CodeGuru https://www.codeguru.com/ Sun, 26 Mar 2023 03:05:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 C# vs Java https://www.codeguru.com/csharp/c-sharp-vs-java/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 19:00:14 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19748 C# and Java are two very popular programming languages, each regularly topping the charts of the top 5 most widely use programming languages in the world. Both programming languages share a similar syntax and structure, and are often considered to be part of the same family of programming languages – notably, the “C-family”, which includes […]

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C# tutorials

C# and Java are two very popular programming languages, each regularly topping the charts of the top 5 most widely use programming languages in the world. Both programming languages share a similar syntax and structure, and are often considered to be part of the same family of programming languages – notably, the “C-family”, which includes C, C++, and Java. Differences do exist between the two, however, and in programming tutorial, we will discuss the key differences between C# and Java, such as their syntax, performance, and memory management. Code examples will also be provided to better illustrate the differences in variable declaration, class creation, the use of pointers, string manipulation, and exception handling.

Read: Tips for Remote Developers

Differences Between C# and Java

Below are some key differences developers will find when choosing between working with C# and Java for their software development, including:

  • Language type
  • Syntax
  • String Manipulation
  • Exception and Error handling
  • Performance
  • Memory management and resource allocation

Language Type

One of the most important differences between C# and Java has to do with the type of language they are or their paradigm. Java is largely considered an object-oriented language programming language, which means it focuses on structuring programs through the use of objects and classes. In reality, however, Java is not a true OOP language, but, rather, has features of object oriented programming, such as inheritance, polymorphism, the use of classes and objects, and encapsulation. The use of primitive data types versus data types that are strictly objects, disqualifies it from being 100% object oriented.

Meanwhile, C#, is built on several development paradigms, including object-oriented, functional, and imperative programming.

A brief note: object-oriented programming (OOP) is based on the concept of objects, which contain data and the code required to manipulate that data. In Java, objects are created using classes, which can be thought of as “blueprints” that help define the attributes and methods that an object can possess. C# uses classes as well in order to create objects, but it supports functional programming concepts like lambda expressions and anonymous methods as well.

Syntactical Differences

C# and Java have several important syntactical differences as well, which can significantly impact how the languages are used. One of the main differences in their syntax has to do with the way Java and C# handle variable declaration.

In Java, variables are declared using the following syntax:

   = ;

Here is some sample code showing how to create and declare a variable in Java:

 int x = 10;
String name = "Nick";

Meanwhile, in C#, variables are declared using the following syntax:

   = ;

Here is some sample code showing how to create and declare a variable in C# – can you spot the difference?

 int x = 10;
 string name = "Nick";

You may have noticed that C# uses the keyword string instead of String, which is used by Java. A small, but notable difference.

Another difference between C# and Java with regards to data types is how pointers are handled. Java, for its part, does not have pointers, whereas C# does.

In C#, you can declare a pointer using the “*” symbol, as shown in the example code below:

 int* pointer;

The above C# code declares a pointer with an integer (or int) variable. The pointer can be assigned a memory address, which marks it for later use when a programmer needs to manipulate or reference the value stored in that specific memory address.

Class Differences in C# and Java

Both C# and Java rely on classes are to define objects. However, the way each declares a class differs. In Java, classes are declared with the class keyword, as shown in the following code example:

 public class ComicBook {
 	private String title;
 	private int issue;
	public ComicBook(String title, int issue) {
     	this.title = title;
     	this.issue = issue;
 	}
	public String getTitle() {
     	return title;
 	}
	public int getIssue() {
     	return issue;
 	}
 }

The code above defines a ComicBook class with two private fields: title and issue. The class additionally includes a constructor that takes two parameters – title and issue and two methods: getTitle() and getIssue().

In C#, classes are also declared using the class keyword, as shown here:

public class ComicBook {
 	private string title;
 	private int issue;
	public ComicBook(string title, int issue) {
     	this.title = title;
     	this.issue = issue;
 	}
	public string GetTitle() {
     	return title;
 	}
	public int GetIssue() {
     	return issue;
 	}
 }

You may have noticed that the syntax for declaring classes is almost identical between C# and Java. However, C# uses lowercase for method names while Java makes use of camel case.

Another difference involves how access modifiers are used. In Java, access modifiers such as public, private, and protected control the visibility of a class, method, or field, as well as define how they can be accessed. In C#, access modifiers are also used, but they are preceded by the accessibility keyword. Observe the code below:

public class ComicBook {
 	private string title;
 	private int issue;
	public ComicBook(string title, int issue) {
     	this.title = title;
     	this.issue = issue;
 	}
	internal string GetTitle() {
     	return title;
 	}
	internal int GetIssue() {
     	return issue;
 	}
 }

Here, the internal keyword is used versus public</b, making the methods visible only within the same assembly.

You can learn more about C# access modifiers in our tutorial: C# Access Modifiers.

String Manipulation in Java and C#

Manipulating strings is a common task in all programming languages, and C# and Java are no exceptions. Both languages provide similar functionality when it comes to working with strings, but each uses different syntax to achieve the same results. For instance, In Java, strings are objects that can be created using the String class. Here is some example code showing how to create a string in Java using the String class:

String name = "Nick";
int length = name.length();

In this Java code, the length() method gets the length of the string. In C#, strings are also objects, but they get created using the string keyword instead, as shown in this code snippet:

 string name = "Nick";
 int length = name.Length;

Notice, too, that the length() method is replaced with the Length property in C#.

Exception Handling Differences in C# and Java

Both C# and Java have mechanisms and features to help developers handle exceptions. Java, for its part, uses try-catch blocks for exception handling. Here is an example of how to handle exception with try-catch blocks in Java:

 try {
 	// code that yields an exception error
 } catch (Exception e) {
 	// code to retrieve and process the exception
 }

Meanwhile, in C#, exceptions, too, are handled using the try-catch block method, as shown here:

 try {
 	// code that yields an exception error
 } catch (Exception e) {
 	// code to retrieve and process the exception
 }

Application Performance

Application performance is also important when choosing a programming language. C# and Java are both compiled languages, meaning their code is converted into machine code prior to execution. That being said, there are differences in how each language is optimized, which, in turn, impacts performance.

Typically, developers consider C# to be faster than Java. This is especially true when it comes to memory management. C# makes use of a garbage collector to manage memory, which makes memory management more efficient. Java uses its own form of garbage collection via the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and Just-in-Time compilation (JIT) which optimizes code for use on specific platforms.

You can learn more about JIT and the JVM in our tutorial: What is the Java Virtual Machine?

Memory Management

As discussed above, memory management is another important factor when deciding between C# and Java, who both rely on garbage collectors to manage memory. This reliance makes it so developers do not need to worry about manually allocating and deallocating memory resources. There are differences to note, mind you, in how C# and Java garbage collectors work, which can impact memory usage.

As stated, C# is generally considered more efficient in terms of memory management compared to Java. This is because C# uses a generational garbage collector, meaning objects that have been recently created are more likely to be collected than objects that have not. This leads to more efficient use of memory resources when compared to Java, which uses a mark-and-sweep approach to garbage collection when clearing temporary data that is no longer required.

Which is Better: C# or Java?

When choosing between C# and Java, your decision will ultimately depend on the needs and requirements of the software project and the personal preferences of the developer. C# is a great choice for Windows-based applications and if you want to code in the ,NET framework, especially if your application will require high performance and efficient memory management. Java, for its part, is a great choice for cross-platform development applications that can run regardless of system architecture or hardware and is great for web-based applications.

Final Thoughts on C# versus Java

In this programming tutorial, we look at two popular programming language options: C# and Java. We learned that both languages are object-oriented (or have object oriented features) and share similar syntax. There are differences in their paradigms, syntax, performance, and memory management, however, which sets them apart. C# and Java both have their strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right one is largely based on project needs. Understanding their differences can help developers and programmers choose the right language for their software development projects and help optimize their development process.

