2 Most Crucial Aspects of ASP.NET Framework

The Microsoft .NET Framework is being used widely by developers across the world to build applications that can run on different operating systems. Along with Windows, the framework also supports a variety of non-Microsoft operating systems line Linux, Mac and Fedora. At the same time, it allows programmers to use the .NET API which includes a set of components and platform libraries. A developer can use the framework to develop desktop applications, web applications, websites, web services and distributed applications.

The OOP principles based framework allows programmers to build powerful applications by picking any of the 40 languages supported by it. Also, a developer can use the language integration features to avail a number of benefits like cross language inheritance and debugging. In comparison to other aspects of .NET, Common Language Runtime (CLR) and Class Library play a more significant role in boosting its performance and effectiveness of various types of applications. As a run-time environment, CLR makes the application development process easier by running the code along with providing relevant services.

On the other hand, the .NET Framework Class Library also contributes towards making the development process easier by allowing programmers to use a huge collation of types including classes, interfaces, structures, delegates and enumerations. These types are effective in encapsulating the functionality of the application services as well as the core system. So the two key aspects of .NET framework can make the application development process faster, simpler and hassle-free.

Common Language Runtime (CLR)

You can use tools and compilers to write code by availing the advantages of the managed execution environment. Your managed code written using a language compiler can avail a number of advantages including cross-language integration, cross-language exception handling as well as support for versioning and deployment. The CLS also provides you with a much simpler model for debugging, component interaction, and profiling services. However, your language compiler must generate the metadata required to enable the runtime.

The metadata describe some key elements of your code like types, members and references. As the metadata are stored with the code, the information can be included by the CLR in loadable portable execution (PF) files. Along with locating and loading classes, generating native code, and resolving method invocations, the CLR also use metadata for setting runtime context restrictions and enforcing security. The efficient code management further contributes towards better garbage collection to eliminate the memory leaks and common coding errors.

Many programmers also avail the advantages of CLS to design applications and components that can interact across different languages. Further, the objects written using distinct programming languages can easily communicate with each other. Also, you can make your application more powerful by integrating the behaviors of these components tightly. The language compilers and tools use a common type system defined by the Common Language Runtime. They create, use and bind new types to the existing types by following the rules set by the runtime. The features further make CLR more effective in boosting the performance of your application or web services.

.NET Framework Class Library

Regardless of the nature of your application, you have options to avail the advantages of class libraries. The .NET Framework Class Library can be described as an extensive collection of reusable types that can be integrated with the Common Language Runtime tightly. As the class library is object oriented, your managed code can avail specific types to get certain functionality. The feature makes it easier for you to use .NET Framework types, along with integrating third-party components with the framework classes.

Also, the feature enables you to avail the advantages of .NET framework without learning any additional or new features. For instance, you can easily develop your own classes using the interfaces implemented by .NET Framework collection classes. The classes created by you can be further integrated seamlessly with basic framework classes. Similar to other object-oriented class libraries, the .NET framework also allows you to enjoy several programming languages using these types.

Along with database connectivity, data collection, object serialization, and file access, you can also use the .NET Framework types to perform some common tasks like string management. At the same time, you can also use a variety of types included in the class library to complement the requirements of your application development project. If you are planning to develop application using XML, it becomes essential to use the System.XML namespace which is also a .NET framework class library. As class libraries are compiled into DLLs by the framework, the System.XML class library will exist as part of the System.XML.dll file.

In addition to these two key components of .NET Application development framework, a developer also needs to understand the Common Types System (CTS) specification. The specification describes the data types and programming constructs supported by the Common Language Runtime.

If you want to hire .net developers for your asp.net development projects, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Superior Dot Net Frameworks for High Performing Web Applications

Dot Net, which is also popularly known as ASP.NET, is an essential tool of Microsoft that helps developing rich web applications and websites. Be it for applications that are rich in features or just general websites, the secure and robust framework allows an easy development and operation on any platform of Microsoft. The framework actually comes loaded with exclusive capabilities that help developing applications and websites.

Since Dot Net allows developing applications of multiple features, the tool has gained a fast prominence and favoritism among the developers. With application development becoming the new trend of the age, developers seem to be enjoying more with Dot Net frameworks.

