201  Archived Rules

Rules to Better Email

  1. Dones - Do you show quality control with "Checked by xxx"?
  2. Do you always remember your attachment?
  3. Do you know NEVER to concatenate words in an email?
  4. Do you reference which email template you are using?
  5. Do you respond to each email individually?
  6. Do you use email signatures for external emails?
  7. Dones - Do you reply 'Done' using Team Companion when using Azure DevOps?

Rules to Better Meetings

  1. Do you know the 3 criteria that make a good meeting?

Rules to Better Outlook

  1. Do you use spelling and grammar checker to make your email professional?

Rules to Better IM

  1. Interruptions - Do you minimize Skype distractions?
  2. Do you have your phone number in your IM profile?

Rules to Better Microsoft Teams

  1. Do you know how to use the Yealink T55A Microsoft Teams phone?
  2. Do you use emojis in your channel names?

Rules to Better Slack

  1. Do you use Slack as part of your DevOps?

Rules to Better Powerpoint Presentations

  1. Do you limit the amount of text on your slides?

Rules to Better Specification Reviews

  1. Do you know the Specification Review deliverables?

Rules to Better Software Consultants - Dealing with Clients

  1. Do you always follow up your clients?
  2. Do you know to make sure that you book the next appointment before you leave the client?
  3. Do you not interrupt people when they are in the zone?

Rules to Better Software Consultants - Working in a Team

  1. Do you carry your USB flash drive on your key ring?

Rules to Successful Projects

  1. Do you always carry your Tool Box?
  2. Do you carry more than just the Microsoft Tool Box?
  3. Do you do monthly peer evaluations?
  4. Do you give each project a project page (that you refer customers to)?
  5. Do you have a healthy team?
  6. Do you keep the best possible bug database?
  7. Do you know the best way to find a phone number of a staff member?
  8. Do you manage your email?
  9. Management - Do you have a "Release Update/Debrief Meeting" on a weekly basis?
  10. When you follow a rule do you know to refer to it (including the icon)?

Rules to Better Timesheets

  1. Do you keep a hard copy diary?

Rules to Better CRM

  1. Do you know how to find an employee or client's phone number?

Rules to Better CRM for Users

  1. Do you know how to send newsletter in Microsoft CRM 2013?
  2. Do you know how to find an employee or client's phone number?
  3. Do you know how to install SkypePOP on your PC?

Rules to Better Reporting Services

  1. Do you change the name of site settings?

Rules to Better Power BI

  1. Do you know how to share links to specific tabs in Power BI reports?

Rules to Better Travel

  1. Do you know how to book better flights from Australia to US?
  2. Do you know how to book better flights within US?
  3. Do you know how to booking better flights within Australia?

Rules to Better Research & Development

  1. Do you copy email content to PBIs?
  2. Do you save failed experiments in abandoned pull requests?

Rules to Better Remote Work

  1. Do you provide at least two days’ notice for people in other time zones?

Rules to Better Scrum using GitHub (Issues and Projects)

  1. GitHub Issues - Do you create templates for Sprint Reviews/Retros/Forecasts?

Rules to Better Scrum using Azure DevOps (Work Items)

  1. Tasks - Do you know to ensure that relevant emails are attached to tasks?

Rules to Better GitHub

  1. Do you know how to setup GitHub notifications?
  2. Do you know to mention someone with a @mention when you make a pull request or comment on GitHub?

Rules to Better Pull Requests

  1. Do you save failed experiments in abandoned pull requests?

Rules to Better Version Control (aka Source Control)

  1. Do you know how to lay out your solution?
  2. Do you know to clean up your Shelveset’s?
  3. Do you know when to use Git for version control?

Rules to Better Branching and Builds

  1. Do you know the minimum builds to create for your project?
  2. Do you know when to branch in TFS (aka TFVC)?

Rules to Better TFS Administration

  1. Do you know how to correctly use the terms: Configuration and Customization in the TFS context?
  2. Do you know how to delete a Team Project Collection?

Rules to Better TFS Customization

  1. Do you start from a built-in process template?
  2. Do you use Global List in TFS?

Rules to Better DevOps

  1. Do you have a DevOps Checklist?
  2. Do you use Slack as part of your DevOps?

Rules to Better .NET Projects

  1. Do you Add SSW Code Auditor, NUnit and Microsoft FxCop project files to your Solution
  2. Do you add the necessary code so you can always sync the web.config file?
  3. Do you avoid Microsoft.VisualBasic.Compatibility.dll for Visual Basic.NET projects?
  4. Do you know changes on Datetime in .NET 2.0 and .NET 1.1/1.0?
  5. Do you know the right methodology to choose (new project in VS 2012)?
  6. Do you know what files not to put into VSS?
  7. Do you name your startup form consistently?
  8. Do you turn Edit and Continue OFF?
  9. Do you use a DataAdapter to insert rows into your database?
  10. Do you use Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll for Visual Basic.NET projects?
  11. Do you use MS Project integration with TFS 2012?
  12. Do you use Slack as part of your DevOps?
  13. Do you use TFS 2012 instead of TFS 2010?
  14. Do you use the SharePoint portal in VSTS 2012?