Read: Top Code Refactoring Tools for C# Developers

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Microsoft Office 365 Review https://www.codeguru.com/tools/microsoft-office-365-review/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 01:41:12 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19484 Is Microsoft 365 the right office suite software to fulfill your needs? We will help you answer that question by reviewing Microsoft Office 365 in terms of its features, pricing, and pros and cons. Read: The Top Task Management Software for Developers What are Microsoft Office 365’s Features Before we jump into what this suite […]

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Is Microsoft 365 the right office suite software to fulfill your needs? We will help you answer that question by reviewing Microsoft Office 365 in terms of its features, pricing, and pros and cons.

Read: The Top Task Management Software for Developers

What are Microsoft Office 365’s Features

Before we jump into what this suite has to offer, let us discuss its name. Microsoft 365 is the new moniker that replaces Office 365, so if you see both names floating around the Internet, know that they are essentially discussing the same product. As for Microsoft 365’s features, here are some of the highlights that you will get to access once you purchase a subscription.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word really needs no introduction, as it is one of the top word processors around. As one of the top and most widely used features of Microsoft 365, Word offers:

  • Microsoft Editor to provide writing assistance as it checks your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization
  • Document sharing with real-time comments and suggested changes
  • Accessible documents from any device when saved to OneDrive
  • Customizable templates
  • Voice commands and dictation

Read: Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excelt

While Word may be Microsoft 365’s most popular offering, Excel is not far behind. Excel is regarded by many to be the top spreadsheet software thanks to these capabilities:

  • Create spreadsheets from scratch or get a running head start with one of many templates
  • Perform calculations
  • Charts and graphs to easily understand data
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Image recognition that lets you snap a photo of a table and convert it into a fully-editable one so you can skip the time-consuming task of manually entering data from hard copies

Read: Microsoft Excel Tips and Tricks

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Powerpoint

Presentation is the name of the game with PowerPoint. With this Microsoft 365 feature, you can:

  • Design information-filled and eye-catching slides
  • Insert embedded animations and 3D objects
  • Get AI recommendations via Presenter Coach to ensure the speeches accompanying your PowerPoint presentations are on point in terms of word choice, pacing, etc.
  • Track changes made by other collaborators with the while you were away feature

Read: Microsoft PowerPoint Tips and Tricks

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams

Although you can use many of Microsoft Office 365’s features to collaborate with others, Teams is the software that specializes in this department. With Microsoft Teams, you can:

  • Connect and collaborate regardless of your location
  • Share your screen
  • Be in the same space virtually via together mode
  • Make and receive calls (including voicemail)
  • Enjoy group calling
  • Share and edit files from other Microsoft 365 offerings like Word and Excel
  • Chat to share ideas (complete with emojis, stickers, and GIFs)

You can learn more by reading our Microsoft Teams Collaboration Tool Review.

Outlook

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook helps you stay organized by providing a calendar and email service in one place. With Outlook’s email as part of Office 365, you can:

  • Use the built-in calendar to never miss an appointment or important event
  • Send, receive, and manage email messages
  • Enjoy enterprise-grade security
  • Quickly search for contacts or vital messages and documents
  • Use Microsoft To Do to prioritize tasks

Read: Microsoft Outlook Tips and Tricks

OneDrive

Microsoft 365 gives you the power to create and share tons of content and ideas, but where can you save them? That is where OneDrive enters the picture with its personal cloud storage that lets you:

  • Access, edit, and share files regardless of location or device
  • Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing your files and photos are saved in the cloud in case you lose a device
  • Collaborate in real-time with others as you share your docs and photos via links versus thumb drives or huge email attachments

Read: Microsoft OneDrive Tips and Tricks

OneNote

Your days of jotting down important notes on paper will be over if you subscribe to Microsoft Office 365, as its OneNote feature can help you do it all digitally. OneNote lets you:

  • Organize your life and daily tasks via notebooks that can be divided into sections and pages
  • Find essential notes within seconds
  • Add to-do tags to the most essential tasks
  • Revise and highlight notes with ease
  • Collaborate by sharing notes and ideas
  • Insert online videos
  • Record audio notes
  • Add files

SharePoint

As you can tell by its name, SharePoint is a Microsoft Office 365 feature centered on collaboration. With SharePoint, you can collaborate with people both inside and outside of your organization via productive team sites that let you:

  • Share files, data, and resources
  • Manage content

Read: Project Management Software for .NET Developers

How Much Does Microsoft Office 365 Cost?

Microsoft offers several pricing plans for Office 365 subscribers that differ according to need and user. Here is how the pricing breaks down:

  • Microsoft 365 Family: (for one to six people) $9.99 per month
  • Microsoft 365 Personal: (for one person) $6.99 per month
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6 per user, per month
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Business: $8.25 per user, per month
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user, per month
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $22 per user, per month
  • Microsoft 365 E3 (Enterprise): $36 per user, per month
  • Microsoft 365 E5 (Enterprise): $57 per user, per month
  • Microsoft 365 F3 (Enterprise): $8 per user, per month

What are Microsoft Office 365’s Pros And Cons?

What are Microsoft 365’s strengths and weaknesses? Have a look:

Pros

  • Tons of powerful apps to choose from to cover varying needs, including content creation, collaboration, organization, and productivity
  • The ability to access your information and apps anywhere and from any device
  • Great for users who travel often or work remotely and who need to access apps and content on the go
  • Tight integration between Microsoft apps that sync across all devices, which eliminates the need to install third-party apps
  • Top-notch security via mobile device management, data loss prevention, hashed passwords, threat intelligence, and two-factor authentication
  • Automatic updates to ensure every app runs smoothly and securely
  • Multiple pricing plans to fit varying budgets and needs

Cons

  • Having to pay for features that you may not use due to the monthly subscription format (if not, you will still have to pay an annual fee for features that may not suit you)
  • Regular updates that may take some getting used to (such as new versions or layouts)
  • Compatibility problems for older devices
  • The need for an Internet connection to access apps and services that sit in the cloud (there are higher-priced plans that allow for offline use)

Is Microsoft 365 Right For You?

As far as office suite software goes, it is hard to top Microsoft 365. You get so many user-friendly, productivity-boosting features for one price to help you create content, collaborate with others, share your work, and more, whether you are online or offline.

Is Microsoft 365 the only office suite you can choose from? No, so if you are not sold on its set of features, pricing, or other characteristics, check out similar office suites like Google Workspace, iWork (for Apple fans who are loyal to their devices), WPS Office, and Zoho Workplace.

Read: Best Microsoft Office Add-ins and Plugins

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C# versus C https://www.codeguru.com/csharp/c-sharp-versus-c/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:28:51 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19747 Without a doubt, C and C# are two of the most powerful and popular programming languages used for software development in the world. Both languages share certain similarities, as their names suggest; however, they are also very different in terms of structure, syntax, performance, and, perhaps most notably, memory management. In addition, C and C# […]

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C# Programming Tutorials

Without a doubt, C and C# are two of the most powerful and popular programming languages used for software development in the world. Both languages share certain similarities, as their names suggest; however, they are also very different in terms of structure, syntax, performance, and, perhaps most notably, memory management. In addition, C and C# differ in terms of why a developer or programmer would choose to work with one over the other. This programming tutorial will compare C and C#, discuss their differences, and highlight each language’s strengths and weaknesses.

Read: Top Online Courses to Learn C#

What are the Differences Between C# and C?

Below, we will discuss some of the differences between C# and C, which include:

  • Procedural versus Object Oriented Programming
  • Syntax
  • Manipulating Strings
  • Exception Handling
  • Performance and efficiency
  • Memory Management

Procedural versus Object Oriented Programming

C, at its core, is a procedural programming language, which refers to its step-by-step, “top down” method of programming. C uses functions – or procedures – that get called in a particular sequence in order to achieve an outcome. This top-down programming approach breaks down a problem, issue, or task into smaller tasks, which are then “solved” by working from the main problem down into its smaller problems.

C#, meanwhile, is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language. This means that C# is based on the concept of objects and classes and a parent-child-inheritance principle. Objects are made of both data and behavior, and are used to represent real-world things. These objects are created from classes, which can be thought of as the blueprints for objects.

Classes, for their part, are self-contained pieces of code that consist of the properties and methods of the objects that are created from them. Finally, in C#, developers use the principles of OOP, such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism to make code more secure, reusable, readable, and maintainable.

