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Impact of SharePoint 2013 on Healthcare IT

10/09/2013 14:35

Healthcare organizations which were early adopters of Microsoft SharePoint platform gained quite comprehensively from the capabilities of the framework. The new SharePoint 2013 version promises much more in terms of enhanced functionalities to benefit them. The primary ones include App Marketplace, Business Intelligence, Mobile, Communities, Video Searches and Micro Blogging. Apart than the intended benefits one common purpose achieved by the functionalities is reduction in the cost of operations for healthcare setups using them. With optimized workflow engines replacing manual tasks, improved compliance with regulatory mandates and availability of customized solutions, Healthcare setups are likely to notice significant reduction in their operational expenditure.

 

SharePoint’s predominant use in the healthcare industry has been in content management and in document and activity based collaboration. The new version interestingly has shifted the focus on its adoption more towards social solutions - which in the current day context has a lot of relevance. For e.g. it has a major contribution to make in knowledge management. In the healthcare industry this is of critical relevance as it can lead to not only better care solutions but saving of millions of lives. Knowledge gathered through experience and shared through the social platforms enhances its utility and relevance in making better decisions and reducing chances of committing errors.

 

The use of SharePoint is business intelligence is expected to gather pace as we progress. Since there are information systems now taking care of activities which were earlier handled manually, it has resulted in an explosion of data – most of which is highly critical and can be harnessed in various ways to draw greater benefits. From using dashboards and reports to analyze collated data from diverse sources to using them for predictions activities; all this and many more complex activities can be made possible using the features offered SharePoint 2013. EHR adoption which is fast happening is only going to expedite the whole process.

 

Mobility has brought about a huge change in the healthcare industry. The entire healthcare delivery mechanism is likely to undergo a complete metamorphosis in the next few years. SharePoint, when it was developed in 2001, was not expected to be built for such times. As the world progressed towards the use of mobile devices, subsequent versions i.e. SharePoint 2007 & SharePoint 2010 were released to keep pace with the changing demands. However, the response from the industry was not that very encouraging and the versions were considered inadequate. SharePoint 2013 is expected to dispel such notions because this version is about creating access to meaningful information.However, the healthcare organizations currently using SharePoint applications have to be willing to upgrade in order to derive the benefits. The major differentiating features include the following:

  • A contemporary view to render sites in HTML5 which can work with all the updated versions of browsers

  • Provision to render the SharePoint sites across different mobile devices by the use of channels

  • Capability to push notifications to mobile devices

  • Availability of two new native apps: The SharePoint Newsfeed App and The SkyDrive Pro App. Thus users now will have the ability to not only follow people and feeds but also documents thus enabling them to be accessed more easily without having to go through the SharePoint interface. Plus, they will also now be able to store documents to be able to use them offline.

  • Better view of MS Office tools like Word, Excel and PowerPoint

SharePoint, throughout its lifecycle has drawn flak for its user experience. The upgradations, although have brought in changes, have been found wanting. The 2013 version seems to have put forth solutions for the prevalent issues in usability. Besides, there are now modern applications available which are suited to be used for mobile, social and cloud capabilities. In healthcare industry, one of the main areas concern and focus is data security. So the CIO’s of the Healthcare enterprises have to look beyond the benefits of these additional features and figure out their impact on the security aspect of things. They also have to look at how third-party apps can integrate with these features. Migration will also be another area which will require their attention. You can hire developers from top SharePoint development companies in India who can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

 

We provide SharePoint 2013 developmentservices. If you would like to know what makes us certified SharePoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Things to keep in mind while migrating from ColdFusion to Microsoft SharePoint

08/09/2013 16:07

Being a ColdFusion developer, chances of not knowing much about SharePoint certainly stands high. Therefore, before you take the plunge to migrate from ColdFusion to Microsoft SharePoint, you must consider developing some basic knowledge of working amid the particular environment.

 

ColdFusion to SharePoint migrationWhat is SharePoint?
Well, in simple terms, it is referred to an application of content management system that allows an access of data stored in MSSQL database. The incorporated search services of SharePoint keep it apart from just file storage in common folders and add the context of team collaboration and data file management that are usually generated by the Microsoft Office Suite.

 

So, what are the aspects that you must primarily keep in mind to ensure a successful migration of ColdFusion to SharePoint? Well, here is a look at the aspects that prominently focuses on the task of understanding the content management system application:

 

Exploring the site hierarchy of SharePoint and roles that are permission based
The application usually exists in the form of a structured site grouping referred to as site collection. In this respect, it is to be made clear that site permissions are usually linked to the Active Directory login of a user. All permissions to site collection typically begin at the top level and spread downwards to the created sites thereby, acceding to the permission of the parent level.

