Project Glidepath is a prime example of Windows Vista evangelism. The Microsoft initiative known as Project Glidepath is addressing MicroISVs to develop applications that integrate seamlessly with Windows Vista. Following the commercial availability of the operating system, Microsoft has updated Project Glidepath to feature the Windows Vista Spotlight.

"Project Glidepath includes a free software factory add-in for Visual Studio 2005 that delivers, via RSS, guidance, content, code samples, step-by-step instructions and even custom tools that help MicroISVs take full advantage of Windows Vista including .NET 3.0 (WPF, WCF, WF, and CardSpace) as well as many non-technical aspects of being a MicroISV. Project Glidepath also features the Windows Vista Spotlight highlighting MicroISV applications available worldwide that are compatible with Windows Vista," explained Nick White, Microsoft Product Manager.

And while Microsoft is not willing to go over the top with this one, it does offer a free Zune digital media player for the first 30 MicroISVs that will submit their applications, provided their products pass the basic Windows Vista functionality test.

"If you are a MicroISV and have an application that successfully installs, runs and uninstalls on Windows Vista please go to the site, click on the link on the right and submit your application for consideration in the Spotlight. When your application passes our basic functionality tests we will put you in the spotlight and blog about your success," sounds an invitation delivered by Michael Lehman, Microsoft Technical Evangelist.

Windows Vista has had a bumpy debut as far as support and compatibility go. From NVidia graphics cards to iTunes, Vista users have run into an array of issues. Project Glidepath aims to tackle this aspect by offering Vista specific content. Via the Project Glidepath, MicroISVs will be able to access the Repository Manager (the VS2005 add-in) and a web-based repository of software factories and packages.