You can learn more about object-oriented programming concepts in the following tutorials:

C’s top-down programming approach is great for problem-solving smaller projects or tasks that can easily be broken down into easy, discrete steps. One good question to ask yourself when considering this type of programming methodology is whether or not the problem can be solved in a sequential or step-by-step manner.

C#’s OOP approach is better suited for larger projects that involve complex relationships and behaviors between objects and in situations where coding efficiency, security, flexibility, modulation, and reusability are more important.

Syntax Differences Between C and C#

One of the biggest differences between C# and C has to do with their syntax. C’s syntax focuses on low-level programming constructs, while C#’s syntax places a greater emphasis on object-oriented concepts and principles.

One example of the differences between C# and C’s syntax has to do with variable declaration. In C, developers declare variables with the data type placed before the name of the variable. Here is an example of variable declaration in C:

int num;
float price;

In C#, variables are declared with the var keyword, which infers the data type. This is then followed by the variable name. Here is how programmers can declare a variable in C#:

var num = 0;
float price = 0.0f;

Another syntactical difference between C# and C is the fact that C allows for low-level memory management via the use of pointers. The following code example shows how to declare a pointer in C using the * operator:

int* ptr;

C# does not allow developers to explicitly use pointers; to achieve the same type of functionality would require a C# programmer to use unsafe code, which is beyond the scope of this tutorial.

As noted previously, C# is an object oriented language. C, meanwhile, is not, and therefore does not have built-in support for classes or other OOP concepts. C coders can, ultimately, mimic class functionality, but it requires complex structures to achieve what C# does naturally and with much less effort.

Since C# is an object-oriented programming language, classes in C# can be declared with the class keyword, as shown in the code example below:

public class MyClass
{
    // class members and methods
}

Manipulating Strings in C# and C

The way string data types are manipulated in C# and C is also a key difference between the two languages. In C, strings are represented as an array of characters and are null-terminated using the\0 character. Here is an example of this in C:

char str[] = "Hello, World!!";

In C#, strings are objects that are manipulated using the methods and properties of the String class. The C# code below achieves the same thing as the C code in our previous example:

string str = "Hello, World!";

Read: Top Code Refactoring Tools for C# Developers

Exception Handling

Exception handling and error handling differs between C# and C as well. In the C programming language, errors are typically handled using return codes giving information about the error or by terminating the program altogether.

Handling errors is different in C#, where programmers use exceptions to handle errors, which can be “caught” using try-catch blocks, as shown in this example code:

Try
{
    // code that might return an exception error
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
    //code that handles the exception
}

Performance and Efficiency

C is well-known for being a high performance programming. This is due to its low-level programming constructs and direct access to memory. C#, on the other hand, is a higher-level language, meaning that, in some instances, it can be slower than C. This difference has mostly been mitigated in recent years, thanks to introduction of the .NET Core runtime and other C# language optimizations. Presently, C# is now considered comparable to C in terms of overall performance.

Memory Management in C# and C

Lastly, C, being a low-level programming language, gives developers direct access and control over memory management. This equates to greater efficiency and performance in created software; it also means that programmers need to be cautious to avoid memory leaks.

C#, as a higher-level language, includes automatic memory management courtesy of the .NET runtime, which manages memory allocation and deallocation for the developer. This comes at a slight cost to performance, as garbage collection can be resource intensive in some instances/ However, this is mostly negligible and well-worth the trade off for many developers who do not wish to be burdened with memory management.

Which is Better: C# or C?

Deciding which language is better – C# or C – is a complicated process that largely depends on the needs of the developer and the project at hand, as well as which career path the programmer will pursue.

C is often chosen for developers wanting to program systems or pursue embedded development (such as the IoT and smart devices), as it provides low-level access to hardware and the direct manipulation of memory resources. Developers creating an operating system, device driver, or system-level software, would be wise to choose C as their primary programming language.

If you are into video game programming or game development, C# is a better option, as it provides a high-level, object-oriented approach that is more tailored for the complexities of game logic and working with graphics. C# game developers will also be supported by game development tools and game engines like Unity, which is built on C#. Game engines and mobile developer low-code platforms provide powerful, pre-built tools for game development, and C# is streamlined for creating complex game logic routines.

For Enterprise-level software, C# gains the edge, because its reliance on OOP provides an object-oriented approach that makes it easier to work with larger, more complex applications. Developers that want to create a scalable enterprise application will want to choose C# because of its scalability, ease of use, easier learning curve, readability, ability to integrate with databases, and the option to incorporate frameworks such as .NET. Finally, C# provides flexibility and can be used to create complex business logic processes and user interfaces.

Final Thoughts on C# versus C

In this programming tutorial, we discuss both C and C# and the differences between the two programming languages, including their syntax, performance, string manipulation, and memory management. We learned that C is a low-level language that gives developers direct control over memory management and memory resources, while C# is a higher-level language with object-oriented features and automatic memory management and garbage collection.

Read more C# programming tutorials and guides to software development.

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Different Types of JIT Compilers in .NET https://www.codeguru.com/dotnet/jit-compiler-dot-net/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 02:49:37 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19742 The majority of today’s programming languages are written in human-readable form known as source code. Computers, however, cannot understand source code, and, as such, to execute or run source code, compilers are used to convert code into machine language (also known as native code) for the computer to understand the set of instructions (what code […]

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The majority of today’s programming languages are written in human-readable form known as source code. Computers, however, cannot understand source code, and, as such, to execute or run source code, compilers are used to convert code into machine language (also known as native code) for the computer to understand the set of instructions (what code is) the programmer is issuing. This process is known as compilation.

In this programming tutorial, we will look at the different types of compilation offered in .NET, C#, and ASP.NET.

Read: Top Online Courses to Learn .NET Software Development

What are the Types of Compilation in .NET?

The process of compilation in .NET is performed in two ways: implicitly and explicitly:

    • Explicit compilation: An explicit compiler compiles the source code into machine code prior to the execution of the program. Ahead of Time (AOT) compilers are used to perform explicit compilation so that each line of the code is understood by the CPU before the execution of the program.
    • Implicit compilation: Implicit compilation takes place in two steps. First, the source code is converted into intermediate code (such as MSIL or Microsoft Intermediate Language Code) by the language-specific compiler. In the second step, this intermediate language code is converted into machine code. The difference from an explicit compiler is that, at runtime, only the executed fragment of intermediate language code is compiled into machine code. This type of compilation in .NET is called Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation.

What is JIT Compilation?

JIT is a part of the CLR (Common Language Runtime) in .NET, which is used to execute a .NET program, regardless of which .NET-supported programming language is used.

The program execution in .NET is performed using the following steps:

  • A language-specific compiler converts the programming language code into the intermediate language
  • The intermediate language code gets converted into machine code by the JIT compiler.
  • The machine code generated is specific to the computer platform.

You can learn more about the CLR on Microsoft Learn.

How Does the JIT Compiler Work in .NET?

The JIT compiler converts the intermediate language (IL) or MSIL code into machine code. The MSIL code is then converted as per the requirements of the program only and not the whole of it. .NET also keeps the MSIL code stored so it can access the source code methods on subsequent calls.

Types of JIT Compilers in .NET

.NET has three types of JIT compilers. They are:

  • Pre-JIT compiler
  • Normal JIT compiler
  • Econo JIT compiler

JIT Compilers

We discuss each type of .NET JIT compiler in the following section.

What is a Pre-JIT Compiler

Pre-Jit compiler

The Pre-JIT compiler compiles the source code into machine code in a single compilation cycle. Usually, this type of compilation is performed at the time of application deployment. This is implemented in Ngen.exe (Native Image Generator). The following figure shows the typical function of the Pre-JIT compiler:

What is a Normal JIT Compiler

Normal JIT Compiler

In normal JIT compilation, source code is converted into machine code only the first time it is called by the runtime. After that, it is stored in cache and can be accessed whenever required.

What is an Econo JIT Compiler

Econo JIT Compiler

An Econo JIT compiler compilation method only compiles the functions which are needed at the runtime and removes them once they are no longer required. The Econo JIT compiler became obsolete with the advent of .NET 2.0, but we include it here for awareness and historical purposes.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of JIT Compilation in .NET

JIT compilation has the following advantages for .NET developers:

  • JIT performs code optimization by performing statistical analysis.
  • JIT compilation consumes less memory, as only the functions which are required at the runtime are compiled into machine code.
  • JIT compilation is less prone to errors because all the functions required at runtime are on the same memory page.

