A Fluent API Design Pattern (Part 2)

In the first post of this 2 part series, we looked at a class named Syntax designed to be a pattern allowing for the easy creation and maintenance of a Fluent API. In the second post, we’ll explore what it takes to extend and implement that pattern. [More]

By Brandon on March 29, 2012 at 4:19 AM
Tagged: C#, Fluent API, architecture

A Fluent API Design Pattern (Part 1)

I’ve been a fan of Fluent APIs for a considerably long time now, and given their rise in popularity over the past few years I’m clearly not alone. There are several approaches one can take to creating their own fluent API, each with their own pitfalls and merits. In this 2 part series, we’ll take a look at an approach that I’ve been using that attempts to simplify the creation of Fluent APIs. [More]

Visual Studio suckiness

Do you suffer from VSSS (Visual Studio Suckiness Syndrome)?  There’s help.  If you’ve noticed your devenv.exe process swelling up to around 2gb and then getting really slow, buggy and freezing up, try a few things: Disable extensions or 3rd party addons that don’t manage their memory well.  VS doesn’t use any process isolation fo... [More]

Networking in Silverlight 4 presentation

I had the special opportunity today to speak to around 90 developers from Bank of America about building connected applications with Silverlight 4 today.  I’ve done this demo a few times before in front of different groups (code camps, etc.) and it always seems to get a positive response.  As a matter of fact, I’ll be presenti... [More]

A little story about .GetType()

Last week a co-worker and I had a disagreement on the implications of using .GetType() -- is it reflection or not?

Turns out I was both right and wrong about this... [More]

Using SharePoint 2010 Beta 1 REST services on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

I’ve been trying to get the SharePoint 2010 beta 1 server setup so that it can be queried using WCF Data Services (formerly ADO.Net Data services). Whatever I try, I continue getting the following error:

WebHost failed to process a request. [More]

Presenting today: Behind the Scenes of SalesForce.com and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0: The Developer’s Story

I’m doing a webinar today for my company, Tribridge, entitled “Behind the Scenes of SalesForce.com and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0: The Developer’s Story”.  Long titles aside, I’m super excited about delivering this content to a technical audience.  This is actually a follow-up presentation from a webina... [More]

Silverlight 3 Linkapalooza

So I’ve been a very, very busy bee with a bunch of projects, and there’s been no lack of well-deserved teasing for not posting to this blog in 8 months. I guess the best way to silence the critics would be a good-old-fashioned link-off. Here’s my list of high quality Silverlight 3 content that you’ve got to check out. [More]

Where in the world is Brandon Kelly?

I can’t believe February 2009 is already here.  Seems like only yesterday I was intently waiting on my flying car like the rest of us, and now I’m living in the future!  In case you’re not up to speed, there’s several great community events coming up – and I’ll be doing my usual code singing, beer slinging routine. February 7 – South Flo... [More]

My “Chalkboard” Visual Studio 2008 Theme

Many people around the office have taken notice of my Visual Studio 2008 theme, which I’ve affectionately called “Chalkboard”.  I put together this theme and then tweaked it over the past few months to make hours in front of Visual Studio 2008 easier on my eyes.  Here’s a screen grab. The high-contrast colors (dark background, light f... [More]

Using Help Filters in Visual Studio

Last night I was at the Tampa SQL Server User’s Group attending a good intro on VSTS Database Edition GDR presented by Catapult Systems.  After the session, one of the attendees asked me if there was any way to get rid of the SQL Server Compact Edition help from his Visual Studio help collection.  One way to do this is to use the provided... [More]

Timeout and Workflow issues when using the Deployment Manager in Dynamics CRM 4.0

I've been trying to re-deploy a CRM 4.0 installation from a client's site into our development domain so that I can work with some of the data in the system.  Using the provided CRM 4.0 Deployment Manager is pretty easy (instructions found here), but wasn't working.  The deployment manager would run for a good 30+ minutes and eventually... [More]

Windows 7 on my Dell Inspiron 6400

I first received Windows 7 at Microsoft PDC this year, but I waited until a little further down the release path (beta 1) to do my first install.  After reading several reviews (all mostly positive) online that don't hesitate mentioning Windows 7's superior performance over both VIsta and XP, I decided to take the plunge and install the new O/... [More]