 

Here is a quick look at some of the principle permission levels related to sharepoint application development :

  • Read – users can only have a view of the data along with the sites

  • Contribute – Users can view, add, delete, and update the data along with the sites

  • Design – Users can views, update, delete, add, approve, and customize the data as well as the sites

  • Complete control – Users can exert complete control over the data alongside the sites.

 

Knowing Lists of SharePoint: Views and Items
The SharePoint List is often recognized as the foundation of a site related to the application. In simple terms, a List is nothing, but similar to a database table. The content management system application comes with a several template concerning a List i.e. task list, contacts, calendar, etc. Each of these features their own default columns; however, the application can be customized catering to the exact needs as well as interests. For instance, you can always go ahead and add a column to the particular list like customer ID, document library, etc. You can also consider the idea of creating custom lists featuring no pre-incorporated or defined columns and save them as templates, if you wish.

 

Usually, the List consists of four default pages that are generated following the creation: a look

  • NewForm.aspx – allows the users to add items maintaining a pre-generated approach to the list

  • DispForm.aspx – allows the users to review an item in read-only form

  • Edit Form.aspx – allows the users to undertake editing of a integrated item with proper permissions

  • AllItems.aspx – allows a display of all list items maintaining a view that is non-filtered

 

Adding to all these is the final feature of the List that is Stored Views. This actually refers to filtered displays of Items present in the list catering to the chosen criteria of a user.

 

SharePoint Pages and Web Parts
When it comes to displaying a web page in SharePoint, it is to be noted that a usual page is likely to consist of pre-defined aspects and Web Part Zones that allows an addition of a Web Part. What is a Web Part? Well, a code snippet that exhibits the contained data of SharePoint in a specific layout. For instance, you can have a calendar Web Part that specifically exhibits Items from a Calendar List of the content management system application, offering you the options of exhibiting contents as a list of events or in the form of calendars offering monthly, weekly, and daily views. Building a page featuring multiple Web Parts allow you to put forward a design enabling a view in the form of dashboard quite quickly.

 

Once, you get all the necessary permissions within the environment of SharePoint, you can easily go ahead and experiment with the migration. Being a ColdFusion developer, you now have the choice of creating ColdFusion applications within SharePoint in a way like never before.

 

We provide sharepoint bespoke development services. If you would like to know what makes us expert sharepoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Huddle vs. SharePoint: A Comparative Analysis in Three Collaboration Scenarios

26/08/2013 15:21

sharepoint webparts development

Most enterprises, nowadays, complete projects through distributed teams. So businesses often look for customized content management and enterprise collaboration to enable the members of a distributed team to communicate and stay connected without any interruption. As innovative collaboration software, Microsoft SharePoint is used by many companies to organize data, people and projects. Microsoft has further released SharePoint 2013 with a set of advanced features that enable a business to stay connected with employees regardless of their physical location.

However, each enterprise also has options to choose from several SharePoint alternatives. In comparison to other content management and collaboration systems, Huddle is more widely used by enterprises across the world. In addition to allowing organizations to share files with their team members and partners across the firewall, Huddle also facilitates content collaboration through posting comments, assigning tasks, and getting approvals. Also, an organization can create individual user profiles to connect with each team member or partner according to his role in the project.

Comparing Huddle and SharePoint in Three Common Usage Scenarios

1. Easy to Use and Deploy Collaboration Tools: Unlike SharePoint, Huddle offers as set of administrative and collaboration tools that are easy to learn and deploy. The tools further make it easier for users to distribute site administration tasks among team members without increasing the collaborative platform management overheads. On the other hand, the use of SharePoint requires enterprises to increase the collaborative platform management overheads. Further, SharePoint must be implemented in an exact and planned way to avail its advantages.

But Huddle comes with a well designed user interface that performs seamlessly across multiple workspaces. The SharePoint security features vary based on the way the platform is deployed by an organization. But Huddle allows users to implement security at multiple levels including application, data center, physical and network. So an organization can share files and data among its employees in a more secure environment.

2. Options to Integrate Third-Party and Custom Applications: Most enterprises, nowadays, use custom applications developed by third-party vendors to optimize their business process. So an enterprise will definitely expect the collaboration software to support these applications. In comparison to Huddle, SharePoint is more effective in integrating the third-party and custom-developed applications. In addition to the administrative tools required for these third-party application integration, Huddle further lacks the collaboration feature.

