That’s the game I find myself playing with Microsoft software names these days, It’s one thing to go from Indigo and Avalon to WCF and WPF but oh those days of simplicity are a far cry from what we have today. Let’s start with Oslo, what original started as the "updated messaging and workflow technologies in the next version of BizTalk Server and other products" aka Biztalk VNext which was on their SOA site if my memory serves me correct. But what have we today “SQL Server Modeling”.

That’s ok you say we are used to the Microsoft code name to product name shenanigans. Sure but its way more than just changing names and focus or both. This quite often has me having this conversation with myself

Me: What is Microsoft Distributed Caching product? Velocity?

Myself: No that’s the old name now its “Windows Server AppFabric”

Me: Ok thanks ill download that but what does AppFabric have to do with Caching? And where is the CTP of that application server that came from the “Olso” group? Dublin.

Myself: Oh you have that already?

Me: No all I have is that “Windows Server AppFabric”

Myself: Yes that’s Dublin.

Me: But I thought that “Windows Server AppFabric” is Velocity

Myself: Yes it is

Me: BUT BUT BUT….

Myself: No Buts It just is.

I hope that this constant cycle of change innovation duplication from Microsoft slows down to a pace that people can keep up with. Maybe even have a sniff of the roses and ensure that it is actually making a difference, and not just causing more noise from Redmond.