A Look at Some of the Main Highlights of the Framework

If you seem to be wondering about what makes the framework build high-performing applications for the web, then here are your answers:

• The platform is highly appreciated for its high scalability and reliability. This particular framework offers all the resources of developing applications that can help improve the functioning of a particular organization.
• Dot Net can be easily understandable and hence, developers can work on this platform without facing any difficulty. Additionally, it also saves time and improves the development speed largely, thereby helping the developers produce accurate and quick results.
• The framework can be easily installed and rarely generates trouble during the use of the same. Furthermore, the platform also incorporates a number of formats, thereby lessening any sort of conflict that might develop between different applications. Additionally, it also involves reduced use codes while, developing large applications. The Common Language Runtime manages and controls the application of the code and makes the process of development simple.
• The flexibility of the framework also helps in the development process of application as it can be easily shaped in accordance to the needs of the developmental task. Moreover, the security aspect of the framework also allows developing secured applications for the web.
• The cross-language interoperability feature of the framework also enables a design of the software in a varied range of programming language without posing any problem in the interaction.
• Additionally, the framework also extends a number of resources, tools, and libraries allowing easy development of applications. The precision and comfort factor of the framework helps high scalable application development.

The framework featuring the support of Microsoft helps developing a range of applications and websites catering to the needs of different business requirements. It is important to develop websites attractively as it helps creating increased readership and maximum visibility. Dot Net allows building innovative and superior websites yielding high performance.

Exploring the Framework

Dot Net framework is specifically designed to assist in the development process of .Net applications. It actually brings together several technologies in one platform. Here is a look:

The applications of Dot Net are usually developed with Microsoft Visual Studio and offer a support to several languages in a particular environment. The developers get to have an extensive choice of programming languages ranging from C++, C#, F#, and Visual Basic.

Additionally, it also has a robust engine, Common language Runtime (CLR) that helps executing the Dot Net applications. The framework has been named powerful as it comes loaded with the capability of offering services like memory management, security checks, and performance optimization.

The framework also features a class library that actually refers to a compilation of logical and collective prebuilt functionality. This allows the developers to plug into the code and run the function without any difficulty.

How to Build High Performing Dot Net Applications

Well, to develop high-performing applications, you must follow certain objectives ensuring best results in the developmental process. Here is a look at the aspects that you must follow:

• Disable session state when not in use
• Choose the provider of session state carefully
• Avoid needless round trips to the server
• Save view state on server control only if required
• Perform pre-batch compilation for large applications
• Make use of Page.IsPostBack for avoiding unnecessary processing during a round trip

In addition to the above-mentioned aspects, you need to follow several other considerations during the application development process. The .Net development framework has truly evolved as a boon for businesses striving towards development of robust web applications and websites.

We provide .Net development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert .net developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Best Practices for Developing Secure and Scalable ASP.NET Session State Management

Owing to the stateless character of the HTTP protocol, web applications had to always bear the burden of state management. Thankfully, ASP.NET comes loaded with multiple features that make maintenance of user state easier. Session state is one such powerful feature enabling easy user state management. This particular feature offers a suitable programmatic interface for correlating an application state with a specific user session while taking care of the client session management and state storage at the back-end for the particular application.

If you need to deploy session state in ASP.NET application development, you can consider choosing from the three modes offering a varied range of scalability and performance. Here is a look:

1. InProc: Referred to as the in-process store, this particular mode offers a fast session state access without the involvement of any sort of marshalling or serialization costs. This is possible as the state maintenance is mostly done within the controlled memory of the ASP.NET. Usually, the state data tends to get lost as the process recycles. However, you can choose to disable the recycling, if it influences the functioning of the application. The in-process store restricts the scalability of the application as it cannot be used in association with several worker processes.

2. StateServer: This particular service of session state can be easily installed on a remote server that all web servers can access universally or on a local server. This particular approach offers good scalability, but tends to influence the performance of the application as against the in-process mode owing to the involvement of the extra marshalling and serialization required for transferring the state continuously from state store.

3. SQL Server: The SQL Server offers an easily accessible and scalable solution that is perfectly suitable for large session state. The marshalling and the serialization costs are equal so far as the session state service is concerned. This particular approach offers failover clustering although it does not enjoy a support in the session state default configuration.

Session State – Exploring the Work Approach

The ASP.NET session state allows you to correlate a specific client session of HTTP with an object dictionary featuring state data or a server-side string. A session is usually referred to as a request series introduced by a similar client within a specific time-period and controlled by connecting a session ID with specific clients.