So the enterprises using third-party applications have to opt for SharePoint. Also, SharePoint offers some advantages as a web application development platform. Each enterprise has option to choose from several partners dealing in SharePoint web parts and applications. Also, a company can hire developers to build custom SharePoint applications according to its business process. However, the integration of third-party application may have an adverse impact on SharePoint security.

3. Availing the Advantages of Enterprise’s Existing Cloud Infrastructure: Many reports have already highlighted the constant increase in the popularity of Cloud computing. Many enterprises are also investing in Cloud infrastructure to meet the latest trends in technology and user demand. Huddle supports a multi-tenant cloud architecture that helps enterprises in reducing the initial investment. Microsoft has further made SharePoint 2013 ready for Cloud environments. But the SharePoint Cloud administration can be complex depending on the configuration and security of the site.

On the other hand, Huddle comes with agile administration tools that are effective in managing users and adopting Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC). The users also have option to use the Huddle Activity Stream to view the files or information on each accessible workspace. The feature further makes it easier for the members of a distributed team to access business data regardless of their current location. However, an organization needs to deploy SharePoint in a planned and exact way to avail the advantages of its existing Cloud infrastructure.

While comparing SharePoint and Huddle, one must keep certain key points in mind. SharePoint is a complete platform, whereas Huddle is only an application. So as a platform, SharePoint allows users to perform a variety of activities. But Huddle can be used only by focusing on specific scenarios. At the same time, it is also important to evaluate the two according to the technological infrastructure of the organization. Despite offering improved collaboration, Huddle still requires users to create additional overheads, and thus carry more risk. Custom sharepoint development teams can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide sharepoint webparts development services. If you would like to know what makes us expert sharepoint developers india, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

PHP Web Development Comes With a Range of Advantages

21/08/2013 17:16

Earlier, enterprises were interested in building websites to attract more customers. But within a few years, websites have become essential for all types of businesses. With each other business going online, website development has become complex, challenging and competitive. So, developers often look for innovative ways to design websites that are distinct, dynamic and interactive. At the same time, programmers also look for programming languages that enable them to build robust internet applications and websites at a rapid pace.

 

As a popular programming language, Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is widely used by web developers across the world. As PHP is open source and free, it complement the requirements and budget of all types of projects. Also, the programming language is effective in boosting the performance and scalability of websites, as it does not pout a lot of strain on the web servers. The language also offers a set of advantages that complement all rapid web application development projects.

 

Top 6 Advantages of PHP Development

 

  1. Open Source: The ongoing recessional phase of the economy is having a huge impact on website development cost. Most enterprises are looking for cost-efficient options to have an online presence. So many developers use open source programming languages to reduce the project cost. As PHP is an open source, it can be used by both independent and corporate developers. The language can be downloaded, distributed and used without incurring any expenses. Also, the programmer has option to edit, modify and update the source code to according to his specific requirements. The feature further makes PHP suitable for small enterprises who cannot afford the licensing cost of other languages.

  1. Less Server Strain: Along with choosing the right look and feel for a website, the programmers also need to explore option to optimize its performance and scalability. Many web application developers also find it a daunting challenge to reduce the strain on server. The PHP web applications are effective in putting a less strain on the web servers. If the web application is large, it can handle high level of traffic and user requests in a comfortable way. The inbuilt memory of the language ensures that the server load is reduced, and the website is running without any interruptions.

  1. Option to Use CMS: Most websites, nowadays, use a variety of content to keep the visitors engaged. So websites are designed with features to use content management system (CMS). Some of the most widely used CMS like WordPress and Joomla are designed using PHP and MySQL. So the CMS can be integrated seamlessly into a website. The integration will further contribute towards making the website more dynamic and interactive. As the language uses syntax similar to C and C++, a programmer can avail the help of a large community of developers to integrate the content management system.

  1. Compatible with Major Operating Systems and Servers: While developing a website or web application, you need to ensure that it can run major operating systems and web servers. PHP is popular among programmers due to its compatibility with major operating systems like Windows, Linux and Mac. Many reports have highlighted that a PHP application can run seamlessly on more than 99% of web servers. The compatibility with most operating systems and servers help programmers in developing robust websites that can be accessed by users regardless of their choice of computing device.

  1. Work with All Data Sources: The choice of database varies from one enterprise to another. Some businesses even store the data in a distributed environment. So the web application must be effective in supporting several databases. A PHP application works fine on database servers like MySQL. Further, the language is effective in managing data stored on a variety of databases. The efficient database management features makes the programming language to build web 2.0 applications and websites.

