevSummit Postsummit survey.

Areas you identified as needing improvement:

• There weren't enough ArcGIS Desktop/non-Web developer sessions
• Need more advanced sessions describing how-to's and lessons learned
• The level and depth of PreSummit session content needs to be reexamined
• Try not to cram too much material into the sessions
• Internet connectivity access could have been better

Areas you thought went well:

• The vast majority of attendees (99.5%) would recommend the DevSummit to a colleague
• Many positive comments about direct access to development teams and other ESRI staff
• The Keynote speaker David Chappell was a huge hit
• The User presentations were very positively received and well attended
• Networking opportunities with other developers

This feedback will help to make next year's DevSummit even better!

A majority of the code, demos, and presentations from the 2009 DevSummit are now available on the DevSummit web site.

Three user presentations are also viewable, and more will be uploaded this week.  We'll keep you posted as they become available. Here's what's ready today:

Using OpenLayers with ArcGIS Server REST API, presented by James Fee

Building RESTful Apps and Services Using MVC, presented by Brian Noyle

Unit Testing 101: Building Testable Applications, presented by Dave Bouwman

Keep in mind, you will have two viewing options.  You can either use the embedded Flash Player to view the video at 800 x 600, or you can download the WMV file and watch it locally with the Windows Media Player at a slightly higher resolution of 1024x768.  

Thanks again for your patience and we hope you find these helpful!

Streaming video for the Keynote Session is now available on the DevSummit Site.

The ArcGIS Code Challenges attracted a number of interactive entries using the ArcGIS Server APIs as well as creative mobile applications built with the ArcGIS Mobile SDK.  Congratulations to all the winners!

ArcGIS Server Mashup Code Challenge

1st: Alper Dincer—Summit ExtMap Mashup Framework

2nd: Matthew Petre—Flex Viewer Dice Job Searcher Widget

ArcGIS Mobile Code Challenge

1st: Lisa Tunnel—Environmental Compliance Field Application

2nd: Chad Yoder—ArcGIS Mobile Backup and Restore Utility

The ESRI DevSummit has started with presummit sessions leading up to the big Plenary Session on Tuesday morning.

Here's a sneak peek of some of the topics that will be talked about by senior ESRI development staff.

• ArcGIS 9.3.1 - Desktop, Server, and Java enhancements
• ArcGIS Online Search and Sharing
• Flex API for ArcGIS Server
• Explorer 900
• Early look at Desktop and Mobile 9.4
• Plus, some exciting product announcements

And if that's not enough, Scott Morehouse, director of development at ESRI, will share his vision of GIS.

Microsoft Sponsor Spotlight
Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 p.m.

Join Microsoft for a look at the past, present, and future of the Web development environment. This session provides an in-depth look at Silverlight, Expression Studio, and Visual Studio to explore the designer-developer workflows.

Silverlight is making it easier to build Web applications that deliver rich, interactive, and personalized experiences in the browser across platforms by bringing the power of .Net to the browser. The Silverlight runtime includes a lightweight cross-browser plug-in and allows you to easily build browser applications with rich UI and connectivity to Web services. Silverlight brings together a compatible subset of the .Net Fx, a powerful set of built-in controls, advanced skinning and templating, networking support, and content protection features.

Learn how you can use Silverlight to start developing RIAs and accelerate the Web experience.

The weather forecast for Palm Springs, CA looks great for the DevSummit next week.

Bring a pair of sunglasses - it's nice to step outside between sessions, but the sun is tough on the eyes after being in the dark session rooms. 

Another tip - bring a lightweight jacket or sweater, it can get cold in some of the convention center rooms.

If you are going to be in Palm Springs on Monday, make sure you come by the convention center to pick up your registration materials and take advantage of the pre-summit seminars. Seminars start at 8:30am and then again at 1:00pm - see http://www.esri.com/events/devsummit/sessions/presummit.html

The ESRI Showcase will also be open from 11:00am to 7:00pm on Monday and this is a great opportunity to visit with ESRI staff before things really get busy on Tuesday.