Archives

The specific structural problems that appear repeatedly in codebases, with code diffs showing the problem and the fix.

Edit forms with multiple dropdowns usually trigger one API call per dropdown. Two problems follow — the form stays blank until all calls resolve, and load time scales with dropdown count. This note covers how to fix both: embed current selections in the entity response, aggregate option lists into one scoped endpoint. Two requests total, regardless of dropdown count.

Navigation properties make database calls look like property access. The query fires, the change tracker updates records, the cartesian product bloats the result — none of it visible at the call site. This note covers why I use foreign key IDs instead.

Using git worktrees to work on multiple branches simultaneously without managing local file changes.

A practical pattern for working with enums in API request models - storing as strings while keeping type-safe enum logic throughout your codebase.

Why I normalize data from multiple sources when saving to the database, not when displaying it. Using IoT temperature monitoring as a practical example.

A detailed guide on choosing between property getters and get methods in object-oriented programming, with practical examples and best practices for API design.

A structured approach to organizing AWS CloudFormation templates for containerized web applications, covering VPC networking, ECS Fargate, RDS, and automated deployment processes.

Static methods for state changes, instance properties for reads. A singleton API pattern for Flutter.

How to detect and manage configuration drift in AWS CloudFormation stacks.

Why code becomes hard to change: cohesion failures, coupling failures, leaked decisions, and other structural causes of unmaintainable software.

Understanding how most software systems inherently function as ETL pipelines and how to leverage this perspective for better system design.

A practical approach to using Google Sheets as a lightweight backend solution, preserving existing business logic while avoiding unnecessary rebuilding of systems.

Before integrating unfamiliar code into production, explore it in a throwaway project first.

How to simplify complex data processing loops by refactoring them into clear, maintainable transformation pipelines using functional programming concepts.

How to implement and manage correlation IDs in background tasks using Serilog in .NET Core applications for better logging traceability.

Why and how to use enumerated types instead of boolean flags for status fields, improving code maintainability and preventing future refactoring headaches.

A consolidated collection of command snippets I use regularly — PowerShell, PostgreSQL, RabbitMQ, AWS CLI, NPM/NVM, Chocolatey, and EF Core.

A practical demonstration of pseudocode-driven development for designing maintainable software, with a real-world example from requirements to implementation.

Learn how to effectively override services in ASP.NET Core integration tests using ConfigureTestServices, with practical examples and testing patterns.

How to properly configure and manage test-specific application settings in ASP.NET Core integration tests, ensuring isolated and reliable test environments.

A comparison of approaches to building dynamic SQL queries in .NET applications, contrasting string concatenation with SqlKata's query builder for safer and more maintainable code.

Implementing strongly-typed configuration in .NET Core applications with built-in validation, using options pattern and data annotations.

A deep dive into diagnosing and fixing the N+1 query anti-pattern in ORMs, with practical examples of using eager loading and joins to improve database performance.

A guide to extending Select2's functionality using its adapter and decorator patterns, with practical examples for customizing appearance and behavior.

A practical guide to identifying and fixing Feature Envy code smell in C#, with step-by-step examples of moving behavior to where the data lives.

How to organize ASP.NET MVC5 projects using feature folders for better maintainability and separation of concerns, with practical examples and implementation details.

A practical guide to implementing the Specification pattern for cleaner and more maintainable business rule validation in your code.

A comprehensive guide to integrating Rhino Security with StructureMap in .NET applications for robust security management.

A comprehensive guide on implementing database versioning with FluentMigrator in .NET projects, including automated migrations, version control integration, and cross-database provider support.