Archives
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How to perform regular expression based replacements on files with MSBuild
And without a custom DLL with a task, too
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How to access the raw markdown source for a github wiki page
This is not entirely obvious (at least it wasn’t for me), but since Github wikis are actually backed by a proper Git repo, I figured it should be possible to access the raw markdown for a page by using Github’s https://raw.github.com/ style URLs.
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Documenting user interfaces in a mouse-less touch UI
“Old” apps rely on mouse pointing and tooltips to explain what a given button is for. Maybe there is text associated with the button, but you can only put so much text without wasting useful screen state. More so in a phone or tablet app.
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How to exclude copy local referenced assemblies from a VSIX
When you add library references to project that are not reference assemblies or installed in the GAC, Visual Studio defaults to setting Copy Local to True:
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How to change the target VSIX file name
When creating a VSIX or VS Package extension to VS, the default .vsix file name matches the project assembly name. Usually this is too long. So if you want to change it to be a short name, you have to edit the project file and add the following property:
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Static GitHub powered blog engine
Blog engines were the new "cool thing to write" after the fever of writing a new DI framework was over. It was kinda like the new "hello world++" example. Almost every single engine uses a database of some sort to keep posts and comments. Almost every one is not leveraging the web as a consequence ;)
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Electronics 101 for kids: littleBits review
I'm always on the lookout for cool toys that can empower my kids (9, 6 and 2yo) to be creative and break the mold of being just consumers of other's ideas.
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Visual Studio 2012 Developer Command Prompt Here
This is a very handy utility that I’ve used consistently for years now. I’ve been updating it since VS 2003 days. Originally from Scott’s blog, IIRC.
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Tracer: the unified, dead-simple API for all logging frameworks in existence
We all need some kind of tracing or logging in our apps. We’d also like third party components to provide useful logging too. And if it integrates with whatever logging framework we happen to use, even better!
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How to mock a generic repository
The short answer is: you don’t. You see, having a mocking library at hand (no matter how cool it is) doesn’t automatically make it the best tool for every testing need.
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How to serve private S3 content from a CloudFront private distribution via signed expiring Urls
For this walk-through, you’ll need the most excelent CloudBerry S3 Explorer. Somehow, these guys manage to support in the UI more stuff than Amazon itself does in its management console
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How to apply build configuration transformations on non-web projects
This is a pretty common request, and the simple answer is available in SO: right after the C# targets import, add the following:
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How to map a shared SkyDrive folder as a network drive in Windows
- Open the folder in the skydrive site using the browser (it would be under Shared menu on the left). The url will look something like: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=529BD9445B66F60D&id=529BD9445B66F60D%21189#cid=529BD9445B66F60D&id=529BD9445B66F60D%21189. Now the “cid” query parameter in the URL.
- Right-click on Network (in windows explorer), then “Map Network Drive”
- Specify Folder as: https://d.docs.live.net/[cid]/[folder_name]. For the sample URL above, it would be https://d.docs.live.net/529bd9445b66f60d/CQRS (note the folder name isn’t in the URL, you need to know it beforehand, and it has to match what it’s named on the site).
- Check the “Use alternate credentials” option in the dialog:
- Click Finish. Enter your Live ID credentials when asked. Done!
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A better way to encourage contributions to OSS
Currently in the .NET world, most OSS projects are available via a NuGet package. Users have a very easy path towards *using* the project right away.
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You don’t need an IoC container or ServiceLocator for everything
Say you have a class that needs to collaborate with another, say a repository:
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Event Centric: storing and consuming events
[Disclaimer: I don’t think this disclaimer is needed, but just to be on the safe side. The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent in any way my company's view, that of any customer current or past, or any current, past or future project related to these concepts that I may participate in]