Along with these advantages, JIT compilation also has its disadvantages in .NET, which include:

  • The JIT compiler takes more startup time when the program is executed for the first time.
  • Cache memory, which is an expensive resource, is used heavily in JIT compilation to store the source code methods, since these methods are required at runtime.

Read: .NET Core versus .NET Framework

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Middleware in ASP.NET Core https://www.codeguru.com/csharp/asp-net-middleware/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 01:54:15 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19740 Middleware is a piece of computer software that allows software ( such as an internet application) to communicate with databases, servers, and remote machines. Middleware handles the HTTP requests and HTTP responses between a client and a server, which helps developers build better and more efficient software architecture. Read: Best Online Courses to Learn C# […]

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C# Tutorials

Middleware is a piece of computer software that allows software ( such as an internet application) to communicate with databases, servers, and remote machines. Middleware handles the HTTP requests and HTTP responses between a client and a server, which helps developers build better and more efficient software architecture.

Read: Best Online Courses to Learn C#

In this programming tutorial, we discuss what middleware is, how it can be used, and look at some example of using ASP.NET Core middleware and C# to create web applications.

What is ASP.NET Middleware?

The ASP.NET Core middleware was introduced to lessen the dependency of .NET websites and applications on servers. Before the introduction of middleware, the request and response objects in .NET were tightly-coupled with web servers, which led to poor maintainability of code. Middleware, fortunately, mitigated this problem. In the next section, we will look at how middleware functions in a typical .NET website and leads to better code maintainability.

How does Middleware Work in .NET?

.NET Core middleware makes use of the request pipeline to handle HTTP requests. Developers can configure the request pipeline using different methods, such as run(), map(), and use.

The request pipeline decides whether an HTTP request should be passed to the next component in the pipeline for processing. Apart from that, the request pipeline also takes care of the required actions that need to be performed before – or after – the invocation of a component in the pipeline.

It should be noted that one application can make use of more than one middleware, depending upon the needs of the application. You can utilize the built-in middleware that comes with .NET Core or get them from the NuGet package manager. This is how the middleware functions.

Below are some of the different built-in middleware components available in .NET and their function:

  • Session: Used for user session management.
  • CORS: Used for Cross-origin Resource Sharing (CORS) constraint.
  • Routing: Used for defining and managing routes
  • Authentication: Used for authenticating users and roles

Read: Top Code Refactoring Tools for Developers

How to Set Up a Middleware Pipeline with ASP.NET

ASP.NET Middleware

Now that we have a better grasp of what middleware is, how it functions, its role in the request pipeline, and its components, let’s preview a practical example of how to set up a middleware pipeline for your ASP.NET website.

To achieve this, web developers need to make use of the configure() method, which is defined in the Startup class, whose function is to add the components below to the website lifecycle. It is important to note here that you should take care while defining the order of middleware, otherwise your application might not perform well or become unresponsive:

  • Model-View-Controller (MVC) with the area defined
  • Error handling
  • Session
  • Cookie Policy

We can better understand the importance of middleware through the following code example. Inside the configure() method of the Startup.cs class, we have the following C# code:

public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env)
{
if (env.IsDevelopment())
{
app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage();
app.UseBrowserLink();
}
else
{
app.UseExceptionHandler("/Home/NotFound");
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();
app.UseCookiePolicy();
app.UseSession();
app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
{
    endpoints.MapControllerRoute(
        name: "blog",
        pattern: "blog/{*article}",
        defaults: new { controller = "Blog", action = "Article" });
    endpoints.MapControllerRoute(
        name: "default",
        pattern: "{controller=Books}/{action=Details}/{id?}");
});

Below is an outline of the workflow of the above code. In this example:

  • The first middleware we used in our example is for error handling. In the development environment we used UseDeveloperExceptionPage and in the production environment we used UseExceptionHandler.
  • Next in the pipeline, we have the UseHttpsRedirection middleware, which redirects the HTTP request to the secure HTTPS.
  • Then, we used UseStaticFiles middleware. Its function is to serve the static files to the browser by adding them to the request pipeline. Usually, static files are stored in the webroot folder and developers can access them through that path. However, it is up to the programmer; you can also store files in any other directory.
  • Next, we use the UseCookiePolicy that adds the CookiePolicyMiddleware handler to the specified request pipeline. It ensures the application should remain compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards, laws, and regulations.
  • After this, the next middleware used is UseSession. Its purpose is to provide support for user session management. If you forget to place this middleware, then you will not be able to access the session data.
  • Last up, we have UseMvc. This is the last middleware in our request pipeline. This should be placed at the end of the pipeline so that when it comes to action, all the authentication and session work gets completed.

Final Thoughts on Middleware and ASP.NET

Middleware is one of the beneficial features .NET provides for its developers. Middleware helps ASP.NET developers to develop their websites or web applications with more control over client-server communication. We can use various middleware depending on our project requirements or even create our own customized one.

Read more C# and ASP.NET programming and software development tutorials.

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Microsoft Teams Tips and Tricks https://www.codeguru.com/tools/microsoft-teams-tips/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 01:42:10 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19729 Microsoft Teams is collaboration software that allows developers to communicate with each other in real-time regardless of location. If your development team is using Microsoft Teams to collaborate, the tips and tricks in this guide can help take your experience to the next level by saving time and boosting productivity. Microsoft Teams Collaboration Software Tips […]

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Microsoft Teams is collaboration software that allows developers to communicate with each other in real-time regardless of location. If your development team is using Microsoft Teams to collaborate, the tips and tricks in this guide can help take your experience to the next level by saving time and boosting productivity.

Microsoft Teams Collaboration Software Tips And Tricks

Microsoft Teams Project Management

Included at no extra cost as part of the Microsoft 365 productivity suite, Microsoft Teams makes it easier for developers to work together by combining various tools for collaboration, files, and communication, all in one place. Over 100 million users rely on Microsoft Teams frequently to stay in touch and share ideas, thanks to features like chat, audio and video calling, screen and file sharing, and over 600 third-party app integrations. Accessible via web, desktop, and mobile apps, Microsoft Teams promotes and facilitates online learning and remote work, especially for developers who have transitioned to working from home versus the office.

Unsure if you are using all of Microsoft Teams’ features? You can read our Microsoft Teams Review to see if you are using the project management tool to its full potential.

Now that you have a general idea of what Microsoft Teams can do, here are some specific tips and tricks you can incorporate into your routine to make the most of the collaboration software, including:

  • Use shortcut commands for common tasks
  • Mark messages as urgent
  • Get transcriptions of meetings
  • Blur background during meetings
  • Remove distracting notifications
  • Use the @ symbol to direct message users
  • Refine your searches to find messages easier
  • Customize chat titles for easier searching
  • Create polls for fast feedback
  • Translate messages
  • Share files easily

Use Shortcut Commands To Perform Common Tasks Quickly

Microsoft Teams collaboration tool

Commands in Microsoft Teams can help developers save time so they have more room in their schedule for essential tasks. Best of all, you can activate commands by simply typing / in the command box near the top of your Teams window.

Once you type / in the command box, a menu of commands and their corresponding tasks will appear. See the command you want, and hit Enter to execute it. Here are some examples of shortcut commands in Teams that will be at your disposal as soon as you type / in the command box:

  • /activity: View a team member’s activity.
  • /busy: Sets your status to busy.
  • /call: Calls one of your Teams contacts or a phone number.
  • /files: Displays your recent files.
  • /keys: Lists all the keyboard shortcuts.
  • /mentions: Displays all of your @mentions.

Mark Cannot-Miss Messages As Urgent

Microsoft Teams Tips

Some chat messages need more attention than others and request a rapid response. For such messages, use the Urgent feature in teams to let your colleagues know what you are sending is something special.

Look under the compose text field when crafting your message, as that is where you will have the option to label it as Urgent or Important. Once your chat message has the Urgent label and you send it, the recipient will receive it every two minutes for the next 20 minutes. In other words, it will be hard to miss.

