At first I didn't like the Microsoft Solution Framework (MSF). All I had to go on was the MSF process guidance and whatever was floating around in blogs and forums. It all seemed rather obscure and vague. However, as I work with the process template I'm starting to develop a new appreciation for it. Although the process guidance has plenty of room for improvement, and the MSF CMMI template is overkill for most situations, the work items and reports in the MSF Agile template are actually quite useable.

I was poking around the blogosphere when I came across a series of posts from Clara Oscura. She has done a fine job of clarifying the terms and concepts used in MSF. I hope her work makes it into the MSF process guidance.

MSF: Tracks, workstreams, activities, areas and iterations
MSF: Tracks, workstreams, activities, areas and iterations (II)
MSF: Tracks, workstreams, activities, areas and iterations (III)

Thanks for the nice work Clara!

 

In an earlier post I promised to make the MSF Analysis Tool available for download.

You can now download it at GotDotNet.

Go there, try it out and let me know what you think. Or better yet, improve the tool and share your enhancements at project workspace on GotDotNet.

You can get a sneak peak at the read me file here:

Read Me - MSF Analysis Tool.doc (34.5 KB)

The MSF Analysis Tool parses MSF Process Guidance XML source documents into a SQL Server database, allowing you to explore the structure of any process guidance based on the MSF template.