Practical .NET


Adding Custom Processing to Requests in ASP.NET

ASP.NET Web API and ASP.NET MVC have similar (but not identical) mechanisms that allow you to customize how your requests and responses are processed. Not surprisingly, ASP.NET Web API's implementation is both easier and more flexible than ASP.NET MVC.

Processing Every Request and Response in ASP.NET

You have at least two options for adding processing to multiple controllers without duplicating code in each of the Controllers.

The Fastest Data Access Possible with Compiled Procs

If, in your "need for speed," you're looking to access and update your data as fast as possible, you can get to that goal by combining memory-optimized tables with compiled procs.

Speed Up Your Application with SQL Server In-Memory Tables

If screaming speed in data access is the most important thing in your life, SQL Server's durable in-memory, memory-optimized tables are your answer. They were good in SQL Server 2014 and they're even better in SQL Server 2016, 2017 and Azure.

Debugging Xamarin Android Apps

You have a bunch of options for debugging Android applications built with Xamarin. Unfortunately, only one of them has worked well for Peter in all scenarios. Here are all your options with Peter's opinion on each and a recommendation on the best one.

When You're Your Own DBA: Speeding Up SQL Server

You're not a DBA but you're responsible for managing your organization's SQL Server installation. Here are some tips on what you can do to speed up all your data access.

Defining Web API Services and Clients with NSwag

The OpenAPI (Swagger) technology suite includes a file that describes your Web API service. Peter thinks it's the slickest tool available to ensure that clients can access your services.

Speeding Up Queries: How to Think About Query Plans

If you want to speed up your SQL Server queries you need to know how your application and your users actually use your database.

The 5 Essential Patterns in Xamarin Applications

There are five design patterns you'll use every time you create a smartphone application. One is imposed by the environment and one is a pattern that you've probably been avoiding when creating other kinds of applications.

Making Testing Worthwhile

That understanding should drive how you deal with testing, including how to turn it into a value-added task.

Generate Useful Documentation for Your Web API Project

If you want to impress your boss (or client) with your diligence in generating documentation for your Web Service, then you need Swagger. That it will also make it easier for you to run tests on your service and check for typical errors is just icing on the cake.

The Case Against Zero-Defect Software

Testing is a necessary but not a value-added task. To put it another way, while testing is something we have to do, our users would be just as happy if we could produce quality software without it. Understanding that leads to a realistic approach to testing.

Maximizing Your Paycheck

An economic model design to explain profit margins may seem like an odd place to look for career advice, but here are five forces that you can harness to increase how much you get paid.

'Hello World' for Your Smartphone: Your First Xamarin Application

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a Xamarin project in Visual Studio 2017.

Dealing with Unsafe DELETEs in RESTful Services

Your DELETE request to the service just timed out. Surely, it's safe to send it again. Actually, it may not be.

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