Retirement of MCSA, MCSD, MCSE certifications and related exams extended

We know many of you are working toward completing your Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), or Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification(s). We realize that the current environment could potentially hamper your ability to finish your certification before the original retirement date of June 30, 2020. To address this issue, we are extending the retirement date for these specific certifications to January 31, 2021 to give you more time to complete the exams and earn your certification. 

How to use Diagnostic windows in Visual studio 2015 to check the execution time. 

• Overhauled memory management for vacuuming, resulting in significantly lower memory usage and running time. More on this here.
• Incremental backup support.
• Faster B-tree index scans.
• MERGE enhancements, including view support.
• New functions to extract elements from UUIDs.
• WAL improvements – up to 2x write throughput on some workloads.
• Improvements to SQL/JSON support, including JSON_TABLE.
• Bulk loading improvements and perf improvements for COPY which gains the ON_ERROR ignore option to ignore errors.
• Identity columns on partitioned tables.

static void PassByValueSample()
{
    int a = 1;
    PassByValue(a);
    Console.WriteLine($"after the invocation of {nameof(PassByValue)}, {nameof(a)} = {a}");
}
 
static void PassByValue(int x)
{
    x = 2;
}

static void PassByReferenceSample()
{
    int a = 1;
    PassByReference(ref a);
    Console.WriteLine($"after the invocation of {nameof(PassByReference)}, {nameof(a)} = {a}");
}
 
static void PassByReference(ref int x)
{
    x = 2;
}

static void OutSample()
{
    Out(out int a);
    Console.WriteLine($"after the invocation of {nameof(Out)}, {nameof(a)} = {a}");
}
 
static void Out(out int x)
{
    x = 2;
}

if (int.TryParse("42", out var result))
{
   Console.WriteLine($"the result is {result}");
}

 int x = 3;
ref int x1 = ref x;
x1 = 2;
Console.WriteLine($"local variable {nameof(x)} after the change: {x}");

 ref int i = sequence.Count();

 ref int number1 = null; // ERROR
ref int number2 = 42; // ERROR

 static ref int ReturnByReference()
{
    int[] arr = { 1 };
    ref int x = ref arr[0];
    return ref x;
}

static ref int ReturnByReference2()
{
   int[] arr = { 1 };
   return ref arr[0];
}

static ref int ReturnByReference3(ref int x)
{
    x = 2;
    return ref x;
}

class Thing1
{
    ref string _Text1; /* Error */
 
    ref string Text2 { get; set; } /* Error */
 
 
    string _text = "Text";
    ref string Text3 { get { return ref _text; } } // Properties that return a reference are allowed
}

private MyBigStruct[] array = new MyBigStruct[10];
private int current;
 
public ref MyBigStruct GetCurrentItem()
{
   return ref array[current];
}

The most popular programming languages in 2024 (and what that even means)

We aggregated data from nine different rankings to produce the ZDNET Index of Programming Language Popularity. Here's which languages came out on top and what to make of this information.

Perhaps you’ve seen the term REST being thrown around lately and have been a little curious what it’s all about. If that’s the case, or you know a little about it but never used it, this article is for you. Today I’m going to give a small overview of what REST services are, and why it’s awesome. 

namespace Loans.Entities
{
    public class Applicant
    {
        public int Id { set; get; }

        public string Name { set; get; }

        public int Age { set; get; }

        public string Address { set; get; }

        public decimal Salary { set; get; }
    }
}

namespace Loans.Entities
{
    public class LoanProduct
    {
        public int Id { set; get; }

        public string ProductName { set; get; }

        public decimal InterestRate { set; get; }
    }
}

namespace Loans.Entities
{
    public class LoanApplication
    {
        public int Id { set; get; }

        public LoanProduct Product { set; get; }

        public LoanAmount Amount { set; get; }

        public Applicant Applicant { set; get; }

        public bool IsAccepted { set; get; }
    }

    public class LoanAmount
    {
        public string CurrencyCode { get; set; }

        public decimal Principal { get; set; }
    }
}

namespace Loans.Models
{
    public class IdentityVerificationStatus
    {
        public bool Passed { get; set; }
    }
}

using Loans.Models;

namespace Loans.Services.Contracts
{
    public interface IIdentityVerifier
    {
        void Initialize();

        bool Validate(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress);

        void Validate(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress, out bool isValid);

        void Validate(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress,
            ref IdentityVerificationStatus status);
    }
}

namespace Loans.Services.Contracts
{
    public interface ICreditScorer
    {
        int Score { get; }

        void CalculateScore(string applicantName, string applicantAddress);
    }
}

using System;
using Loans.Entities;
using Loans.Services.Contracts;

namespace Loans.Services
{
    public class LoanApplicationProcessor
    {
        private const decimal MinimumSalary = 1_500_000_0;
        private const int MinimumAge = 18;
        private const int MinimumCreditScore = 100_000;

        private readonly IIdentityVerifier _identityVerifier;
        private readonly ICreditScorer _creditScorer;

        public LoanApplicationProcessor(
            IIdentityVerifier identityVerifier,
            ICreditScorer creditScorer)
        {
            _identityVerifier = identityVerifier ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(identityVerifier));
            _creditScorer = creditScorer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(creditScorer));
        }

        public bool Process(LoanApplication application)
        {
            application.IsAccepted = false;

            if (application.Applicant.Salary < MinimumSalary)
            {
                return application.IsAccepted;
            }

            if (application.Applicant.Age < MinimumAge)
            {
                return application.IsAccepted;
            }

            _identityVerifier.Initialize();

            var isValidIdentity = _identityVerifier.Validate(
                application.Applicant.Name, application.Applicant.Age, application.Applicant.Address);

            if (!isValidIdentity)
            {
                return application.IsAccepted;
            }