  1. Using PHP Frameworks: Most developers use web application development frameworks to avoid writing longer code. While developing a PHP web application, they have options to use several frameworks. The frameworks are further design to take care of some regular functions like content management, member management, search function, and admin backend. Also, an enterprise can option to use PHP frameworks that are free and open source. So the frameworks can contribute towards reducing both project development time and cost.

 

The large community of PHP developers frequently updates the programming language to meet the latest trends in web application development. The frequent and significant updates make PHP the best programming language for rapid web application development.

 

We provide PHP Application development services. If you would like to hire php programmer from our 100% certified team of PHP developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Advantages of ASP.NET Application Development for Users

20/08/2013 12:33

ASP.NET DevelopmentASP.NET development is regarded as an extremely dependable solution that renders outstanding security by means of the exclusive inter-portability. This programming language is immensely beneficial for enhancement of matters in the most remarkable ways. A number of large organizations prefer it as it helps them meet their most complex needs and core matters. With the rise in the number of experienced as well as proficient ASP.Net web developers throughout the world, the programming language is growing deep roots through its robust presence. It is true that compared to other Open Source developers, developers who work on this language score high in terms of abilities, qualities, knowledge and expertise.

 

When it comes to this language, developers have the potential to comprehend, conceptualize, co-frame as well as augment a result. Consequently, the resulting solution is supported and aligned with consistent, genuine sources. Again, developers who are working on behalf of big enterprises and rendering solutions are capable of delivering up to date outcomes in line with market needs. People who intend to go with dynamic web applications can hire ASP.Net Developers, having extensive experience along with exposure in the domain.

 

The programming language makes an excellent development option with respect to large-sized projects, due to its ability to extend across a long time-frame along with operation under different process parameters taking into account a segmental development approach. Strikingly, ASP.NET is not only confined to script languages, it also facilitates the use of .NET languages like VB, C#, J#, and so on. Developers can build a number of compelling applications through leveraging Visual Studio, Microsoft’s development tool. ASP.NET is wholly a server-side technology designed across a common language runtime which can be utilized on any Windows server for hosting potent technologies as well as websites.

 

Significant Benefits of ASP.NET development as against other Web development models

 

  • This programming language helps in the reduction of the amount of code needed for creation of large applications to a great extent.

  • The applications are rendered secure with the help of built-in Windows per-application in addition to authentication configuration.

  • It makes room for enhanced performance by leveraging the benefits of just-in-time compilation, caching services, native optimization along with early binding.

  • The framework comes with a rich toolbox as well as designer in the Visual Studio incorporated development environment. This patent tool paves the way for drag-and-drop server controls, WYSIWYG editing combined with automatic deployment.

  • Making it convenient to perform tasks ranging from straightaway client authentication and form submissions to site configuration as well as deployment, this framework paves way for simplicity.

  • Since the HTML and source code are together, the pages are convenient to write and maintain. Moreover, the execution of the source code takes place on the server. This renders a lot of flexibility and power to the web pages.

  • The runtime is able to closely monitor and manage all the processes, hence, if a process becomes dead, a new process might be created in place of that. This enables the application to be constantly available for handling requests.

  • ASP.NET, being a complete server-side technology, has the code executed on the server before the same is sent to the browser.

  • Due to the language independent parameter, it facilitates selection of languages which is best applicable for the application or the partitioning of the application across numerous languages.

  • Since the configuration information is built-in, registration of components is not required. Hence, one can go for convenient deployment.

  • Applications, components as well as pages running on the web server are continuously monitored. In case there are any illegal activities, infinite loops or memory leaks, those activities are immediately destroyed and the Web server restarts.

  • The framework works with ADO.NET with ease, making use of page formatting in addition to data binding features. This application counters great many users and runs faster, without giving rise to any kind of performance problems.

 

On the whole, this programming language helps in the creation of enterprise-class technologies, web sites and web applications. The developed applications are globally accessible leading to effective information management.

 

We provide .net application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert asp.net developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

5 Things You Should Check Now to Improve PHP Web Performance

18/08/2013 04:55

php web developments a powerful server side scripting language, PHP is used widely by developers across the world to build high traffic websites. In comparison to conventional scripting languages, PHP offers a set of innovative features that can easily optimize the performance of all types of web applications. But each programmer must understand various ways to boost the performance of his PHP application by reducing CPU usage, and network overhead. The simple practices will further help him in writing highly optimized code to deliver improved user experience. Some of these simple tips can also be incorporated in the PHP scripts without putting any extra time and effort.

