How To


LINQ Query Enters the Age of Big Data

Integrating distributed, in-memory computing with distributed caching can easily extend LINQ semantics to create important new capabilities for real-time analytics on fast-changing data.

Composable Customizations with Xamarin.Forms

Learn how Xamarin.Forms Behaviors and Effects make it easy to customize your apps in ways you can reuse them across all of your apps.

Navigate Quickly from OutPut Window to Source Code

As you're debugging in Visual C++, sometimes you'll see a message in the Output Windows and then try to go the code it refers to, which can take a few steps. Here's a little trick in coding efficiency that simplifies moving from log messages to source code.

Potentially Save a Trip to the Database with Updates in Entity Framework

Here's a tip about how to exploit Entity Framework's change tracking mechanism to -- possibly -- eliminate a trip to the database when you update an item. But, without some additional code, you probably can't use it.

Building Media Apps for the Universal Windows Platform Using the Player Framework

The Universal Windows Platform comes with rich media capabilities. In this article Nick explores how to customize and extend the media playback experience using the Player Framework.

Declarative Programming in TypeScript with Decorators

If you've used attributes in your C# or Visual Basic programs, then decorators in TypeScript are going to look very familiar to you. They're still in development, but here's a look both at how to use them and how to write them.

A Lifetime of Data in C# and Visual Basic

Or, how lifetime can mean different lengths of time, depending on whether it's procedural- or block-level.

Integrating SQL Server Reporting Services Reports and ASP.NET MVC

There are so many ways to integrate an SSRS report into your page that the biggest problem you'll face is deciding which one to use. Peter runs through all the solutions he can think of, including those cases where you want to download the report as a file.

The Best Advice You'll Get on ASP.NET MVC Routing

Here are three rules for defining ASP.NET MVC routes that you can actually understand.

Run Additional Test Code with SpecFlow 2 Hooks

You know how to run business-readable tests. Let's continue with a few more hooks.

C++ Debugging in Visual Studio: Let's Start with the Basics

Debugging is a crucial part of the development process. In this new series of tried and true C++ tips, we look at the basics of debugging and step through some more advanced debuggings tips for C++ developers.

Permutations Using R

R has limited support for mathematical permutations, but it's there. Here's what R is capable of accomplishing.

Who's in Charge Now? UI Control and the Interface Segregation Principle

If you adopt the Interface Segregation principle, then you can eliminate (or, at least, control) one of the most annoying problems in creating very useful objects. But following that principle through to its conclusion also inverts the traditional hierarchy of the development team.

Default Access Levels in C# and Visual Basic

It pays to be explicit and not use the emotional defaults of each language.

It's OK To Be Lazy And Defer Creating Objects Until You Need Them

You can write some complicated code to ensure that you don't create any object until you absolutely need it. Or you can use the Lazy object...at least some of the time.

Retain State by Serializing to Disk

If you're looking for an easy way to save the user's current state, the simplest solution is use the Serialize and Deserialize method.

Processing Data with ASP.NET MVC, JSX+React and TypeScript

JSX+React provides a flexible way for you to structure your client-side code to two things you want: dynamically transform your page in response to your user's input, and to integrate with ASP.NET MVC action methods.

How To Write a Function That Returns More Than One Value

Like magic, tuples make the impossible possible. Yep, we're talking here about one little corner in the Standard Template Library that will make it simple to return multiple values from a single function, without "out" parameters -- and it has other uses, too.

Stepping Through Binding Styles Using SpecFlow 2

SpecFlow offers a number of binding styles for bridging business-readable tests with test-automation code.

Saving Data on the Client in ASP.NET MVC

Here's another way to make applications more scalable and more responsive to the user: store some application data on the user's computer.

How the R Language Does OOP

It's not quite like C# or Python, but the R language's object-oriented programming capabilities are getting better with each iteration. Let's take a look at what .NET developers are able do now with OOP in R6.

Experiencing Nothingness in C# and Visual Basic

Nothing and null are one and the same, except in the language of programming.

Creating a Flexible, Extendable Update Process

In any real-world business, updating data isn't simple and changing the rows in the table is just the start of a complex set of processes. Fortunately, you can break those updates down into a bunch of simple processes that can be easily extended.

Use Lambda Expressions in LINQ Includes

You couldn't do it in earlier versions of Entity Framework but, in more recent versions, you can use lambda expressions to save yourself from some runtime errors.

Using the not_null Template for Pointers That Must Never Be Null

Null pointer exceptions can get downright annoying, so who needs that?

Subscribe on YouTube