Get Transcriptions Of Microsoft Teams Meetings

Microsoft Teams tricks

Development team meetings are often filled with so much information that it is easy for certain essential snippets to slip through the cracks. Instead of spending precious time taking notes, you can let Microsoft Teams do all the work with transcriptions.

Here is how to download transcriptions of your meetings in Microsoft Teams:

  • Click on the ellipsis () once your meeting recording is ready.
  • Open the meeting video in Microsoft Stream.
  • Click on the next visible ellipsis ().
  • Select Update Video Details.
  • Click on Video Language.
  • Select Autogenerate a caption file.
  • Click Update.
  • Go to the Microsoft Streams section to download your meeting transcription.

How to Blur Your Background During Microsoft Teams Calls

Microsoft Teams

As more developers work remotely, more meetings occur where your possibly messy home office may be put on display. To increase the privacy of your home setting and to minimize distractions for your coworkers, blur your background in Teams. To do so, go to the Audio and Video settings screen and click on the three dots (ellipsis) . Click on Blur my background, and you can keep the focus on yourself instead of your surroundings.

If blurring your background is not your style, Microsoft Teams gives you the additional option of using a background image to camouflage your surroundings. You can find this option by heading to the Audio and Video settings screen and clicking the ellipsis. Then, select Show background effects to pick something that suits your needs.

Read: Microsoft OneDrive Tips and Tricks

Avoid Distractions By Tweaking Your Notifications

Microsoft Teams Notifications

Notifications in Microsoft Teams can ensure developers stay in the loop. But too many notifications can distract from the task (or chat) at hand. To tweak your notifications to minimize distractions in Microsoft Teams, do the following:

  • Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of Teams.
  • Click on the Notifications tab.
  • Edit your notifications to your liking in terms of frequency, appearance, sound, etc.

Direct Message Team Members With The @ Symbol

Microsoft Teams is all about collaboration, and one of the quickest ways to collaborate through the software is via the @ symbol. Navigate to the search bar near the top of Teams and type the @ symbol. Then find the team member you are looking for in the drop-down menu and message them directly without any fuss.

Refine Your Chat Searches in Microsoft Teams

As your development team’s conversations grow in Microsoft Teams, finding the specific items you are looking for will become harder unless you use keywords. Microsoft Teams has specific keywords that unlock advanced search capabilities to help you quickly find what you seek. Include these keywords in your searches, and you can save a ton of time finding your desired information:

  • “Sent:” – the date you sent the message (Sent:1/7/2023)
  • “From:” – the sender’s name (From:John Smith)
  • “Subject:” – a keyword in the subject line or message (Subject:Meeting)
  • “In:” – the name of the group chat or channel (In:Developers)

For this advanced search to work, you must leave no space between the keyword, colon, and search terms, just as in the examples above.

Customize Your Chat Titles For Seamless Searching

Microsoft Teams Project Management Tool

It can be frustrating to search for specific chats/information to no avail. Luckily, Microsoft Teams makes it easier to organize your chats and make them more searchable. How?
By letting you edit your chat titles to your liking so you can easily search for and find them in the future.

You can edit your chat titles’ names in Microsoft Teams by clicking the pencil at the top right-hand corner of the chat and renaming them as you wish.

Use Polls For Fast Feedback

Microsoft Teams tutorial

Gathering feedback can be tricky when everyone on your development team is busy. But it can be much easier when you conduct polls in Microsoft Teams. Beneath the message box, you will find the Forms icon. Click on it to create and distribute a poll to your team.

The polls feature gives you the power to ask a custom question, list several answers or options, and enable multiple answers. You also have the option to instantly share results once the poll is completed or keep them anonymous.

Translate Your Messages

Microsoft Teams how-to

Some developers or clients you interact with may speak a foreign language. Teams has you covered, so nothing gets lost in translation. To translate a message, hover over it. Then,
click on the three dots , and choose Translate.

Beyond manual translation, Microsoft Teams also translates video calls. This feature is accessible via the Translate to menu that lets developers add captions in various languages. Video call participants can see the translations by navigating to the right sides of their screens and selecting the Subtitles On option.

Share Files Easily And Securely

Microsoft Teams guide

Sharing files plays a big part in collaboration amongst developers, and Microsoft Teams lets you enjoy this essential feature via SharePoint integration. Click on the Files tab, and you can start securely sharing files with other developers on your team through SharePoint. Once you share a file to a Teams channel, other team members can edit and collaborate on it with Microsoft Office apps like Word or Excel.

Final Thoughts on Microsoft Teams Tips and Tricks

In this Microsoft Teams tutorial, we learned some simple tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your collaboration software. These tips include learning how to use shortcuts for common tasks, translate text and video, add captions to videos that need translating, how to share files, use polls for quick feedback, direct message team members with the @ symbol, mark messages as urgent, and, finally, transcribe meetings automatically for later reference.

Read: Tools for Remote Developers

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How to Use Excel for Project Management https://www.codeguru.com/tools/excel-project-management/ Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:33:06 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19722 Are you looking for project management software to keep your software development team organized? Surprisingly, you may not have to look any further than Microsoft Excel. In this guide, we will reveal some of the most valuable features of Excel for project management and share tips for getting the most out of the versatile spreadsheet […]

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Are you looking for project management software to keep your software development team organized? Surprisingly, you may not have to look any further than Microsoft Excel.

In this guide, we will reveal some of the most valuable features of Excel for project management and share tips for getting the most out of the versatile spreadsheet software. Whether you are an experienced project manager, a developer that needs to track progress, bugs, and tasks, or just starting, you are about to discover ways Excel can help manage your projects more effectively at a minimal cost.

When To Use Excel To Manage Projects

Microsoft Excel

With so many project management software solutions on the market, you may wonder why or when you should use Microsoft Excel. We list some reasons Excel may work as a PM tool for your needs below, including the following:

  • If you are a single developer or part of a small team
  • If you want a simple solution with a very low learning curve
  • If you or your software development team have a limited budget

For starters, Excel may be ideal for one-person shows or very small development teams. Excel can provide the basics you need to manage such projects without overloading you with advanced PM features you may never use.

Another example of when Excel may be ideal for project management is if you want something simple to use. Some project management software solutions are loaded with features. But with such features, those solutions also require a ton of time for onboarding and learning the software. With Excel, project managers can pick simple spreadsheets that fulfill their needs and fill them with data to create task lists, track hours/inventory, and more.

Lastly, Excel is a solid choice for project management for teams with very limited budgets.
Depending on team size and the features offered, some PM software can cost thousands per month and cut into your profits. With Excel, you can get the essential project management features your team needs with minimal investment. If your organization already has access to Microsoft Office, you can virtually use Excel for free. And, if you do not, you can purchase access with a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Outlook, starting at $6.99 per month.

You can learn more about Office 365 in our Microsoft Office 365 Review.

When To Use Excel Alternatives To Manage Projects

Is Microsoft Excel the ideal project management solution for every team? Of course not, which is why many other PM software alternatives exist. Here is a brief list of reasons why you might choose project management software over Excel, followed by a more detailed explanation:

  • If you have more than five employees working on a project
  • If your team works with large datasets
  • If you want additional features, such as Views, Gantt Charts, built-in collaboration tools, or third-party integrations.

Project management software gains the upper hand over Excel for teams with more than five employees, for example, or those that are continuously growing. The more your team grows, the more moving parts it will have, making it difficult to manage your projects with Excel’s simple spreadsheets as you add moving pieces. A perfect example of where you may outgrow Excel is if you have to manage a lot of data. As data grows and your spreadsheets get out of hand, finding essential bits of information can take a ton of time. And if you need to share that data with external stakeholders, they may find Excel’s presentation style too outdated or inefficient.

Project managers may choose PM software over Excel if they want access to more bells and whistles. While we will offer examples of ways Excel can help you manage projects, you may want more than it can offer to enjoy added features like bid management, job monitoring, etc. And if team collaboration is critical, then you definitely may seek project management software instead of Excel, as Microsoft’s offering lacks in this area.