This particular ID is supposed to be produced by the client on request either as a special section of the URL or in a cookie. The server side stores the session data in one of the supported stores of session state. This storage space consists of the SQL Server database, in-process memory, and ASP.NET StateServer service. The SQL Server and the StateServer allows sharing of the session state among several Web servers without the need of server affinity.

Improving the Performance of ASP.NET Session State

Incorporating session state in an application of ASP.NET can add visible overhead to the performance of the application. However, your application can actually benefit from several techniques for reducing session state’s performance impact while, maintaining the desired functionality of state management. Here is a quick look at some of the best practices that enables designing and incorporating high-performing, secure, and scalable solutions for both new and existing session state of ASP.NET:

The InProc mode of the session state holds the record of being the fastest among the integrated modes of state storage. The overhead of this particular mode is restricted from taking out the session ID from a particular request performing a lookup of the cache for the stored application data in the memory space of the application.

In the StateServer and SQLServer, both out-of process modes, session state must be obtained from an external store, before deserializing the same from its representation of binary blob to the in-memory form of state dictionary in the AcquireRequestState stage. The state dictionary needs to be serialized further in the ReleaseRequestState stage and transported to the external storage.

1. The SessionStateModule usually performs several optimizations for avoiding the overhead wherever it might be possible. The four categories of the optimizations include:

2. No work of session state will be performed for pages and handlers coming without the requirement mark of session state. For pages featuring the requirement mark of read-only access of session state, only the initial data and the last access mark will be obtained.

3. No session will start on requests that come without a specific session ID, until any data is saved in the session dictionary.

4. No state changes will be carried onto the provider at the end of requests that come without an access of session state or with only read access for session variables. On requests of modified session or the mutable session data, the serialization will only be done for the accessed variables.

5. Direct serialization are done for primitive types while, the method of BinaryFormatter serialization is used for object type serialization.

The above-mentioned strategies actually focus on the potential approaches to increase the performance of the application by extracting maximum advantage of the optimizations:

• Disable session state to stay away from overhead completely
• Reduce the serialization overhead and state data deserialization
• Reduce the out-of-process overhead of the session transfer continuously from the state store.

By making use of the best practices and making the most of the optimizations, you can actually reduce the impact of the session state performance largely in your application.

We provide .Net development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert .net developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Extensive UI Controls- Endless Possibilities with .Net technology

To develop applications in any platform of .NET, you must have an access to control toolsets. Such an access allows you to develop applications extensively in .NET platforms, which includes the new NetAdvantage designed for windows UI and the hybrid applications in HTML5 via the Ignite UI. Additionally, it also supports NetAdvantage Reporting. 

NetAdvantage, specially designed for .NET, provides you the tools required for designing and developing high-performance and attractive business applications making use of the world’s fastest Charts and Grids.  Moreover, you can also set up the stage for maximum use of UX by implementing a tool of design interaction helping in rapid interactive prototyping. 

1. Touch UI: You can easily deliver the newest touch UI through controls that are gesture friendly in an extensive range of platforms. The controls come with larger buttons and offer wonderful support to most common interactions like grouping, scrolling, multiple sorting, etc. You can easily go ahead with the process without the use of any sort of extensions or plug-ins. Have a look at the Controls:

• jQuery/HTML5 Controls: Ignite UI offers the best support in delivering the best HTML5 applications that offer stunning data visualization and speedy performance. Moreover, it also lets you deliver on a various range of browsers, device, and platforms equally. You no longer need to sacrifice on your time, money, and resources and focus on building robust apps at ease.

• ASP.Net Controls: Now, you can develop rich business applications in a diverse range of web browsers with the help of NetAdvantage for ASP.NET. The controls featuring the fastest Data Grid in the world offer an unmatched performance.

• Windows Forms Controls: The Windows NetAdvantage allows you to revive the applications of enterprise desktop at ease assisting you in delivering incredible experience to your prospective users.

• Silverlight Controls: This particular control allows the developers to integrate modern and cutting edge apps in the market by reducing the development time largely. Fast performance, dynamic themes, and touch support rolled in a single package.

• WPF Controls: This too works in the same way as Silverlight controls with the help of NetAdvantage rolling all aspects in one. 

• Reporting Controls: This integrates the HTML5 Report Viewers technology that enable a continuous support to touch devices making it easy for users to access actionable intelligence through their iPhone or iPad. 

• Windows UI Controls: It allows creation of applications with the help of NetAdvantage that are high-performing and bold alongside driving revenue via Windows store. The superior controls of data visualization impress and innovate equally. 

