Sriram's WebLog Microsoft solution specialist on web platform, Columbus Ohio

Lazy loading in Entity framework

What is lazy loading object? As per Martin Fowler, "An object that doesn't contain all of the data you need but knows how to get it."

Here Bruno explains clearly how lazy loading works in terms of  ADO .NET entity framework 4.0

Quote of the day

There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult. -- C.A.R. Hoare
 

Branching and looping in a declarative web test

Ever wondered how to do the branching and looping in a web test. Until VS 2008, this is possible only by creating coded web tests and work through your logic
But with VS 2010, it comes out of the box as Chirs explains.

http://blogs.msdn.com/chrispat/archive/2010/01/10/branching-and-looping-in-a-declarative-web-test.aspx

Visual Studio Myth busters

Nice application on various Visual Studio products with key features and myth busters.

 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/ee679805.aspx

Run tests without VS IDE

 I have been working on a new build process using TFS 2008 and VS 2008 and were setting up a new build server and were researching whether I could run web tests in the build PC as part of build verification test without installing the Visual Studio test edition. Looks like it is possible with VS 2010 and all you need is VS Team Agent which is a lightweight component running on your build server.

Here is the article, clearly explaining how to go about it.
http://blogs.msdn.com/anutthara/archive/2009/12/16/running-tests-in-mstest-without-installing-the-vs-ide.aspx

@@IDENTITY vs SCOPE_IDENTITY()

Have you ever wondered why the @@IDENTITY is not returning the "right" value occassionally when everything was working correctly earlier. Here is the reason.

@@IDENTITY and SCOPE_IDENTITY return the last identity value generated in any table in the current session. However, SCOPE_IDENTITY returns the value only within the current scope; @@IDENTITY is not limited to a specific scope.

Read on here

http://blogs.msdn.com/spike/archive/2009/10/20/my-take-on-identity-vs-scope-identity.aspx

How to migrate TFS 2008 build definitions to TFS 2010

List of QA on migration of TFS 2008 build definitions to TFS 2010 from Jim

http://blogs.msdn.com/jimlamb/archive/2009/11/03/upgrading-tfs-2008-build-definitions-to-tfs-2010.aspx

What is 260 character limitation on paths?

 Here we go.

http://blogs.msdn.com/bclteam/archive/2007/02/13/long-paths-in-net-part-1-of-3-kim-hamilton.aspx

How to troubleshoot?

Tess explains how to approach the troubleshooting a issue.

http://blogs.msdn.com/tess/archive/2009/09/09/first-step-in-troubleshooting-complex-issues-define-and-scope-your-issue-properly.aspx 

I like this comment

TFS 2010 key changes

Brain has done a wonderful job on creating a blog on the key developments/architectural changes in TFS 2010. Worth reading. Even better the comment section (though it is real long!!). I was hoping for branched history for a given file in TFS 2010 but it looks like it is still missing. I guess we have to live with Power tools until it comes out:(

http://blogs.msdn.com/bharry/archive/2009/04/19/team-foundation-server-2010-key-concepts.aspx