Do your projects require complex calculations? Excel can help with basic ones, but PM software may be your best bet as your team and projects grow, and calculations become more complex. Even the slightest data entry error in Excel could lead to inaccurate results that send your project into a tailspin. To play it safe, PM software that makes data entry almost automatic and offers seamless calculations could be a better fit.

Last, but not least, you may find that Excel is no longer up to snuff for managing projects if it negatively impacts your bottom line. Firsthand struggles with the spreadsheet software, such as missing deadlines or letting vital tasks slip through the cracks, could mean that it is time to upgrade to more advanced project management software that streamlines your workflows and minimizes errors.

Some of the best project management tools we recommend include:

How To Manage Projects With Excel

Project management involves planning, organizing, and tracking tasks, resources, timelines, and budgets. Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that can be used to manage projects of all sizes and complexities, though it works best for smaller teams and projects. From creating project plans and timelines to tracking budgets and milestones, Excel can help project managers stay organized and on track throughout the entire project lifecycle. Here are some ways you can use Excel for project management, which include:

    • Creating task lists
    • Mapping out project schedules and timelines
    • Tracking projects and resources
    • Time tracking
    • Budgeting
    • Reporting

Create Task Lists in Your Spreadsheet

You can create simple to-do lists in Excel to manage your daily activities as a project manager. Or you can go all out and use the spreadsheet software to create a task list (or download a template) for your team to track their progress and ensure everything gets completed as planned.

Excel task lists can be super simple or surprisingly advanced. To take the simple route, make a spreadsheet containing all the necessary details, such as the task name, assignee, description, due date, resources needed, and so forth. On the other end of the spectrum are more advanced task lists with automation.

Map Out Project Schedules With Timelines

Microsoft Excel Project Management

Create a visual timeline chart in Excel, and mapping out a project schedule can become a breeze. You can create one of the most popular project management tools – the Gantt chart – in Excel to map out tasks and gain instant insight into their start dates, duration, and how they stack up to one another in terms of importance.

If you are experienced with Excel, you can create your own customized timeline from scratch. Otherwise, you can take the easier route of downloading a template. Excel has tons of timeline templates, Gantt charts, etc., that you can download to get the functionality you need with minimal effort.

Track Projects

Project managers can track progress in Excel by creating a spreadsheet with columns for the project name, task, assignee, duration, budget, etc. You can view each field to tell if your project is on track or where it is lacking so you can make the necessary adjustments to avoid issues that can delay delivery. And, while glancing at your spreadsheet can provide basic insight into project progress, you can up the ante by using your data to create eye-catching and easy-to-digest charts that make it easier to comprehend where you stand and can be shared with others.

Read: Top Task Management Software for Developers

Track Resources in Excel

Whether it is personnel or equipment and physical materials you need to keep an eye on, Excel can help with resource management. Create one spreadsheet to track all your resources, or split them into several sheets. Regardless of how you do it, Excel can ensure that your project’s resources do not spread thin when you most need them.

Time Tracking and Timesheets

Microsoft Excel Project management

Excel makes it incredibly easy to track time, whether you want to create or download already-made timesheets or see how long it takes to complete specific tasks. In doing so, the software can help project managers ensure their teams are efficient, and it can also assist with billing, particularly if clients pay by the hour. While simple, tracking time in Excel can allow for more accurate project timelines and predictions regarding deliverables.

Create A Project Budget with Excel

It is no secret that Excel is ideal for crunching numbers, and project managers can use the software to create budgets with relative ease for small to medium-sized projects. As you move towards larger, complex projects, you may find Excel’s budgeting capabilities underpowered. Otherwise, the software should suffice for tracking income versus expenses and even adding some details to make managing your project’s finances easier.

Reporting

Excel has reporting capabilities that can help project managers too. Once all of your data is inputted, you can churn out analytics and customized reports to help assess project performance. While reporting in Excel may not be as easy to generate as with other project management software, the capability is there.

Final Thoughts on Using Excel for Project Management

In this tutorial we looked at cases where it would make sense to use Excel as a project management tool, which included if you were a solo developer or a small team, if you wanted a simple PM solution that was easy to use and setup, or if your team had a limited budget. We also discussed situations where using traditional project management tools would make more sense. Those reasons included scenarios where you had a larger team or a growing team, you wanted more third-party integrations and features, or if you have large sets of data that need a solid user interface.

We also talked about actual ways you could use Excel as project management software, including to create reports, as a time tracker, for budgeting, task management, and to track resources and projects.

Finally, we listed some project management alternatives to Microsoft Excel, including Asana, Wrike, Monday, and Microsoft Project.

You can also check out our product round-up of the Top Project Management Tools and Software for .NET Developers for more options.

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Tips for Creating Effective Presentations in PowerPoint https://www.codeguru.com/tools/powerpoint-presentation-tips/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 04:22:27 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19720 Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most popular tools for creating presentations. However, creating an effective PowerPoint presentation can be daunting, especially if you are new to the software. In this tutorial, we will explore some tips and tricks to help you create engaging and impactful presentations in PowerPoint. PowerPoint Presentation Tips Microsoft PowerPoint has […]

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Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most popular tools for creating presentations. However, creating an effective PowerPoint presentation can be daunting, especially if you are new to the software. In this tutorial, we will explore some tips and tricks to help you create engaging and impactful presentations in PowerPoint.

PowerPoint Presentation Tips

Microsoft PowerPoint tutorial

Microsoft PowerPoint has plenty of features to help users create effective presentations. Here are some tips to help you leverage the software’s power to best convey your message to your audience, including:

  • Conciseness
  • Consistency
  • Using simple fonts
  • Using the right font size
  • Using high quality Images
  • Choosing great visuals over text
  • Simple table designs
  • Choose colors wisely
  • Avoid complex transitions

Read: Top Online Microsoft Office Courses

Keep PowerPoint Presentations Concise

Could PowerPoint present all of your information for you? Sure, but instead of letting PowerPoint do all the work, you should view it as a tool to help supplement your story.

When creating PowerPoint slides, the less text, the better, and white space is your friend. Too much text on a slide makes your audience read versus listen. It distracts attention away from you, the speaker. And worst of all, excess slide text makes your presentation dull.

A great way to infuse sufficient text into your slides without overwhelming your audience’s eyes is to use short bullet points that summarize what you are about to say. This makes the information easier to digest and keeps the focus where it belongs: On you. Some go even further and suggest that you should avoid complete sentences altogether unless you are quoting someone.

If you want something more specific to follow when determining how much content to put on each slide, follow the 6×6 rule. It limits you to six bullet points per slide with six words per bullet. On the more extreme end, some say you should limit the content to six words per slide, although that may be difficult to achieve.

In short, do not let your slides dominate the presentation. And avoid the common mistake of simply re-reading your slides as well. They should serve as your guide and not as a script or teleprompter.

Keep It Consistent

Rather than trying to incorporate every color, font, chart, etc., available in PowerPoint into your presentation, aim for consistency. All your slides should have a similar look and feel that creates cohesion and an air of professionalism throughout your presentation. Doing so reflects well on you as the presenter and makes it easier for your audience to follow and absorb your content.

Choose A Simple Font

Avoid the temptation of picking a creative font to spruce up your slides. If your computer does not have the creative font you desire installed, it will replace it with a random one. A classic font, such as Calibri, Helvetica, or Verdana is a much better choice since it is likely available on all devices. More importantly, some fancier fonts are hard to read and could frustrate your audience as they try to decipher what is on-screen.

Do you have to stick with only one font in your PowerPoint presentation? No, but any more than three could be pushing it. And, if you choose the three-font max, for example, ensure that each font plays a particular role in your presentation. Use the first font for your headers, the second for your sub-headers, and the third for your body text to keep it cohesive, organized, and easy to follow and digest.

Another point to remember when dealing with font style is to not over-style the text. While using italics and bold can help you emphasize certain parts of your presentation, overdoing it can be distracting.

Read: Overview of Microsoft Office Certification

Pick A Proper Font Size

Your font style is not the only thing that matters, as you also need to pick the proper size to get your point across. You do not want a font that is too big and dominates your slides. You also do not want a font that is too small to read. Some suggest using a minimum of 20pt font for headers and 18pt for body text. Others say a 30pt font should be the minimum, as it allows everyone to see it and limits you to how much text you put on a slide, forcing you to craft more concise and impactful messages.