Troubleshooting guide for TFS installation

Looks like the good folks in Redmond got some time to write up a much-needed troubleshooting guide for TFS server installations.  You can find the guide on MSDN using the following link: Troubleshooting installation of Team Foundation The guide goes over how to interpret the installer log files, as well as diagnosis for many common TFS errors.... [More]

Open XML Format SDK

Last August, Microsoft released the Open XML Format SDK 1.0.  This innocuous-sounding SDK is a full set of managed classes that allow developers to load and manipulate Open XML documents using a managed API.  Not to say you couldn't do this before -- using the Office InterOp assemblies, but now developers get unparalleled performance and ... [More]

10 Developer Resolutions for the New Year

I'm not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions, but I've got some bad habits (like many of us) that I'd like to break, and some new good habits that I'd like to get into. Here's my short list of changes for 2009. [More]

Tampa Code Camp and MDC, oh my!

Image via CrunchBase Wondering where I'll be spoutin' code and chugging beers for the holidays?  Around town -- of course, at the Tampa Code Camp and MSDN Developer Conference.  December 6 - Going from Model to Application with VSTS and ADO.Net Entity Framework (Tampa Code Camp) December 11 - "Rosario": A Sprint with the next version of... [More]

Javascript debugging, intellisense and dynamic script loading in CRM 4.0

One of the best features and biggest drawbacks to CRM 4.0's entity model is the ability to modify forms in CRM using Javascript.  While this level of customization is something any sizable implementation will need, it's been reduced to pasting a bunch of Javascript code into a text box in CRM. Not that I've got anything against pasting code in... [More]

VSTS Tip: Using Area Paths and Microsoft Project to mimic hierarchical work items

Can't wait until VSTS and TFS 2010 to have hierarchical work items?  There's a way around this, provided you're ready to use either Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project to do work item tracking. Introducing Area Paths Area Paths allow architects to clearly define portions of an application as independent subsystems.  You do this through a... [More]

BizSpark - Microsoft loves startups, too

Microsoft made a formal announcement about BizSPpark today.  From their web site: Microsoft® BizSpark™ is a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage startups by providing key resources when they need it the most: Basically, Microsoft is doing a solid for startups by providing them with a bunch of full-featured, li... [More]

PDC 2008 Day 3: Rapid Business Application Development with Dynamics CRM

Presented by Andrew Bybee (Principal Program Manager, Microsoft) and Nirav Shah (Senior Development Lead, Microsoft) This presentation is all about code.  Objectives in the session include: Demonstration of the rapid development of business applications with Dynamics CRM. Introduce new capabilities for extending business logic in Dynamics CR... [More]

PDC 2008 Day 3: Silverlight Control Toolkit

Image via Wikipedia Had a really fun lunch session from the creators of the ASP.NET Ajax Control Toolkit.  Looks like Microsoft released a Silverlight Control Toolkit yesterday, which will be followed later with a WPF Control Toolkit out of band from Visual Studio/.NET Framework releases.  And, like the AJAX Control Toolkit, we'll be gett... [More]

PDC 2008 Day 3: Microsoft Research in the 21st century

This morning's keynote speech started with one of those tingly-feel-good Microsoft Research commercials.  You know, the type of advertisement that really makes you believe that Microsoft can change the world.  This seemed very suitable, as the first speaker of the day was Rick Rashid, Sr. Vice President for Microsoft Research. If you need... [More]

PDC 2008 Day 2: Silverlight Futures

Presented by Jamie Cool, Microsoft Corporation Yes -- his name really is Jamie Cool.  I think Jamie did the best presentation of the day (so far) on developing business applications with Silverlight, and then a good taste of Silverlight futures.  It's hard to say how much of the futures we saw were really Silverlight futures and how much ... [More]

PDC 2008 Day 2: SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence and Data Visualization

Presented by:  Stella Chan, Lead Program Manager, Microsoft Why BI? Developers can build applications to track the ever-changing business BI solutions create a holistic view, allowing developers to build solutions that unlock data from silos of line of business applications (consolidation) Build information worker friendly tools that require ... [More]