Good WSS FAQ

For an excellent WSS resource pay a quick visit to http://wss.collutions.com/.

This one covers it all...
Introduction I
General II
Installation III
Administration IV
Basic Customization V
Interaction with Office VI
Tutorials VII
Documents and Web Sites
Articles
WSS v3 FAQ
STS (v1.0) FAQ

Theme Customization

For a fantastic to the point tutorial on creating custom themes check out this MSDN link;

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa979310.aspx

Also, for the no bones UI FAQ, Heather Solomon is the place to go.

http://www.heathersolomon.com/blog/category/8.aspx

Excellent Developer Resource

If you don't mind the large poster sized charts, these free offerings from MindSharp are fantastic dev references.

https://www.mindsharp.com/Default.aspx?page=Login&destPage=RoadmapRequest

Comparison of features that are included in Windows SharePoint Services and in SharePoint Portal Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3bEN-US%3b830320

http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/evaluationoverview.asp

Beginning SharePoint development

So you're wanting to create a custom web part? Well from one beginner to another let me walk you through the basics.

Environment:
You need to set up the proper development environment. While you can develop from a separate computer from the server that holds your SharePoint Portal, I will be showing you how to develop from the server itself. More experienced devs can chime in with best practice advice.
--Load Visual Studio 2005 (any version) on the SharePoint Portal server.
--Load Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Tools: Visual Studio 2005 Extensions on the SharePoint Portal Server (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=19F21E5E-B715-4F0C-B959-8C6DCBDC1057&displaylang=en)

Now you're ready to go.

Procedure:
Here are just a few tutorial links for initial development... best way to learn is jump in and get wet.
(http://www.datasprings.com/Resources/ArticlesInformation/Sharepoint2007CustomWebParts/tabid/775/Default.aspx)
(http://www.intranetjournal.com/articles/200510/ij_10_10_05a.html)
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/09/WebParts/default.aspx)
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=48B2C899-DB2C-4A93-AA95-AF4A37FA8AE8&displaylang=en)
(http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms564508.aspx)
(http://www.15seconds.com/issue/040218.htm)

Here are some language references (remember SharePoint is written in C#)
(http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/default.aspx)
(http://www.csharpfriends.com/)
(http://www.dotnetfun.com/)
(http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/)
(http://www.csharp-station.com/Default.aspx)
(http://www.codeproject.com/index.asp?cat=3)


Good Luck!

Book recommendation

For those who are just digging in to SharePoint development as I am, I have a book recommendation for you.

Microsoft SharePoint
Building Office 2007 Solutions in C# 2005
By Scot Hillier, MVP
ISBN-10: 1-59059-809-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-59059-809-2
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-SharePoint-Building-Solutions-Sharepoint/dp/1590598091/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8/102-2856765-7262565?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175609884&sr=8-8

Let me just say that for the beginning(SharePoint) developer this book is very specific in it's instructions, for example;

• There is a handy little section in chapter 2 entitled, "Creating a Development Environment" it covers exactly how to set up VirtServ, database creation, creating the test client etc.

That is just one of the many goodies in this book. Give it a read you won't regret it.

Powerful Command Line Administration for SharePoint

https://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/01/CommandPrompt/default.aspx