Coding With David

When developing Blazor applications, a common dilemma is deciding where to place your C# code: directly within the Razor file or in a separate code-behind file. This choice can impact the maintainability, readability, and scalability of your codebase. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, so let's dive into each option to help you determine which one is best for your project. C# Code in the Razor File (Inline Code) Advantages of Inline Code Simplicity : For smaller components, embedding C# code directly in the .razor file allows you to see the markup and logic side by side, which can make development faster. This is ideal for straightforward components or quick prototypes. Quick Prototyping : If you're creating a simple component, inline code reduces the overhead of managing multiple files. It’s an efficient way to build quick demos or proof-of-concept components. Less Indirection : When your component’s logic is minimal, placing it directly in the Razor fil...

  Unlock the secrets of software craftsmanship, master design patterns, and elevate your coding skills with these essential reads. In the ever-evolving field of software engineering, staying ahead requires more than just keeping up with the latest programming languages or frameworks. It demands a deep understanding of foundational principles, best practices, and the wisdom of those who have shaped the industry. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your journey, these ten books are invaluable resources that can guide you toward mastery. 1. Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin "Even bad code can function. But if code isn't clean, it can bring a development organization to its knees." — Robert C. Martin "Clean Code" is a seminal work that emphasizes the importance of writing code that is not only functional but also readable and maintainable. Robert C. Martin, affectionately known as "Uncle Bob,"...

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, deploying applications to the cloud has become the norm. Microsoft Azure provides a robust platform for hosting applications built with Blazor, a powerful framework for building interactive web UIs using C#. However, deploying an application is only half the battle; ensuring its optimal performance and reliability is equally crucial. This is where monitoring comes into play. Monitoring can be broadly categorized into system monitoring and application monitoring . While both are essential, they serve different purposes and provide different insights. In this blog post, we'll delve into the differences between system monitoring and application monitoring for a Blazor application deployed on Azure, covering aspects like logging, exceptions, invalid data handling, and more. What is System Monitoring? System monitoring focuses on the health and performance of the underlying infrastructure that supports your application. It involves tracking...

  Note: this is an update from Yes, Blazor Can Scale , 4/1/2021 From the very beginning of Blazor Server's release, skeptics have claimed that it cannot scale effectively, often citing a limit of 5,000 concurrent users. This misconception stems from misunderstandings about Blazor Server's architecture and capabilities. With the advent of .NET 8, Blazor Server has introduced new render methods that significantly enhance its scalability and performance. In this post, we'll break down these myths and explore how the latest advancements in Blazor Server make it a robust solution for modern web applications. Understanding the "Limit" for Users When Microsoft discusses the need to scale an application, they imply that if a normal response for any concurrent user takes longer than 200 milliseconds, the system isn't performant and requires scaling. We'll adopt this definition: If any normal user response exceeds 200 ms, the system needs to scale for concurrent use...

One of the powerful features of Blazor is the ability to create reusable components, making it easy to build dynamic, interactive web applications while minimizing redundant code. In this post, we’ll walk through how to create a flexible, generic accordion component that can be reused throughout your application, allowing you to pass custom labels and dynamic content for each accordion section. The Problem: Hardcoded Accordion Sections Imagine you have an accordion structure with multiple sections that expand and collapse, showing content for different components. If this structure is repeated in several parts of your application, you could end up with a lot of repeated, hard-coded accordion items like this: <article class="WideArticle Admin mb-2"> <div class="accordion mb-4" id="accordionExample"> <div class="accordion-item"> <h2 class="accordion-header"> <button class...

  As developers, we strive to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code. However, even the best of us can fall into patterns that lead to "code smells"—symptoms of deeper problems in our codebase. Identifying and addressing these code smells is crucial for long-term project health. In this post, we'll explore the 10 most common code smells in C# and provide guidance on how to fix them. 1. Long Methods What It Is Methods that are excessively long and try to do too much. Why It's a Problem Maintenance Difficulty : Long methods are harder to read and understand. Testing Challenges : It's more difficult to write unit tests for methods that handle multiple responsibilities. Violates Single Responsibility Principle : Each method should have one responsibility. How to Fix It Refactoring : Break down the method into smaller, reusable methods. Use Descriptive Names : Ensure each new method has a name that clearly describes its purpose.      // Before      ...

Developing web applications has evolved significantly with the advent of Blazor, a framework that allows you to build interactive client-side web UIs with C# instead of JavaScript. Blazor brings the power of .NET to the browser, enabling developers to create rich and dynamic web applications using familiar tools and languages. Whether you're just starting out with Blazor or looking to refine your existing skills, the following tips and tricks will help you maximize the framework's capabilities. This comprehensive guide covers essential aspects of Blazor development—from optimizing performance and utilizing component libraries to mastering state management and debugging techniques. Dive in to discover how you can enhance your Blazor applications and streamline your development workflow. 1. Understand Blazor Hosting Models (WebAssembly vs. Server) Explanation : Blazor can run in two modes: Blazor WebAssembly (client-side) and Blazor Server (server-side). Each has its advantages a...

  Teaching developers to transition from thinking "building applications is just about coding" to becoming well-rounded software engineers requires guiding them to see the bigger picture. Here's how you can approach this: 1. Highlight the Full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Explain the SDLC : Walk them through the stages beyond just coding: requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, maintenance, and continuous improvement. Assign non-coding tasks : Encourage them to participate in planning, architecture discussions, or even gathering requirements from stakeholders. This will give them a broader perspective on what makes a good application. 2. Emphasize Design and Architecture Teach design principles : Help them understand SOLID principles, design patterns, and system architecture concepts like microservices, event-driven systems, and scalability. Involve them in architecture discussi...