Without a doubt, Entity Framework is a quick and satisfactory way of producing a database-driven web application. As performance becomes more important, it does, however, require some knowledge of the traps that you need to avoid, and of the wrinkles that impact performance. Ben Emmett gives a practical guide.… Read more
It seems a great idea to have your application on all the main mobile platforms as well as on the desktop. Nothing beats writing an app specially for each device, but then you've created a full-scale maintenance headache. Are technologies like PhoneGap/Cordova or Adobe Air, using a browser-based UI, the perfect compromise? If so, what frameworks do you use?… Read more
Refactoring code won't cause performance problems, right? This was the assumption when Chris Hurley and his team went out to improve some legacy code. They decided to separate the database access from business logic and standardise on Entity Framework, but when it came time to test the code using real-world workloads, unexpected performance issues appeared. Chris recounts how they discovered, investigated, and resolved these issues using ANTS Performance Profiler. … Read more
There aren't many frameworks for writing acceptance tests for databases, including SQL Server. FitNesse is an obvious choice since it is designed with a Wiki-style interface that, once it is configured and set up correctly, makes it very easy for a non-specialist to set up individual tests. … Read more
FitNesse is one of the most popular tools for unit testing since it is designed with a Wiki-style interface that makes it very easy to set up individual tests. Michael Sorens' sixth article in his series delves into the nuances of multiple inputs vs. multiple outputs, multiple rows vs. multiple columns, as well as things that can trip you up when attempting to validate a value.… Read more
Although FitNesse can be used as a generic automated testing tool for both applications and databases, it excels at unit testing since it is designed with a Wiki-style interface that makes it very easy to set up tests. In part 5, Michael Sorens explains how to use symbols and variables effectively, and why those terms are themselves rather problematic… Read more
FitNesse is an automated testing tool for software. based on Ward Cunningham's Framework for Integrated Test. It is designed particularly for acceptance testing and works with both applications and databases. In part 4, Michael Sorens shows you how to debug with Visual Studio, manage control flow and enable tracing.… Read more
Having dealt with Documentation and Infrastructure in the popular wiki-based acceptance-testing tool Fitnesse, Michael turns his attention to conventions and best-practices for naming and layout, in his continuing series of articles that represent the 'view from the trenches'.… Read more
FitNesse is a popular general-purpose wiki-based framework for writing acceptance tests for software systems, including databases. It is intended to be easy for the tester to learn and use. In this article, Michael Sorens gives a 'view from the trenches' of Fitnesse's documentation and infrastructure.… Read more
FitNesse is an open-source framework for supporting user-acceptance testing. The aim is to make the construction of the individual tests as easy and intuitive as possible. It works with Java, .NET and database applications. It is very useful, but needs a simple 'tips from the trenches' guide to its use. Here is the start of that guide.… Read more
T4 usually stays behind the scenes in Visual Studio, but if you find that you have a good reason to write similar code over and over again, or use a lot of copy and paste, then it could be that you have a specific use for T4. There are times when it can be useful for generating code templates but it is versatile to provide a solution for a number of programming headaches.… Read more
Here are recipes to manage Subversion source control revisions effectively, such as managing revisions, working out the current revision, whether it is up to date, working with more than one revision at a time, and getting notifications when certain files change.… Read more
The biggest new feature in C#5 is Async, and its associated Await (contextual) keyword. Anybody who is faced with creating Metro applications for Windows 8 is having to tackle the very different mindset of Async Programming. Clive explains what is happening under the covers and how one can investigate, using .NET Reflector.… Read more
An automated build and deployment system is no longer a dream. Now that PowerShell has matured as a product, and since the emergence of new tools such as Psake and Chocolatey, the ambition of the perfect build process has come nearer to reality. … Read more
Some types of development work are much more effectively accomplished if the developer can work directly on SQL Server Databases from Visual Studio, alongside the application code, rather than constantly switching applications to SSMS. Until SQL Connect was created, there was no easy way to do this. Nate Suver had just this requirement, and explains why SQL Connect is so important to him. … Read more
Sharepoint allows you to run recurring processes in background on a schedule. These are Timer Jobs. It is easy to get confused by the process of writing, scheduling, administering and updating timer jobs. Luckily, Damon has made it his mission to produce a complete guide for the Sharepoint developer. … Read more
Developing a Sharepoint application would have all the fun of a video game, if only you had infinite lives. Dangers lurk hidden out there which, if you run into them, can be a blow to your project and waste a great deal of time. Damon gives just one example of a poisoned dagger in the game of Sharepoint Development: The Item Event Receiver.… Read more
Modules allow you to use standard libraries that extend PowerShell's functionality. They are easier to use than to create, but if you get the hang of creating them, your code will be more easily-maintained and re-usable. Let Michael Sorens once more be your guide through PowerShell's 'Alice in Wonderland' world.… Read more
For an experienced programmer to learn a new language can be a journey quite like Alice's in wonderland. Paradoxes, unexpected twists, blind tangents, bafflements and nice surprises. Michael comes to the rescue of anyone learning PowerShell with an explanation of how to use PowerShell functions.… Read more
When you are first learning PowerShell, it often seems to be an 'Alice through the looking-glass' world. Just the simple process of comparing and selecting strings can seem strangely obtuse. Michael turns the looking-glass into wonderland with his wall-chart of the PowerShell string-comparison operators and syntax.… Read more