A good rule to follow when picking font size or designing slides overall is to create your presentations for the back of the room. In other words, can the person sitting in the last row see everything fine? If not, adjust until they can.

Use High-Quality Images

You may have superb and informative text on your slides, but if your images do not match in terms of quality, you may lose points with your audience. Instead of choosing the first result you see on Google Images, make sure your pictures match the text and the message you are trying to convey. The higher-quality images you use, the better.

Beyond ensuring your images are of high quality, here are some other characteristics they should have to strengthen your PowerPoint presentation visually, including being supportive of content, inspiring readers to read more, and being more “human” relatable:

  • Supportive: The images should support your content and prove your point further without being so overbearing that they distract the audience.
  • Inspirational: Your presentation’s images should inspire the audience to want to learn more or ask questions about what you are presenting. Inspiring engagement is the goal here.
  • Realistic and human: You can win over your audience by connecting with them on a human level. Pick images for your .ppt presentation that convey realism and feelings of humanity to achieve this goal. Your basic stock photos will typically fail to connect with your viewers, so picking the right images may take some time and a bit of effort until you find the right fit.

Opt For Visuals Versus Text in Your Presentations

Using visuals to convey your message is an easy way to avoid putting too much text on your slides and overwhelming your audience. PowerPoint has many graphs that can convert complex, sometimes dull data into eye-catching and easy-to-digest information. Another reason to use visuals is that studies show people tend to remember pictures better than words after brief exposure.

“Less Is More” When Designing Tables in PowerPoint

Tables can help you relay data in an organized manner. Unfortunately, many make the common mistake of crowding their tables in PowerPoint with unnecessary borders, colors, and outlines. Keep your tables minimalist, and they will relay your desired information without confusing your audience.

Avoid Complex Transitions Between PowerPoint Slides

Does it seem like your PowerPoint presentation is dull? Avoid the temptation of adding life to it by using diverse transitions as you go from slide to slide. A standard fade effect is all you need for an effective PowerPoint presentation. Anything more than that, and you could distract your audience or come across as unprofessional. As with other elements of your PowerPoint presentation, aim for cohesion and uniformity with your transitions. Once you find one that works, stick with it.

Do Not Overdo PowerPoint Slides With Colors

If you are doing a presentation for a particular brand, use its primary and secondary colors. If the color choice is entirely up to you, avoid extremely bright colors that can cause fatigue or seem tacky.

You can stick to a simple combination of light and dark colors, using light text on a dark background or vice versa to create a contrast that makes for easy reading.

Read: Microsoft PowerPoint Tips and Tricks

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Overview of Access Modifiers in C# https://www.codeguru.com/csharp/c-sharp-access-modifiers/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:49:46 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19712 An access modifier in C# is a keyword used to indicate whether a member of a class can be accessed from outside the class. By using access specifiers, developers can control how one part of the application’s code can interact with another part of the code, which helps in building more robust, modular and maintainable […]

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C# programming examples

An access modifier in C# is a keyword used to indicate whether a member of a class can be accessed from outside the class. By using access specifiers, developers can control how one part of the application’s code can interact with another part of the code, which helps in building more robust, modular and maintainable applications.

This programming tutorial will discuss access modifiers in C#, their benefits, and how they can be used in C#.

Before reading further, you may wish to check out a few of our other tutorials on object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts if you are new to the subject or need a refresher:

What is an Access Modifier in C#?

An access modifier is a keyword in C# that specifies the level of access to a class or its members. It is used to control visibility and accessibility of class elements in C#, allowing you to control who can and cannot access different parts of your code. It is important to choose the appropriate access modifier for each member based on its intended usage and the level of encapsulation desired.

These access specifiers are used to control the visibility and accessibility of members of a class or struct, which helps in maintaining encapsulation and ensuring the correct use of the program. By using access specifiers, developers can control how other parts of the program can interact with their code, which helps in building more robust and maintainable applications.

You can learn more about C# encapsulation in our tutorial: Overview of Encapsulation in C#.

What is the public Keyword in C#?

In C#, the public keyword is an access specifier used to declare a type, method, or member as accessible to all code in the program. Members marked as public can be accessed from any code that has access to an instance of the class or struct they belong to.

Here are some key points about the public keyword in C#:

  • A class or struct that is marked as public can be accessed from any other code in the program, even if the code is in a different namespace or assembly.
  • A method, field, property, or event marked as public can be accessed from any code that has access to an instance of the containing class or struct.
  • The public keyword can be used in combination with other access specifiers, such as static or readonly, to create more specific access rules.

What is the private Keyword in C#?

In C#, the private keyword is an access specifier used to declare a type, method, or member as accessible only within the same class or struct. The private keyword helps to ensure the integrity of a class or struct by hiding implementation details and preventing unintended access and modification of private members from outside the containing class or struct. Members marked as private cannot be accessed from any other code outside the containing class or struct thus enforcing encapsulation and maintaining the security and integrity of your code.

Here are some key points about the private keyword in C#:

  • Programmers can access a private method, field, property, or event from within the same class or struct only.
  • A class or struct marked as private cannot be accessed from any other code in the program.
  • The private keyword is the default access level if no access specifier is explicitly defined for a type, method, or member.

What is the protected Keyword in C#?

In C#, the protected keyword is an access specifier used to declare a member as accessible within the same class or struct, and any derived class. Members marked as protected cannot be accessed from any other code outside the containing class or struct or its derived classes.

Here are some key points about the protected keyword in C#:

  • A protected method, field, property, or event can only be accessed from within the same class or struct, or from any derived class.
  • A class or struct marked as protected cannot be accessed from any other code in the program.
  • The protected keyword is often used to provide a mechanism for derived classes to access the internal workings of a base class, while still maintaining encapsulation.
  • The protected keyword helps to ensure the integrity of a class or struct by allowing derived classes to inherit and extend the behavior of the base class, while preventing unintended access and modification of protected members from outside the containing class or struct or its derived classes.

Read: Top Tools for Remote Developers

What is the internal Keyword in C#?

In C#, the internal keyword is an access specifier used to declare a type, method, or member that can only be accessed inside the same assembly.

Here are some key points developers should know about the internal keyword in C#:

  • A method, field, property, or event marked as internal can be accessed from any code within the same assembly.
  • The internal keyword is often used to hide implementation details of a class or struct from other assemblies, while still allowing other types within the same assembly to access the members.
  • The internal keyword is different from the private keyword in that private members cannot be accessed from any other code, whereas internal members can be accessed from any code within the same assembly only.
  • The internal keyword is useful for creating reusable code components, as it allows you to define implementation details within a single assembly while still providing a public interface that can be accessed from other assemblies.

The protected internal Access Modifier in C#

The visibility and accessibility of a protected internal member is both protected and internal to the same assembly. It allows a member to be accessible within the same assembly and also by derived classes, whether they are in the same assembly or in a different assembly.

Here are some key points programmers should understand about the protected internal access modifier in C#:

  • A method, field, property, or event marked as protected internal can be accessed from any code within the same assembly and by any derived class, whether they are in the same assembly or in a different assembly.
  • The protected internal access modifier is useful for creating a flexible and extensible class hierarchy that can be used across different assemblies while still maintaining encapsulation and access control.
  • The protected internal access modifier is often used in class libraries or APIs that are intended for use by multiple applications or services.

The private protected Access Modifier in C#

A private protected member combines the features of both private and protected access specifiers. It allows a member to be accessible within the same class or struct or any derived class within the same assembly, but not by any code outside the containing class or struct or its derived classes in other assemblies.

Here are some key points about the private protected access modifier in C#:

  • A method, field, property, or event marked as private protected can be accessed from within the same class or struct, and any derived class within the same assembly.
  • A class or struct marked as private protected can only be accessed from within the same assembly by the containing class or struct or any derived class.
  • The private protected access modifier is useful for creating a class hierarchy with strict access control, where the implementation details of a class can be accessed by derived classes within the same assembly only.