2. Cross-Platform: Design and develop high standards of jQuery and hybrid HTML5 user experience across a range of devices like tablet, desktops, mobile, etc. This also includes features like multiple devices targeting via frameworks like MVC and PhoneGap. The controls include: 

• jQuery/HTML5 Controls 

• ASP.Net Controls 

3. UX Prototyping: Explore the world of interactive design ideas via fast, user-centric, prototyping and wireframing alongside evaluating your desktop, web, and mobile applications, prior to going for a single line code investment. 

• Prototyping Controls: The latest introduction in the design tool enables you to explore the world of apps maintaining a quick and simple approach. You can create UI prototypes that are functional by keeping the focus straight on user experience at each stage. 

• Patterns Browser Icons: With this, interaction developers and designers can communicate and collaborate on design libraries, while exploring the many ways of using the patterns to develop a better experience for the users. Through this, you can create rich and robust UIs via sharing ideas. 

4. Desktop Development: This particular process allows you to develop high-performing and scalable enterprise applications that are touch-enabled in any platform of your interest and choice. The controls most of which are already discussed includes:

• Windows Forms Controls

• Silverlight Controls

• WPF Controls

• Reporting Controls

Additionally, the LightSwitch Controls enable the developers to provide easy and quick tools aiding in the development of high-performing and stunning business applications customized to your needs across different platforms. 

ASP.NET allows you to explore extensive possibilities of this particular software framework while doing .NET development. This technology is the brainchild of Microsoft and goes a long way in creating a great UI through various controls. 

We provide .Net application development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our certified .net developers, please free to reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

ASP.NET - 6 Tips for Writing High-Performance Web Applications

Microsoft frequently adds new features and functionality to ASP.NET to make it easier for developers to optimize the performance of their web applications. Each web application, nowadays, has to be compatible with a variety of operating systems, web browsers and devices. At the same time, the ASP.NET applications must be effective in handling loads of user requests per seconds. So it has becomes essential for each programmer to identify and remove the performance bottlenecks to make the application powerful and popular.

6 Tips to Write Writing High-Performance ASP.NET Applications

• Use the Cache Class: An ASP.NET developer can use the Cache class to use a variety of comprehensive caching mechanism. The commonly used objects in ASP.NET development further enable him to store the resources, along with defining validity, priority and expiration for each cached object. At the same time, he also has option to attach callbacks to the cached objects that will be invoked each time an object is removed from the cache. In addition to using the Insert method of Cache class, the programmer can also add objects to the cache by adding these to the cache dictionary.
• Connection Pooling: Often the connection between a web application and database consumes a huge amount of resources. So a developer has to reuse connections to the database through connection pooling. When the connection pooling is used, a new connection is set up only if there is not free connection available in the pool. As no new connection will be set up for each new request, there will not be any impact on the TCP connections. However, the developer must track and close the connections immediately after their processing to prevent leaking connections.
• Making Your Web Page Asynchronous: In ASP.NET, requests are handled in a synchronous way. Each time the web server passes a request to the web application, the request is queued to the thread pool. Also, a worker thread is assigned for processing each request. As the worker thread is limited, the new requests are handles only after the current requests are processed. So developers have to reduce the request time in case the request is required to call a web service or retrieve information from a database. A programmer can make the input/output operations smooth by making your web page as an Asynchronous Page. After marking a page as asynchronous, he has to create a new PageAsyncTask object, and pass it to parameters for begin, end and timeout methods.
• Use Data Paging Support: Most ASP.NET developers use DataGrid to easily retrieve and display data to the users. The DataGrid also comes with data paging support, which enables you to show a specific number of records at a time. The users are allowed to navigate forwards and backwards through the records by clicking on the paging UI displayed at the bottom of the DataGrid. However, the paging feature requires developers to bind all data to the particular grid. The feature will filter the data retrieved from your database, and discard the data that need not be displayed to the users. So performance of the web application will not be impacted when more data is retrieved from the database based on the user request.
• Enable View State: ASP.NET allows developers to store specific state data inside the generated web pages through the view state attribute. You can use the view state as an alternative to cookies and server memory. Most ASP.NET controls also support view state to continue with the settings made during the interaction with other page elements. However, the view state will increase the loading time of the page during the request and serving stage. So you must disable view state at the page or control level when you are not using the attribute. The turning off will contribute towards boosting the performance of your web application.
• Turn Tracing and Debugging Off: Most ASP.NET programmers ignore the significance of disabling the tracing and debugging options in the web.config file. You can turn these options on during the application stage. But the values of both tracing and debugging must be set as false before deploying the application. If the developer forgets to turn off the debugging and tracing options, it will have a negative impact on the performance of web application. For instance, requests will not time our when the debug is turn on. Similarly, just-in-time (JIT) will not be applied to the code when the debug is set as true. So these options must be set as false before deploying the ASP.NET application.