 

5 Simple Ways to Optimize PHP Web Performance

 

  1. Use Local Cache: Often the performance of a web application depends on the way it accesses the disk as well as network. As databases use both, you need to manage memory efficiently to reduce the load on disk and network. You can always use a distributed memory object caching system called as memcached that was developed for LiveJournal, a Perl-based blogging platform. You can even use memcached to boost the performance of your application designed with distributed data sources. However, you also have options to eliminate additional load associated with each user request by using a set of simpler caching techniques like storing the information in a temporary file or serializing the data. It is also a great idea to manage cache data in the memory by using shared memory helpers in the Alternative PHP Cache.

 

  1. Avoid Using Error Suppression Operators: The way you use the error suppression operators will also have a huge impact on the performance of the PHP application. For instance, the slow nature of the @ operator can affect the performance of your code negatively by requiring more memory. Further, PHP automatically set the value of error_reporting to 0 before executing the suppressed statement. But it immediately reset the value of error_reporting according to your code. The time consuming process affects the website’s performance adversely. Also, you may find it difficult to identify the root cause of a performance related problem, despite using the error suppression operators. So you must use the operators properly to optimize the performance of the PHP application.

 

  1. Check the Impact of Big Loops: Many programmers consider loops to be an integral part of all types of coding. So they often include loops in their code out of habit. Despite being a powerful coding tool, loops can always affect the performance of the web application adversely. If a single slow operation is executed once, it may not have a significant impact. But the bottleneck will be significant if the sentence is placed inside a loop. A developer must not stop using loops just because the bottlenecks. But he can always identify and fix the performance problems caused due to nested loops. Along with deciding how big the loop is, he also needs to explore, a programmer also need to explore options to cache the performance inside the loop.

 

  1. Enhance Worker Connections for High Traffic Websites: Most web browsers are, nowadays, designed with features to open multiple sever connections at a time. The widely used browsers can easily open up to eight server connections simultaneously. As the multiple connections will remain alive at a time, you must explore options to reduce the number of connections per second. If you are designing a high traffic website, it is a good idea to restrict the number of connections that individual work process can maintain at a time using worker connections. Based on the nature of your PHP application, you can set the default number of worker_connections in the Nginx.conf file.

 

  1. Use Absolute Path: You have option to refer to resources through their absolute or relative paths. The term absolute path is used to represent the full path. In comparison to relative path, use of absolute path can optimize the effect of your PHP code. Often a number of PHP operations like include and require face problem while working with relative paths. On the other hand, the absolute path can work seamlessly with all PHP functions and operations. Further, the use of absolute path will make it easier for the server to quickly resolve the path on its own. As the full path of a resource will make it easier for the server to locate the file, it can respond to user requests in a much better and faster way.

 

In addition to these simple steps, you can also consider following some the best practices recommended by PHP developers. Along with specifying character set in meta tag, and avoiding landing page redirects, you can further optimize the performance of the PHP application by minifying JavaScript and compressing resources. PHP web development teams can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

 

We provide php development services. If you would like to hire php programmers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

5 Reasons Why Startups Specifically Use ColdFusion?

09/08/2013 19:44

ColdFusion DevelopmentUnlike established software development companies, the startups have to develop projects with limited resources. Many startups also look for a rapid web application development platform that is familiar to their developers. When the developers of a company have already experience in building robust web applications using a specific framework, it becomes easier for them to develop new websites without putting any extra time and effort. However, some widely used rapid web development platforms like Adobe ColdFusion can complement business process and budget of new software development companies.

According to its needs, the company can choose from the developer, standard and enterprise editions of ColdFusion 10. At the same time, latest version of the framework also comes with a set of innovative features to easily build a variety of websites, internet applications and web services. Also, some of these features help small companies to keep the cost of software development project under control. If you are evaluating rapid web development platforms for your startup, it is time to understand why ColdFusion is used specifically by startups.

5 Reasons Why ColdFusion is Widely Used by Startup Companies

  • Easy to Build Robust Web Applications: Often a startup company has to develop web and mobile apps with limited resources. As it can afford to deploy only a small team, it becomes essential for the company to divide time and resources properly to build, implement and market the application. ColdFusion comes with a set of features that help startups in completing projects in a faster and cheaper way. The developer can avail these advanced features to work seamlessly with mail, spreadsheets, databases, PDFs, PDF forms, presentations, SharePoint and full text search. The features make it easier for developers to build interactive websites without writing lengthy code.