Rules to Better Architecture and Code Review

  1. Do you know to replace reflection with MEF?
  2. Do you review the Solution and Project names?
  3. MEF: Do you know not to go overboard with dynamic dependencies?

Rules to Better MVC

  1. Do you bundle and minify your JavaScript?

Rules to Better Clean Architecture

  1. Do you use the Mediator pattern with CQRS?

Rules to Better User Acceptance Tests (UAT) for Bug Management

  1. Do You Run Acceptance Tests?

Rules to Better CRM for Developers

  1. Do you know the 6 ways to integrate your CRM 2011 data into SharePoint 2010?
  2. Do you turn off auto update on your servers?

Rules to Better SharePoint for Developers

  1. Do you manage SharePoint projects with TFS (with proven Agile/Scrum and ALM Strategies)?
  2. Do you create a minimal master page?
  3. Do you know how to custom styles for RichHtmlEditor in SharePoint 2013?
  4. Do you know how to resolve the broken links caused by page renaming?
  5. Do you know that you can't use 2010 Managed Metadata with Office 2007 out of the box?
  6. Do you know the 6 ways to integrate your CRM 2011 data into SharePoint 2010?
  7. Do you know the best SharePoint 2010 development environment?
  8. Do you turn off auto update on your servers?
  9. Do you use content editor web part with care?
  10. Have you considered SharePoint 2010 for internet sites license?
  11. SharePoint Rules Categories - Do You Know How to Make the Title Consistent?

Rules to Better Code Commenting

  1. Comments - Do you comment each property and method?

Rules to Better Error Handling

  1. Do you always avoid On Error Resume Next? (VB Only)
  2. Do you use LadyLog?

Rules to Better SQL Server Schema Deployment

  1. Do you make sure that the database structure is handled automatically via 3 buttons "Create", "Upgrade" and "Reconcile"?
  2. The application - Do you understand the danger, and change permissions so "Schema Changes" can only be done by the "Schema Master"?

Rules to Better Web API

  1. Do you add timestamps?
  2. Do You Apply the ValidateModel Attribute to All Controllers?

Rules to Better Application Performance

  1. Do you establish a baseline?

Rules to Better Code

  1. Do you declare variables when you need them?
  2. Do you follow naming conventions?
  3. Do you check before installing 3rd party libraries?
  4. Do you know that no carriage returns without line feed?
  5. Do you start versioning at 0.1 and change to 1.0 once approved by a client or tester?
  6. Do you use the new C# 7 language features to slash the amount of boilerplate code you write?

Rules to Better Application Insights

  1. Do you include Application Insights for Visual Studio Online in your website?

Rules to Better Internationalization

  1. Do you use PageSpeed?

Rules to Better WPF and Silverlight

  1. Do you avoid using Thread.Sleep in your Silverlight application?
  2. Do you offer out-of-browser support?
  3. Do you use dynamic application loading in Silverlight?
  4. Do you use the MVVM pattern in your Silverlight and WPF Projects?
  5. When do you use Silverlight?

Rules to Better Power Apps

  1. Do you know to claim your Power Apps Community Plan?

Rules to Better SQL Databases - Developers

  1. Data – Do you avoid empty lines at the start of character columns?
  2. Schema - Do you use less than 24 characters for table names?
  3. Middle Tier - Do you submit all dates to SQL Server in ISO format?

Rules to Better Unit Tests

  1. Do you have a standard 'Help' menu that includes a way to run your unit tests?
  2. Do you have a integration test for your send mail code?
  3. Do you know how to run nUnit tests from within Visual Studio?
  4. Do you know the most popular automated UI testing frameworks (aka functional testing)?
  5. Do you know the best test framework to run your integration tests?
  6. What are the different types of test you can have?
  7. Do you know the right version and config for nUnit?
  8. Do you follow the standard naming conventions for tests?
  9. Do you write Integration Test for Dependencies - e.g. DLLs?

Rules to Better Websites - Development

  1. Do you precompile your ASP.NET 1.1 and 2.0+ sites?
  2. Do you use .NET MVC over ASP.NET Web Forms?

Rules to Better Angular

  1. Tips - Do you know how to check the version of Angular?

Rules to Better React

  1. Tools - Do you know the best IDE for React?

Rules to Better Websites - Tuning and Maintenance

  1. Do you analyze your website performance?

Rules to Better Websites - Deployment

  1. Do you deploy to Azure from Team Foundation Service?
  2. Do your developers deploy manually?

Rules to Better UI (Bootstrap)

  1. Do you use Respond JS to target IE8 with Bootstrap?
  2. Do you use Web Essentials?
  3. Do you use the CSS class "form horizontal" to arrange your fields and labels?