            _creditScorer.CalculateScore(application.Applicant.Name, application.Applicant.Address);
            if (_creditScorer.Score < MinimumCreditScore)
            {
                return application.IsAccepted;
            }

            application.IsAccepted = true;
            return application.IsAccepted;
        }
    }
}

using System;
using Loans.Models;
using Loans.Services.Contracts;

namespace Loans.Services
{
    public class IdentityVerifierServiceGateway : IIdentityVerifier
    {
        public DateTime LastCheckTime { get; private set; }

        public void Initialize()
        {
            // Initialize connection to external service
        }

        public bool Validate(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress)
        {
            Connect();
            var isValidIdentity = CallService(applicantName, applicantAge, applicantAddress);
            LastCheckTime = DateTime.Now;
            Disconnect();

            return isValidIdentity;
        }

        private void Connect()
        {
            // Open connection to external service
        }

        private bool CallService(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress)
        {
            // Make call to external service, interpret the response, and return result

            return false; // Simulate result for demo purposes
        }

        private void Disconnect()
        {
            // Close connection to external service
        }

        public void Validate(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress, out bool isValid)
        {
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }

        public void Validate(string applicantName, int applicantAge, string applicantAddress,
            ref IdentityVerificationStatus status)
        {
            throw new NotImplementedException();
        }
    }
}

        public LoanApplicationProcessor(
            IIdentityVerifier identityVerifier,
            ICreditScorer creditScorer)
        {
            _identityVerifier = identityVerifier ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(identityVerifier));
            _creditScorer = creditScorer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(creditScorer));
        }

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp2.2</TargetFramework>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <ProjectReference Include="..\Loans\Loans.csproj" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="16.3.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="MSTest.TestAdapter" Version="2.0.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="MSTest.TestFramework" Version="2.0.0" />    
  </ItemGroup>
</Project>

using Loans.Entities;
using Loans.Services;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;

namespace Loans.Tests
{
    [TestClass]
    public class LoanApplicationProcessorShould
    {
        [TestMethod]
        public void DeclineLowSalary()
        {
            var product = new LoanProduct {Id = 99, ProductName = "Loan", InterestRate = 5.25m};
            var amount = new LoanAmount {CurrencyCode = "Rial", Principal = 2_000_000_0};
            var applicant =
                new Applicant {Id = 1, Name = "User 1", Age = 25, Address = "This place", Salary = 1_100_000_0};
            var application = new LoanApplication {Id = 42, Product = product, Amount = amount, Applicant = applicant};
            var processor = new LoanApplicationProcessor(null, null);
            processor.Process(application);

            Assert.IsFalse(application.IsAccepted);
        }
    }
}

public class LoanApplicationProcessor
{
    private const decimal MinimumSalary = 1_500_000_0;

Test method Loans.Tests.LoanApplicationProcessorShould.DeclineLowSalary threw exception:
System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: identityVerifier

        public LoanApplicationProcessor(
            IIdentityVerifier identityVerifier,
            ICreditScorer creditScorer)
        {
            _identityVerifier = identityVerifier ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(identityVerifier));
            _creditScorer = creditScorer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(creditScorer));
        }

> dotnet add package Moq
> Install-Package Moq

using Loans.Entities;
using Loans.Services;
using Loans.Services.Contracts;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using Moq;

namespace Loans.Tests
{
    [TestClass]
    public class LoanApplicationProcessorShould
    {
        [TestMethod]
        public void DeclineLowSalary()
        {
            var product = new LoanProduct {Id = 99, ProductName = "Loan", InterestRate = 5.25m};
            var amount = new LoanAmount {CurrencyCode = "Rial", Principal = 2_000_000_0};
            var applicant =
                new Applicant {Id = 1, Name = "User 1", Age = 25, Address = "This place", Salary = 1_100_000_0};
            var application = new LoanApplication {Id = 42, Product = product, Amount = amount, Applicant = applicant};

            var mockIdentityVerifier = new Mock<IIdentityVerifier>();
            var mockCreditScorer = new Mock<ICreditScorer>();

            var processor = new LoanApplicationProcessor(mockIdentityVerifier.Object, mockCreditScorer.Object);
            processor.Process(application);

            Assert.IsFalse(application.IsAccepted);
        }
    }
}

using Loans.Entities;
using Loans.Services;
using Loans.Services.Contracts;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using Moq;

namespace Loans.Tests
{
    [TestClass]
    public class LoanApplicationProcessorShould
    {        
        [TestMethod]
        public void Accept()
        {
            var product = new LoanProduct {Id = 99, ProductName = "Loan", InterestRate = 5.25m};
            var amount = new LoanAmount {CurrencyCode = "Rial", Principal = 2_000_000_0};
            var applicant =
                new Applicant {Id = 1, Name = "User 1", Age = 25, Address = "This place", Salary = 1_500_000_0};
            var application = new LoanApplication {Id = 42, Product = product, Amount = amount, Applicant = applicant};

            var mockIdentityVerifier = new Mock<IIdentityVerifier>();
            var mockCreditScorer = new Mock<ICreditScorer>();

            var processor = new LoanApplicationProcessor(mockIdentityVerifier.Object, mockCreditScorer.Object);
            processor.Process(application);

            Assert.IsTrue(application.IsAccepted);
        }
    }
}

_identityVerifier.Initialize();
var isValidIdentity = _identityVerifier.Validate(
    application.Applicant.Name, application.Applicant.Age, application.Applicant.Address);

Virtual Events for Developers

While in-person conferences and events may be cancelled, there are still many online opportunities for you to stay connected. Browse the full list of virtual events to continue to grow your skills as a developer, contribute to interesting projects, and meet like-minded developers around the world.