InSQL
SQL Server upsert with condition and returned value
Sometimes when working with a SQL Server database, you need to update a specific table row or insert a new row if the one you were trying to update isn’t already there. This logic is known as an ‘upsert’ operation i.e. either update or insert a row depending on whether it currently exists. In this…
InWeb
IIS Publish Error: Could not verify the server’s certificate
When publishing a website to IIS (Internet Information Services), it’s not uncommon to encounter errors from time to time. If you’re publishing an intranet application there are a number of errors that are more likely to crop up. In this post, I explain how to resolve a specific publish error relating to the server certificate….
How to become a quantum programmer
If like me, you are fascinated by science, you’ll possibly know a little bit already about the strange phenomena of quantum mechanics. Concepts like superposition, entanglement, and teleportation are all things that seem like they should be impossible but have been proven time and time again in the lab. Yes, things do behave very strangely…
How to stop and start IIS websites using C#
IIS (Internet Information Services) remains a widely used web server for hosting websites, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) sites, and other applications on Windows servers. While the graphical IIS Manager interface is great for setting things up initially and for providing a visual overview of your web configuration, there are also some great use cases for…
Implementing an async Repository and Unit of Work with Entity Framework Core
Implementing the Repository pattern in conjunction with the Unit of Work pattern is a best practice for data access that can bring a number of benefits to your application codebase when implemented correctly. Given the ease of use and scalability advantages that async .NET code offers, it makes sense to ensure that your data access…
InSQL
SQL Server Database Mail setup via SQL
Setting up SQL Server Database Mail is relatively simple when using SQL Server Management Studio, thanks to the graphical setup wizard it provides for most SQL Server editions. However, SQL Server Express, the free edition of SQL Server, does not offer the facility to configure Database Mail via a user interface. Thankfully, once you understand…
InSQL
SQL Server Database Mail setup simplified
Having the facility to send emails directly from your database engine is a hugely useful feature and this is exactly what the Database Mail functionality in SQL Server provides. With Database Mail, you can send email alerts when specific database events occur, or send query results and reports to users automatically on a scheduled basis….
How to create and load an IdentityServer signing certificate for Azure
IdentityServer is the de-facto security token service for ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core web applications and it is hugely popular within the .NET community. One of the most important security requirements to consider when setting up IdentityServer is the creation of a key (typically an X.509 certificate) which is used to cryptographically sign and validate tokens…