Use Cases of Access Modifiers in C#

Here are some use cases of access modifiers in C#, which include encapsulation, access control, inheritance, modularity, and maintenance:

  • Encapsulation: You can take advantage of access modifiers to hide implementation details and expose only the essential information to the outside world. This is important for creating classes that maintain the integrity of data and provide a clear interface for interacting with them.
  • Access Control: Access modifiers allow developers to control which code can access certain types and their members. As a result, only code that is authorized can have access to the sensitive data in your application.
  • Inheritance: Access modifiers play a key role in inheritance, allowing derived classes to access the protected and public members of their base class. This is essential for creating class hierarchies and facilitating code reuse.
  • Modularity: Access modifiers enable developers to create modular code that can be reused in different contexts. By controlling the visibility and accessibility of types and members, developers can create components that can be used in different parts of an application or even in different applications.
  • Maintenance: Access modifiers help make code more maintainable by making it clear which members are intended for internal use and which are part of the public interface. This helps developers avoid unintended changes to the implementation of a class or the behavior of an application.

Syntax for Access Modifiers in C#

Now that we know about the different types of access modifiers C# has to offer, let’s take a look at a quick code example that demonstrates the syntax for using C# modifiers:

public class Car
{
	public void Tire() { }
}

Here is example code showing how you would create a private access modifier in C#:

class Car
{
	private string model = “El Camino”;
	static void Main(string[] argos)
	{
	Car testObj = new Car();
	Console.WriteLine(testObj.model);
	}
}

In the above code example, we use a private access modifier to make our access level private and then create a new instance of Car, assigning it the model of El Camino, which we then print to the screen.

Final Thoughts on C# AccessModifiers

Access specifiers in C# are keywords used to determine the accessibility or visibility of a type, member or method in a class or struct. They play an important role in creating well-encapsulated, modular, and maintainable code that can be easily extended and reused in different contexts. By controlling the visibility and accessibility of types and their members, developers can ensure that their code is secure, efficient, and easy to maintain over time.

Read: Introduction to Abstraction in C#

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An Overview of Properties in C# https://www.codeguru.com/csharp/c-sharp-properties/ Sun, 26 Feb 2023 03:29:46 +0000 https://www.codeguru.com/?p=19711 Properties are an important feature of C# and object oriented programming (OOP) that enables developers to encapsulate and manage the state of an object in a controlled and safe way. They provide a way to read and write the values of fields of a class, and can be used for a variety of purposes, including […]

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C# Tutorials
Properties are an important feature of C# and object oriented programming (OOP) that enables developers to encapsulate and manage the state of an object in a controlled and safe way. They provide a way to read and write the values of fields of a class, and can be used for a variety of purposes, including data validation, computed values, and access control.

This programming tutorial discusses properties in C#, their benefits, and how they can be used in C#.

Before delving too deep into this article, we have a few articles discussing the basics of object-oriented software development if you need a refresher or are new to the concept:

What Are Properties in C#?

In C#, a property is a member of a class that can be used to read or write values from and to a field of the class. Properties are used to encapsulate the implementation details of a class and provide a controlled way to access its internal state.

It is a mechanism for exposing private fields of a class to the outside world while still controlling the access to them. A property provides a way to read and write the value of a private field by using get and set accessors.

Properties are used in C# for a variety of reasons, including to provide encapsulation, validate data, compute values, and to enforce constraints:

  • Encapsulation: By encapsulating the state of an object behind a property, you can prevent direct access to the private fields of the object, which helps maintain the integrity of the object’s state.
  • Data validation: Properties can be used to validate the data being set on an object. For example, you could use a property to ensure that a number is always positive, or that a string has a maximum length.
  • Computed values: Properties can be used to compute a value on the fly based on the values of other properties or fields.
  • Access control: Properties can be used to control access to an object’s state by limiting access to certain fields or properties.
  • Properties can be used to enforce constraints, validate data, and provide a simple way to access data in an object.

You can learn more about encapsulation in our tutorial: Overview of Encapsulation in C#.

Types of Properties in C#

There are several types of properties in C#, including read-only, write-only, indexer, and virtual types:

  • Read-only properties: These properties only have a get accessor, which means that their value cannot be changed once they are set.
  • Write-only properties: These properties only have a set accessor, which means that their value can only be set, not read.
  • Auto-implemented properties: These properties are shorthand for defining a private field and its associated get and set methods.
  • Indexer properties: You can use these properties to access instances of a class using an index, much the same way you do with an array.
  • Virtual properties: Virtual properties are defined in the base class and they can be overridden by the derived classes.
  • Static properties: As the name suggests, static properties are not associated with the object of the class, instead they are associated with the class.
  • Abstract properties: Abstract properties are declared in an abstract class or interface in C#. You must implement them in any non-abstract class that derives the abstract class or implements the interface.

How to Program Properties in C#

In C#, properties are defined using the get and set keywords. The get method is used to retrieve the value of the property, while the set method is used to set the value of the property.

The syntax for defining a property in C# is as follows:

access-modifier type PropertyName
{ 
   get 
   { 
        // Write your get accessor logic here
    } 
   set 
   { 
       // Write your set accessor logic here
   }
}

The following code example illustrates a property in C#:

public class MyClass
{
    private int myProperty;
    public int MyProperty
    {
        get { return myProperty; }
        set { myProperty = value; }
    }
}

In the preceding code example, MyProperty is a property of the MyClass class. It has a private backing field myProperty, which is accessed by the get and set accessors of the property. While a get accessor is used to retrieve the value of a data member of the class, and the set accessor sets a specified value to the data member.

Here is another code example in which the Person class has a property called Name.

Here is another example of a simple property in C#:

 
public class Person
{ 
  private string firstName, lastName, address;
  public string FirstName 
  { 
     get 
     { 
       return firstName; 
     } 
     set 
     {
       firstName = value; 
     } 
   }
public string LastName 
  { 
     get 
     { 
       return lastName; 
     } 
     set 
     {
       lastName = value; 
     } 
   }
public string Address 
  { 
     get 
     { 
       return address; 
     } 
     set 
     {
       address = value; 
     } 
   }
}

In this example, the Person class has three private fields, namely, firstName, lastName, and address.. You can access each of them using the corresponding public properties named FirstName, LastName, and Address.

Properties can also have different access modifiers, such as public, private, protected, or internal, just like other class members. They can also be read-only, write-only, or read-write, depending on whether or not they have a set method.

Read: Best Bug Tracking Software for C# Developers

What is an Automatic Property in C#?

In C#, an automatic property is a shorthand syntax for defining a property that simplifies the syntax for declaring and initializing properties. Using automatic properties, programmers can declare a property without having to define a private field to store the property value explicitly.

Instead, the C# compiler automatically generates a private backing field for you, and you can access the property using get and set accessors. The basic syntax for an automatic property in C# is as follows:

public class MyClass
{ 
  public string MyProperty { get; set; }
}

In this code example, MyProperty is an automatic property. The get and set keywords define the accessors for the property, and the type of the property is string. When you create an instance of the MyClass class and set the value of the MyProperty property, the compiler automatically creates a private backing field to store the value. For example, you can create an instance of MyClass and set the value of MyProperty like this: var myObject = new MyClass();

myObject.MyProperty = "This is a sample text";

In this example, the value ” This is a sample text “ is stored in the private backing field created by the C# compiler for the MyProperty property.

Here is another example of an auto-implemented property in C#:

 
public class Author
{ 
   public int Id { get; set; }
   public string FirstName { get; set; }
   public string LastName { get; set; }
}

In this code example, the “Id”, “FirstName”, and “LastName” properties do not have an explicit field mapped to them, but the compiler generates one for each of them automatically.

Automatic properties can be useful for reducing boilerplate code in your C# classes, but keep in mind that they have some limitations. For example, you cannot add additional logic to the get and set accessors of an automatic property, such as validation or calculations. If you need to do more than simply get or set a property value, you will need to define a traditional property with an explicit private field.

Final Thoughts on C# Properties

Properties are a powerful feature of C# that allow for flexible data access and manipulation, while also enabling developers to enforce constraints and protect your data from being exposed directly. You can take advantage of properties to implement encapsulation, access control, and data validation in object-oriented programming.

Check out our tutorial: Class Members in C# for more information on OOP programming and working with classes.

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