How To


Calling Win32 API Functions in Visual Basic 2010

Sometimes your best option is to bypass the .NET Framework and make function calls to the native Win32 API.

How-To Q&A: How Can I Automate Code Without Resorting to Heavy Code-Generation Techniques?

Kathleen Dollard shows how to improve development using T4 code generation and in-line DSL as a localized development tool.

Cloud Development in Visual Studio 2010

Visual Studio 2010 provides familiar tooling and resources for developers who want to put their applications up in the cloud. Here's how to do it.

How-To Q&A: How do I Display Data of Complex Bound Criteria in Horizontal Lists in Silverlight?

Kathleen Dollard shows how to display a list of complex bound criteria, including data, child data and photos for each item, in Silverlight.

Exploring Directed Graph Markup Language in VS2010

VS2010 Architecture Explorer Edition includes DGML, a powerful, yet easy to use, tool for visualizing almost anything.

Using LINQ to Express Intent

Use LINQ outside of databases to make your code easier to read and maintain.

Useful Tactics for Paying Back Technical Debt

Every codebase contains some measure of technical debt -- code that is maddeningly hard to test and maintain. We outline some ideas for identifying and dealing with the high-interest debt in your code.

Adding WCF Services to Silverlight

Explore the nuances of using WCF Services with Silverlight, and learn troubleshooting tips for working with Visual Studio 2010 and the .NET Framework 4.

Using Agile Techniques to Pay Back Technical Debt

Flawed code is a lot like financial debt. It drags you down and consumes resources that would otherwise go to profit-making ventures. Here's how to avoid getting caught in the technical debt trap.

Digging Deeper into Silverlight and MEF

Silverlight applications based on the Managed Extensibility Framework and generalized user interfaces don't require hand coding every screen.

The QueryExtender

Extend runtime sorting and filtering of data with ASP.NET 4's QueryExtender, which provides a single interface for DataSources.

Deleting with jQuery and Web Services

Peter continues to extend his jQuery/jTemplate case study by supporting deletes of multiple rows with a single mouse click.

Updating From the Client with jQuery

Peter continues to exploit jQuery in his client-side code to integrate an ASP.NET page with a WCF service -- this time to support updating data.

Defining Templates with jTemplate

A combination of client-side code, WCF services, and jQuery lets you retrieve data from your sever and display it to the user using Web Services and client-side code.

C#: Interface-Based Programming

Interfaces can make your applications easier to test and maintain.

Mastering Silverlight

Silverlight offers impressive talents and more than a few frustrations. From customizing your application UI to battling obscure bugs and error messages, this column helps with the transition to Silverlight tools.

Integrating jQuery, Web Services, AJAX and ASP.NET

The jQuery library makes it easier to create applications that execute in the browser. By leveraging existing ASP.NET technologies and merging them with jQuery, you can create faster, more responsive applications.

Types and Tuples in .NET 4

Visual Basic 10 introduces new generic tuple classes that can help you get more done with less -- if you're careful about it.

Stable Composition in MEF

Learn how to work through debugging challenges posed by stable composition in MEF Preview 7, and get insight into using MEF with Silverlight.

The Azure Factor

How factoring out common patterns in your Azure worker roles can improve development.

Getting Current on MEF

ASK KATHLEEN: Readers explore Managed Extensibility Framework, using callback delegates and how to create the equivalent of a C# partial interface in Visual Basic.

Threading and the UI

ON VB: Four ways to synchronize threads with your app's user interface.

Unit Testing with VSTS2008 (Part 3)

The last in a series of articles on working with VSTS2008 shows how to make existing unit tests data driven.

Unit Testing with VSTS2008 (Part 2)

Mickey shows some other unit testing options, and how to enable code coverage, in Visual Studio Team System 2008

Unit Testing With VSTS2008

Mickey shows you a basic example of unit testing with Visual Studio Team System 2008. Part 1 of 3.

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