• Chart: Microsoft and Industry Conferences

The next Windows client, code-named Longhorn, and its WinFX APIs will be the main subject of a Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Sept. 2005. Since the last PDC in Oct. 2003, Microsoft has changed its plans for Longhorn and WinFX significantly, eliminating some major features and announcing that other features will also run on Windows XP. Other conferences next year, including the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) and TechEd, will also provide glimpses of the new technology, but developers who want their applications to work with Longhorn technologies will get the real technical meat at the PDC.

(For a list of important Microsoft-sponsored events through Sept. 30, 2005, and a selection of industry events where the company and its partners have a significant presence, see the chart "Microsoft and Industry Conferences".)

PDCs Matter

Microsoft uses PDCs to expose developers to major changes in the programming model and APIs of Windows. For example, at the last PDC, in Oct. 2003, Microsoft revealed to developers the overall vision of Longhorn and WinFX.

While Microsoft’s closest partners might get a preview of these technologies by participating in design reviews, the PDC will be the first real unveiling of the latest plans for Longhorn APIs, features, and architecture. All have changed significantly since Longhorn was announced. For example, the company has postponed indefinitely the WinFS file system extensions it had hoped would provide improved searching and organization. Microsoft also plans to make Longhorn's "Avalon" graphics and printing system available to Windows XP as well as Longhorn.

The next PDC will mainly focus on the following topics:

• Changes in the WinFX APIs since the last PDC
• The implications on Avalon of supporting Windows XP
• Details on any UI changes planned for Longhorn.

Microsoft traditionally likes to encourage developers to take advantage of new APIs by sending them home from a PDC with prerelease versions of products. Therefore, it is highly likely that attendees of PDC 2005 will get a prerelease version of Longhorn, as well as WinFX for Windows XP.

Other Conferences for Hardware, Operations

Two other conferences scheduled for 2005 will also be important for different technical audiences:

WinHEC. Hardware partners are the primary audience for the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC). Typically, these partners send system-level developers (who write device drivers), hardware design engineers, and software architects who need to understand dependencies between the Windows OS and underlying hardware. WinHEC sessions focus on the interaction of the OS and the hardware, such as power management, graphics subsystems, server architecture and management, and improving the quality of device drivers. Attendees will likely see some information about Longhorn, particularly hardware platform requirements for features such as 3D graphics.

TechEd. TechEd is geared toward IT planners, developers, and infrastructure staff who need to know how to design, develop, and deploy applications using the currently shipping versions of Microsoft products. Sessions focus on issues such as best practices for using Microsoft products, including security, designing scalable solutions, and how to exploit the current feature set. Due to the focus on shipping products, the only mention of Longhorn at TechEd will likely be in roadmap or strategy sessions, such as keynotes.

For details on Longhorn and WinFX, see "Longhorn Preview Focuses on Developers" on page 3 and "WinFX: The .NET Framework Takes Center Stage" on page 18 of the Dec. 2003 Update.