May 2014

Volume 29 Number 5

C\# - A C\# 6.0 Language Preview

C# - A C# 6.0 Language Preview

Mark Michaelis

Mark Michaelis presents some of the useful new features in the next version of C#, including indexed members and element initializers, auto-properties with initializers, primary constructors, static using statements, and exception-handling improvements.

DirectX Factor - Manipulating Triangles in 3D SpaceColumn

DirectX Factor - Manipulating Triangles in 3D Space

Charles Petzold

Charles Petzold explores 3D concepts as he shows you how to give 2D graphical objects depth and body as they arise from screen and float in 3D space.

Visual Studio 2013 - Next-Generation Development with Application Insights

Visual Studio 2013 - Next-Generation Development with Application Insights

Charles Sterling

Application Insights delivers a set of services that integrates developer and operations tools to reduce friction in the development process. This articles explores services like availability monitoring, application performance monitoring and usage analytics to ensure that applications are available, performant and functional.

Azure Insider - Microsoft Azure and Open Source Power Grid ComputingColumn

Azure Insider - Microsoft Azure and Open Source Power Grid Computing

Bruno Terkaly

Developing and deploying something as potentially complex as a grid or distributed computing implementation can be daunting. Bruno Terkaly and Ricardo Villalobos discuss coding tools that can help establish the necessary communication.

Async Programming - Patterns for Asynchronous MVVM Applications: Services

Async Programming - Patterns for Asynchronous MVVM Applications: Services

Stephen Cleary

In the third article in a series that looks at patterns for combining the async and await keywords with MVVM, Stephen Cleary looks at the service layer and discusses asynchronous services.

Data Points - Tips for Updating and Refactoring Your Entity Framework CodeColumn

Data Points - Tips for Updating and Refactoring Your Entity Framework Code

Julie Lerman

Updating to a new version of Entity Framework and refactoring your code presents some real challenges. Julie Lerman’s tips can help ease the pain.

ALM Rangers - Software Development with Feature Toggles

ALM Rangers - Software Development with Feature Toggles

Bill Heys

Feature toggles are a programming concept that enables parallel, concurrent feature development as an alternative to branching for parallel development (feature branches), and allows continuous integration of features while they are being developed.

Test Run - Association Rule LearningColumn

Test Run - Association Rule Learning

James McCaffrey

James McCaffrey explains association rule learning, an exploratory technique intended to reveal interesting and possibly useful relationships between items.

C\# Best Practices - Dangers of Violating SOLID Principles in C\#

C# Best Practices - Dangers of Violating SOLID Principles in C#

Brannon King

SOLID Principles are a well-known guideline for effective software development. Brannon King looks at several C#-specific patterns that violate these principles and, in so doing, help illuminate their value to programmers.

The Working Programmer - Growl Notification System: Simpler Is BetterColumn

The Working Programmer - Growl Notification System: Simpler Is Better

Ted Neward

Sometimes the simplest approach is best, as Ted Neward illustrates with the Growl notification utility, which makes it easy for developers to add reliable notificiations to their software.

Modern Apps - Design a Cross-Platform Modern App ArchitectureColumn

Modern Apps - Design a Cross-Platform Modern App Architecture

Rachel Appel

Considering the wide range of devices available these days, the need to develop apps for cross platform use is inevitable. Make the right choice of development platform and process to ensure you can develop the app you need.

Don't Get Me Started - Mayday\!Column

Don't Get Me Started - Mayday!

David Platt

David Platt takes Amazon's Mayday interactive help feature of the Kindle HDX for a spin and wonders, could it replace the neighborhood bartender?

Editor's Note - Building BridgesColumn

Editor's Note - Building Bridges

Michael Desmond

Last month's Build Conference set the agenda for Microsoft developers for years to come.