  • Several Good IDEs: ColdFusion further come with a set of good IDEs, open source libraries and projects. So the web application developer has option to pick the right IDE according to his skill and experience. Along with Eclipse based IDEs like CFEclipse and ColdFusion Builder, the developer can also use some of the popular IDEs like Coda, Dreamweaver, Textmate and IntellijIDEA. Similar to the IDEs, the programmers also have options to use a variety of open source ColdFusion frameworks like Model View Controller (MVC) frameworks, unit testing frameworks, and dependency injection/inversion of control frameworks. The pre-built tools provided by the IDEs and frameworks help programmers in building powerful web applications at a rapid pace.

  • Scalable Enough to Handle Heavy Load: While developing a website, programmers often look for efficient ways to boost its performance by handling heavy load. The scalability of a system depends on a number of factors including user interface tuning, database tuning and the right caching system. Similar to other dynamically typed languages, ColdFusion is also scalable enough to handle heavy load. The feature of the web application development platform further makes it easier for developers to check the system scalability. ColdFusion is designed with built in ehCache integration that allows developers to work with clustered caches in a simple and straightforward way to optimize the performance of the website.

  • Seamless Integration with Client’s Existing System: Along with developing new website and web applications, startup companies also have to integrate the software into the existing system of clients. As the type of software and systems used by clients vary, the software developers have to choose a framework that can be integrated with other technologies seamlessly. Also, the startup company needs to ensure that the integration will not require additional investment. ColdFusion supports a wide variety of technologies including XML, SOAP, .NET assemblies, RESTful web services, Java objects, PDF forms and SMS gateways. As ColdFusion objects are configured with remote access options, they can be published automatically as SOAP pr JSON resources to make it simpler to work with APIs.

  • Boost the Performance of Web and Mobile Applications: The updated version of ColdFusion is designed with built-in support for HTML5 and RESTful web services, Tomcat integration, and enhanced caching. These features make it easier for programmers to optimize the performance of their web application without putting any extra effort. Further, the programmer can avail the advantages of Hotfix installer and scheduler to make their websites secure by using advance encryption and authentication techniques. At the same time, the HTML5 support enables them to optimize user experience by designing web applications with video player, interactive charting, web sockets and geo-tagging.

On the whole, ColdFusion 10 comes with loads of features to make the requirements of both established and startup companies. The innovative features help startups to leverage ColdFusion web development tools to build rich web applications for clients while meeting the latest web 2.0 trends. Along with reducing the amount of time and efforts required to complete the project, the ColdFusion is also effective in controlling the project cost and overheads.

We provide ColdFusion application development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert ColdFusion programmers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Eight Important .NET Concepts Every Developer Should Know

08/08/2013 14:59

.NET DevelopmentWithin a short span of time, Microsoft .NET framework has become hugely popular among programmers as a powerful environment to develop applications by availing advantages of different programming languages and libraries together. Along with window-based applications, the technology is also used widely to a variety of powerful and robust web applications.

At the same time, a developer also has option to use the web service standards to easily connect the existing and new applications with software and services across a number of application, platforms and coding languages. The seamless integration of applications further make it easier to deliver information and content anytime and anywhere. If you are planning to build applications on the .NET platform, it becomes essential to understand some of its key concepts.

8 Key .NET Concepts Each Developer Must Know

  • Stack: As a data structure, stack allows you to add and remove objects at the same position. It follows the Last in First out (LIFO) method of data storing, and initially removes the last object added to the stack. A stack can be manipulated using several functions including Push(element), Pop(), Peek() and IsEmpty(). Each time the function returns, the block becomes unused. You have to call the function again to reuse the block. Also, you have options to implement stack in a number of ways. For instance, you can define the maximum size of the stack either at the compilation time or at the run time.

  • Heap: Many programmers use heap to set memory aside for dynamic allocation. Unlike a stack, a heap does not require you to allocate and deallocate blocks using an enforced pattern. Based on your needs, you can allocate and free a block from the heap any time. However, it is essential for a developer to motor the allocated and free parts of the heap at a specific point of time. You can use custom heap allocators to control the performance of a heap to suit a specific usage pattern. While a thread can have its own stack, the entire application can have only one heap.

  • Value types: When you are learning .NET technologies, it is important to understand the key value types. A value type holds the data as well as memory in a single location. However, the value types can include specific data types including Char, Date, Boolean and all numeric data types. These also include all types of structures, despite their members being reference types. Also, the enumerations are also regarded as value types, ad their underlying type is always Short, UShort, Long, ULong, Integer, Uinteger Byte or Sbyte.