Microsoft has further recommends a set of best practices to improve user experience by optimized the performance of your web application. Most of these best practices are also aimed to reduce the amount of time and efforts required to build powerful web applications.

If you want to hire ASP.Net developers for your .NET development services needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Top Tips to Hire .Net Developers

As an integrated development environment (IDE), Microsoft .NET is widely used by software companies to develop powerful applications. So many companies often look for experienced .NET developers for their web application development projects. Some companies look for freelance developers, whereas others want to hire a programmer for an extended timeframe. However, each recruiter needs to concentrate on certain qualities to find the right .NET developer for his project.

While evaluating the resumes of developers, you need to ensure that the professional must have good education along with adequate experience in .NET development services. It is also a good idea to hire a professional who has a good combination of formal education and programming experience. When you shortlist the resumes, give priority to the professionals with several years of programming and website developing experience using Microsoft technologies. At the same time, you also have to consider some additional qualities that make the developer more competent and ideal.

Qualities to Concentrate on while Hiring .NET Developers

• Ability to Meet Your Specific Requirements: The professional experience and expertise of individual developers vary from each others. Therefore, you must shortlist the .NET developers after checking their ability to fit to your organization. For instance, if your company offers ecommerce website development services, you cannot hire a programmer having experience in developing educational or children’s websites. When you shortlist the resumes, it is important to give preference to the professionals who are familiar with your industry. If the style of the developers fit well to your company, it will be easier for you to hire the right professional for your .NET development project.
• Proficiency in Several Technologies: Most web applications, nowadays, have to use third-party applications and services. For instance, an ecommerce website has to use shopping cart software and payment processing systems designed by outside firms. So you have to check if the professional is familiar with other popular technologies including PHP, Java, J2EE, MySQL, JavaScript, DHTML, XML, AJAX and CSS. The proficiency in these non-Microsoft technologies will make it easier for the developer to make powerful web application by integrating some of the widely used technologies and applications available in the market.
• Expertise in Handling Customized .NET Tools: Often developers have to use customized tools to build powerful web application without putting any extra time and effort. Some of these tools also need to be integrated seamlessly with your website to enhance its look and feel. So the .NET developer must be familiar with using the customized tools. Along with the tools used to make the web application more secure and interactive, he also needs to understand how to make, test and deploy web services using specific tools. You also need check if the professional knows how to keep the .NET development environment secure and inaccessible.
• Passion for Quality: Each software company has to concentrate on high standards of quality to impress and retain its clients. Often the high quality standard of a company makes it easier to promote its services through the word-of-mouth of existing clients. So you must check if the .NET developer is passionate about consistently maintaining the quality of work. You can simply evaluate the web applications developed by the programmer in past to decide if he has the ability to put the website well by avoiding the regular problems. His passion for quality will make the professional work hard to impress your clients.
• Energy Level and Creativity: Often the popularity of a web application depends on its aesthetic appeal. Many visitors even switch to the next website if they are not impressed by the look of a specific website. So your web application must be eye-catchy enough to attract users, and keeping them engaged. If the developer is creative, he can suggest the best ideas to optimize the look and feel of the website. At the same time, he must be energetic enough to implement these ideas to impress your clients.
• Good Communication Skills: Most .NET developers have to work as a part of a development team. Also, the professionals have to frequently communicate the status of the web application development project to various stakeholders. If you are hiring a freelance .NET programmer for a single project, you may ignore his communication skills. But evaluation of the professional’s communication and people management skills becomes essential when you are hiring the developer on a permanent basis. The skills will make it easier for the professionals to interact and bond with your existing employees. Also, the coordination will contribute towards making it easier for the new employee to work in a high stress environments.

Most companies, nowadays, develop projects by deploying distributed teams. So there are always chances that the .NET professional has to work in a distributed environment. You must ask him a lot of questions to ensure that he knows how to stay connected and interact with other members of the web application development team.

If you want to hire ASP.Net developers for your ASP.NET development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.