Git isn't just for source code, but it also helps with the prototyping of the user interface. It allows for faster iteration and a better structure for making and recording design decisions. GitHub for Windows provides an way to visualize what decisions are available and to work on several possible alternatives independently.… Read more
The ASP.NET MVC controller is a good friend of web developers. There are a host of features in it that can be used to reduce the amount of coding you have to do, and to make the logic simpler. … Read more
The Control flow components of SSIS can cause a great deal of puzzlement to anyone learning SSIS, especially the Foreach Loop. Annette continues her popular 'Basics' series by showing how to use the Foreach Loop container for copying files.… Read more
ASP.NET MVC is built on top of ASP.NET's HTTP handlers and ad hoc URLs. The process of routing a URL to the correct controller/action pair makes it far easier to create any website that plays a more versatile role than merely serving file-based pages.… Read more
When things go wrong, a DBA's reputation depends on an understanding of the transaction log, both what it does, and how it works. An effective response to a crisis requires rapid decisions based on understanding its role in ensuring data integrity.
This book shows you how to control your transaction log, so that it doesn't control you.… Read more
FILESTREAM is implemented as an extension to the VARBINARY(MAX) data type and allows large object data to be stored in a special folder on the NTFS file system, while bringing that data under the transactional control of SQL Server. This book describes both the way it works and the implementation, adminstration and troubleshooting of it.… Read more
It makes a lot of sense to do it, but how do you get started? Whatever you use to build Applications with SQL Server, there is a good way of using source control and many reasons for doing so.… Read more
Your application can have impeachable indexes and queries, but they won't help you if you can't get to your data because another application has it locked. That's why every DBA and developer must understand SQL Server concurrency and how to troubleshoot excessive blocking or deadlocking. Kalen Delaney's book is your guide.… Read more
There should always be a reason for a commit to source control, so why not make a log message mandatory when you commit, and make it easy add a link to a record in a bug-tracking system, or to another Log message? Michael Sorens explains how.… Read more
Why is it that ASP.NET MVC has such strongly-enforced naming conventions? Can conventions for the default behaviour of code actually help to reduce the complexity of applications, and at what point is it wise to break conventions in application architecture. Dino investigates the issues.… Read more
In order to make progress in your career in IT, you need to actively plan your professional development rather then allow others around you to control it. For anyone in IT, the task of learning new skills and technologies is part of your work: and you can do it right where you are, in your current job.… Read more
Although, generally speaking, source control is the truth, a database doesn't quite conform to the ideal because the target schema can, for valid reasons, contain other conflicting truths that can't easily be captured in source control. Dave Ballantyne explains the problems and suggests a solution.… Read more
The Web API framework is a useful tool for building RESTful ASP.NET MVC4 applications, but it's not essential. Dino Esposito demonstrates how you can use MVC3 to simulate several of the really useful web API framework features, and still maintain a nice, clean controller method.… Read more
Jenkins, formerly called Hudson, is an open-source server-based Continuous Integration tool that works with all the major Source Control Management (SCM) tools including TFS, and can even script in PowerShell. It is clever software written by a clever geek, Kohsuke Kawaguchi.… Read more
Anyone in IT should be aware of jQuery. This free, open-source JavaScript library has become amost essential to anyone creating a web-based application. Nick Harrison explains, in as sucession of small examples, why it helps his productivity so much, and takes the grudgery out of creating dynamic web pages.… Read more
.NET memory management is designed so that the programmer is freed from the chore of consciously having to allocate and dispose of memory resources. It is optimized to work best with the most common patters of usage. However, the more conscious you become of scalability and performance, the more useful an understanding of NET memory management becomes.… Read more
In order to be able to take data from a variety of sources, manipulate it, and then export it to one of several destinations, SSIS has to use its own data types. Generally, the conversions of data types is handled implicitly, but if you hit problems, then you may need to intervene in one of several ways to ensure an appropriate conversion.… Read more
As well-engineered as the .NET framework is, it's not perfect, and it doesn't always get memory management right. To write truly fantastic software, you need to understand how .NET memory management actually works. This book will take you from the very basics of memory management, all the way to how the OS handles its resources, and will help you write the best code you can.… 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
With SSIS, you can perform a lookup on data in the course of a task, using referenced data from any OLE DB source. It is a useful feature that enables you to check on the validity of data, or interpret it before proceeding. Robert Sheldon explains.… Read more