  • Reference types: Unlike the value types, the reference types do not hold any real data. These types rather contain a pointer to another memory location where the data is hold. Normally, reference types include String, Delegates and Class Types like Form. All arrays are also included in reference types despite their individual elements being value types. However, there are a number of values that cannot be included in the value types or reference types. As no data type can be specified for Events, Modules, Namespaces, Properties, Procedures, Variables, Constants, and Fields, these are not included either in value or reference types.

  • Boxing: The value types are treated as objects using boxing and unboxing. You can use boxing to package a value type inside an instance of the Object reference type. After boxing the value type, you can store it as part of the garbage collection heap. The conversion will further allow you to link between the value types and reference types.

  • Unboxing: You have to use unboxing, on the other hand, to extract the value type from the Object. However, boxing and unboxing are considered to be expensive processes computationally. Each time you box a value type, it becomes essential to allocate and construct a fresh object. Similarly, you can use a cast for unboxing that is also computationally expensive. But you can use boxing and unboxing to form a unified data type system where each type of data can be ultimately treated as an object.

  • Signatures: Each .NET developer has to use signature to characterize methods, indexers, operators and instance constructors. However, each element must be specified through distinct signatures. For instance, the signature of a method must include its name, along with the value, reference or output of each formal parameters. On the other hand, the signature of an instance needs to include the value, reference or output of its formal parameters, whereas the signature of an indexer must include the type of each formal parameter.

  • Overloading: Members in classes, interfaces and structures are also overloaded using signatures as an overloading mechanism. By overloading am method, a programmer can declare multiple methods wth the same name in a single class, interface or struct. Similarly, the instance constructors can be overloaded to allow developers to declare multiple instance constructors inside a class or struct. Multiple operators can also be declares in a class or struct by overloading operators. These mechanisms also make it easier for programmers to manipulate the codes without putting any extra effort.

Microsoft has made it convenient for beginners to understand .NET concepts by referring to online resources and documentation. The documentation also clearly explains the concepts with relevant examples and case studies. Following these case studies of application delivery in various ASP.NET development companies also helps a lot in understanding the actual implementation issues.

We provide .net application development services . If you would like to speak to one of our expert dot net developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Why Build Small Sized Web Applications with Silex Micro-Framework?

07/08/2013 17:26

Each developer has options to pick from a variety of PHP frameworks according to the nature and requirements of his application. But most of the PHP frameworks are complex, heavy and feature-rich. Also, these frameworks are designed specifically to meet the requirements of large and complicated enterprise applications. So, developers often explore alternatives to these full-stack frameworks for building simple and small-sized applications. As a PHP micro-framework, SIlex is hugely popular among developers who want to build small sized web applications at a rapid pace.

Fabien Potencier and Igor Wiedler have designed Silex as a micro-framework to build websites and web applications that are simple and small. Along with being inspired by Sinatra, a powerful web application framework written using Ruby, Silex is also built on Pimple and Simfony2. So the platform enables developers to avail the features and benefits provided by some of the most popular PHP development frameworks. At the same time, Silex also comes with a set of innovative features that make it score over other micro-frameworks available for developing PHP applications.

What Makes Silex Micro-Framework the Best Option to Build Small Sized Web Applications?

  • High Quality Code Base: Regardless of the size of the application, each developer looks for options to avoid writing lengthy code. Also, many programmers want to build the website quickly by using the features and tools provided by the framework. As Silex is built based on Symfony components, it allows developers to avail a set of built in features and functionality. Also, a programmer can run the application simply by writing code, defining the route, and matching the route to the function to return response. Further, the concise and intuitive API provided by the micro-framework makes developing small web application much easier and hassle-free.

  • Easy to Include Third-Party Libraries: Along with providing an efficient API, Silex also allows you to boost the performance of the web application by using third-party libraries. It also comes with an extension system designed based on Pimple micro service-container. So you can use the system to avail the advantages offered by the widely used PHP framework. At the same time, the system also makes it easier for you to use third-party libraries to optimize the performance and scalability of your website without writing longer code.

  • Handling Errors: Often programmers find it a daunting task to display the appropriate error page to the users, whenever the code throws an exception. Many developers also rely on error handlers to display the error page by identifying the exception. Silex allows programmers to register an error handler, pass a closure to the error methods by sending exception argument, and return a response to the user. Further, they can use the $code argument to identify the specific errors, and handle these in a customized way. Also, the micro-framework ensures that response status code is set to the right one based on the type of exception thrown by the code.