Rules to Better Websites - Graphics

  1. Do you add width and height properties to images in user controls?
  2. Do you avoid BMPs for web at all times?
  3. Do you know how to use balloons in screenshots for instructions?
  4. Do you know when to use JPG?
  5. Do you know when to use PNG?
  6. Do you know when to use SVG?
  7. Do you use image sprites to reduce HTTP requests?
  8. Do you have good quality images?
  9. Do you know where you can find some nice icons?

Rules to Better JavaScript and jQuery

  1. Do you avoid using "inherit" value of style.display?
  2. Do you know which version of jQuery to use?

Rules to Better Exchange Server

  1. Do you turn off auto update on your servers?

Rules to Better Hyper-V

  1. Do you first get your Cluster and SAN going?

Rules to Better Hyper-V Clustering

  1. Do you first get your Cluster and SAN going?

Rules to Better Internet and Networks

  1. Do you know how to setup a PPTP VPN in Windows 7?

Rules to Better Skype for Business (formerly Lync)

  1. Do you federate Lync with Skype and other external IM providers?
  2. Do you install the Android versions?
  3. Do you install Microsoft Lync for mobile?
  4. Do you integrate CRM with Microsoft Skype for Business?
  5. Do you know how to create a meeting request for an online meeting or conference call?
  6. Do you know how to troubleshoot Lync connectivity or configuration issues?
  7. Do you know how to use SNOM VOIP phones? (Physical Phones + Microsoft Lync)
  8. Do you know the primary features of Lync? (Software Phones with Microsoft Lync)
  9. Do you know what IP phones are supported by Microsoft Lync?
  10. Do you setup Lync conference calls (that makes you the Organizer/Leader/Presenter)?
  11. Do you know how to find an employee or client's phone number?

Rules to Better Presentation PC's

  1. Do you install SharePoint Designer when using a SharePoint VHD?

Rules to Better Security

  1. [DEPRECATED] Do you use built in authentication from MS?

Rules to Better SharePoint

  1. Do you know how to resolve the broken links caused by page renaming?

Rules to Better SharePoint Migration from 2007 to 2010

  1. Do you advise staff members you are about to perform a migration?
  2. Export Method - Do you know how to export the solution if you don’t have the original installer or source code (optional)?

Rules to Better SharePoint Migration from 2010 to 2013

  1. Do you advise staff members you are about to perform a migration?

Rules to Better SharePoint Migration from 2013 to 2016

  1. Do you advise staff members you are about to perform a migration?

Rules to Better SharePoint Virtualisation

  1. What does a SharePoint image need?

Rules to Better SQL Server Administration

  1. Do you turn off auto update on your servers?

Rules to Better Windows Servers

  1. Do you keep your system up to date with FilleHippo?

Rules to Better Exchange Server

  1. Do you turn off auto update on your servers?

Rules to Better Microsoft Surface

  1. Do you find where drive space is consumed in your Surface?
  2. Do you save a few GB by creating Recovery partition on a Surface?

Rules to Better Office 365

  1. Do you have Skype for Business setup in Hybrid to get the full functionality out of Teams?

Rules to Better Interfaces (General Usability Practices)

  1. Do you know how to use storyboards?

Rules to Better Interfaces (Forms)

  1. Do you avoid dynamically labeling your form buttons?

Rules to Better Interfaces (Popups and Messages)

  1. Messages - Do you avoid 'OK' button when the action is clear?

Rules to Better Interfaces (Reports, Charts and Dates)

  1. Reports - Do you keep Reporting criteria simple?

Rules to Better Interfaces (Mobile)

  1. Do you know what guidelines to follow for WP?
  2. Do you know when to build a WP app over an iPhone app?

Rules to Better Interfaces (WinForms Controls)

  1. Being Pedantic - Do you use balloon tooltip?
  2. Control Choice - Do you know when to use options group Radio Buttons instead of ComboBox?

Rules to Better Websites - Navigation

  1. Do you avoid email harvesting or spamming by using images?
  2. Do you make your links intuitive?
  3. Do you use the right anchor names?

Rules to Better Websites - Layout and Formatting

  1. Do you have a consistent search results screen? (aka the Google Grid)
  2. How to use SSW style in RadHtmlControl?

Rules to Better Marketing

  1. Do you share when you upgrade an application?

Rules to Better Google Ads and SEM

  1. Do you have a Bid Strategy for your Google Ads?
  2. Do you know how to optimize your Google Ads?
  3. Do you use Single keyword Ad Groups (SKAGS)?

Rules to Better Google Rankings and SEO

  1. Do you have a consistent search results screen? (aka the Google Grid)
  2. Do you keep your webpages less than 101kb?

Rules to Better Newsletters

  1. Do you know how to send newsletter in Microsoft CRM 2013?

Rules to Better Social Media for Business

  1. Do you create friendly short URLs?
  2. Do you share when you upgrade an application?
  3. Do you follow minimum image sizes on social media?

Rules to Better Video Recording

  1. Post-Production - Do you add content to YouTube to feed traffic to your other sites?

Rules to Better Cars

  1. Does your navigation device support touch?

Latest Rules

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Why All These Rules?

Read about the History of SSW Rules, published in CoDe Magazine.

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Adam Cogan

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