Welcome to our second installment of "The Interviews". To demonstrate the diversity of the talented Add-In authors this week we chose to show case a young man from Arizona, United States. As many others his first add-ins were to make his life easier, but he decided to release them to the public for others to benefit. In this blog series the discussions are open to everything concerning the Windows Home Server, no question is too dumb and no idea is too small. So now we can start the interview with our special guest today.
- Mike: If you don't mind, what is your full name and how old are you ?
- Brent: My name is Brent Friedman and I am nineteen years old.
- Mike: Brent, where are you from?
- Brent: I was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.
- Mike: Do you have an avatar?
- Brent: I usually have an avatar. On most forums I have an image that I made with Photoshop.
- Mike: Brent, what do you do for a living?
- Brent: I am currently a full time university student. I'm working towards a bachelor's degree in science. My major is Computer Information Systems.
- Mike: Do you have any hobbies?
- Brent: I consider programming one of my hobbies because I tend to do it a lot in my free time. I also enjoy tinkering around with all sorts of gadgets. I like anything electronic.
- Mike: How long have you been using computers?
- Brent: It all started when my father taught me how to use a computer when I was young. I actually don't remember how old I was at the time. However, I do know that I started learning on Windows 3.1.
- Mike: And that is a long time ago'
- Brent: Yes right.
- Mike: Brent, do you remember the first computer program that you coded?
- Brent: I actually got into programming later than I probably should have. I started learning HTML in 2001 after going to a summer tech camp at a local university. I liked HTML so I started teaching myself Visual Basic .NET in 2004 and then started learning C# around 2006. My first program would have to be my old web browser I wrote using Visual Basic.NET. It was a tabbed browser with a Firefox and IE mode, so you could switch rendering engines. I'd have to say that it was my first project I actually worked on continuously.
- Mike: That is really amazing, Brent.
- Brent: Thank you.
- Mike: How or why did you decide to use the Windows Home Server?
- Brent: A couple years ago I noticed a post on a forum regarding Windows Home Server. I found it intriguing and had the urge to set one up.
- Mike: Brent, please tell us something about your WHS setup?
- Brent: Originally I was reduced to using a very old computer with 256MB of RAM coupled with an Intel Celeron processor. I had such a hard time getting that setup originally. It then moved over to a laptop, and then from the laptop to a Compaq Presario. I upgraded the RAM to 2GB and am using the stock Intel Pentium D (E2160) processor. I used to have one 320GB and one 1TB drive in it, then I moved the 1TB into my desktop. Right now, I'm just using my Home Server for development and to backup other computers in the household.
- Mike: And now our users wish to know which add-ins do you use on your Windows Home Server?
- Brent: I recently reinstalled my Home Server and haven't gotten around to downloading all the add-ins I had previously. However, before I used: WebGuide, Advanced Admin Console, WHS Disk Management, a scanner add-in I made but never released, TV Manager, DVD Manager, WHS Mobile, Web Folders 4 WHS, Tab Scroller, and probably a few others.
- Mike: And now THE question: why did you make this add-in(s)?
- Brent: I felt that there were some things missing from Windows Home Server, so I tried to fill in the gaps. I originally made most of my add-ins for myself, but decided to release them publically for others to benefit. I made two of my add-ins because I couldn't afford to buy the commercial versions. I decided to try and make my own free versions of them.
- Mike: Brent, to perform the WHS platform how would you improve or change them?
- Brent: I would make Windows Media Center integration stronger and better networking with other devices in the home. As a developer, I'd have to say that I would also like to see the SDK documented more. I'd also change the way that developers make client applications, by making some sort of pluggable client all developers are able to use, instead of installing a program for each add-in that requires client software.
- Mike: With the most interest of our useres, i come to my next question. Do you have new projects or what else are you working on?
- Brent: I have a few ideas for new projects, but I don't want to release any information at this time. I am currently working on the next version of TV Manager. I've made a lot of changes and have been working on it for quite some time. I've been thoroughly testing it to make sure that it will be rock solid. I've been trying to focus on one add-in at a time. Otherwise, I'd be all over the place; jumping from add-in to add-in. I don't get anything done that way. Though, after I feel TV Manager is done, I'll probably jump back onto DVD Manager and iron it out.
- Mike: The DVD Manager? I think that is very interesting for our users to hear that. I use that add-in too and i can't wait for the next version of the DVD manager. My son have so many DVD 's from thomas the tank engine, and i have to save them all on the WHS, so that he can view them on the TV via the old XBOX.
- Mike: We would like to conclude this with a great big thank you to Brent from the HSL team. Brent thank you for your time and the interview and we wish you all the success in the future for your current and hopefully many more new Windows Home Server add-ins and applications.
- Brent: I have to say thank you to the Home Server Land Team that I was the first one from the United States of America for the interview series.
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Name Location Website Add-ins |
Brent Friedman United States |
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