  • Testing Performance of Websites: Most developers test the performance of the web application during various stages of the project. They also use customized testing tools to ensure that the website is effective in responding to user requests quickly. Silex is designed with the HttpKernel used by Symfony2 for abstract user requests and application response. So a programmer can easily test the performance of the web application and framework without using any customized testing tools. The features also help programmers in testing the application thoroughly according to the exact HTTP specification.

If you are planning to use Silex, the micro-framework can be downloaded and installed through a simple process. You can simply download the composer, and set it up by changing your project directories. Then you can run the command to download and run the composer file. Also, you can start using the framework for developing small web application as soon as the installation process is over.

We provide php web development services . If you would like to know what makes us expert php programmers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

PhpStorm 6.0: Take PHP by Storm!

02/08/2013 15:46

PHP DevelopmentThe frequently changing trends in web application development have made many code editors obsolete. With websites being developed using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript, it has become essential for developers to choose an editor that perfectly complements the project development environment. As a cross platform integrated development environment, JetBrains PhpStorm is hugely popular among PHP developers. Along with providing an intelligent editor for HTML, PHP and JavaScript code, the editor comes with features like error prevention and automatic refactoring of code.

 

JetBrains has built PhpStorm on IntelliJ IDEA. As the framework is written in Java, developers can write their own plug-ins, in addition to using the existing plug-ins created for the platform. A developer can also use PhpStorm to avail all features of WebStorm. Along with PHP and database supports, he can further avail a set of pre-installed JavaScript plug-ins without incurring any additional expenses. The latest version of the PHP code editor comes with a set of innovative features to help programmers in meeting the latest trends in website and web application development.

 

What Makes PhpStorm 6.0 an Intelligent Code Editor?

 

Full Support for PHP 5.4: If you are looking for a code editor that supports the latest version of PHP, then PhpStorm is your best option. The editor enables you to avail advantages of several syntax improvements including short array syntax, accessing class member on instantiation, binary literals, dereferencing array on function call, and static call expressions. At the same time, PhpStorm also supports the legacy projects developed using PHP 5.3.

 

Automatic Code Completion: Each developer frequently explores options to avoid writing lengthy code. Many programmers also look for smart ways to complete their coding. The automatic code completion feature of PhpStorm makes it easier for developers to build complex application without writing longer code. The feature can be invoked simply on typing, and used to finalize methods, classes, variable names, and PHP keywords. Also, a developer can use the feature to finalize variables and fields according to their types, and indexing arrays in PHP code.

 

Support for PHPDocs: The editor also supports the PHPDocs used in your code. Also, based on annotations, it provided relevant code completion suggestions. Whenever the PHPDocs in the program are edited, PhpStorm automatically completes the types and variable names based on the corresponding code blocks. Also, the PHPDocs are always updated while refactoring the PHP code.

 

PHP Refactoring: The frequent changes in user demands have made it essential for a website to remain dynamic and interactive. Often developers have to edit and re-factor their coding to optimize the web application’s performance. PhpStorm allows programmers to easily rename and move files, classes, constants, methods, functions, properties, parameter, along with the global and local variables. The PHP refactoring feature enables developers to incorporate local changes immediately, along with making global project changes in a secure and hassle-free way.

PHP Code Sniffer: Most developers want to access PHP porgrams on the fly. With the code sniffer feature of PhpStorm, a programmer can simply open a PHP file, and check the code on the fly. Further, the check is initiated automatically each time some changes are made to the PHP file. The sniffer also makes it easier for developers to fix the problems reported by it.

 

Smarty Template Engine: Often the .tpl files need modification to boost user experience. PhpStorm is designed with the Smarty template engine that allows you to avail several advantages while working with templates. You can use the engine to configure syntax highlighting for strings, keywords, syntax errors and variables. Further, the engine can insert quotes, paired braces and closing tags automatically. The engine further enables you to customize templates to meet the specific requirements of your web application.

 

Code Arranger: Along with writing the code, programmers also have to arrange and structure the coding in a systematic way. The latest version of PhpStorm comes with Code (re)arranger, a powerful tool that can be used to control the structure of both existing and generating code. For instance, based on your needs, you can arrange the methods based on fields or keep the dependent methods together. The tool will be of great help to the members of a distributed team to maintain the structure of code without putting any extra effort.

 

The PhpStorm 6.0 also comes with a set of innovative features like smart namespace handling, new database schema editor, and fresh web tool kit. These features make the editor effective in meeting the latest trends in web application development. With these features, PhpStorm becomes powerful enough to take PHP by storm. PHP developer India teams can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

 

We provide php application development services . If you would like to know what makes us expert php programmers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

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