Category Archives: CodeProject

Handling application crashes

I’ve struggle for a while now trying to come up with a good way to handle app crashes in my Windows Phone applications. The problem I have is that in the Application_Unhandled event handler, there’s really no good way to pop up a task (i.e.: an email compose task) to send off debugging information. There… Read More »

Your *desktop* app in the new Microsoft Store

If you’ve been to any of the Windows 8 developer camps, then you probably were told all about the new Microsoft Store that’s debuted with Windows 8. And if you asked the right questions, they may have even told you that yes, even desktop apps will show up in the MS Store, not just ones written… Read More »

XAML Converter awesomeness

Ok so here’s the thing. I’m not going to be putting “Visibility” properties in the Models of my MVVM architecture in my apps. I would, however, expose some Boolean value on the ViewModel that might say “HasChildren”, etc. But the problem is GETTING those things to actually show or hide elements on the screen. Enter XAML Converters. By… Read More »

SkyDrive backup of your mobile app – Let’s get some common ground

I’ve seen a lot of Windows Phone mobile apps implementing a “backup” feature to SkyDrive thanks to the new Live Connect SDK that Microsoft kicked out. This is an excellent idea. However, do you really want your SkyDrive to start looking like this? [SkyDrive root] ‘- [Program 1] ‘- Photos ‘- [Program 2] ‘- [Program… Read More »

Commands are cool, but man they’re repetitive…

Using WPF/XAML databinding any good programmer comes along Commanding. It’s the thing you’re supposed to do instead of adding an EventHandler to the Click event of your button. But Christ, adding Commands everywhere gets to be damn repetitive. Enter awesomeness. Now, normally I hate using ‘object’ as a parameter to things, especially when it means you’ll be… Read More »

Windows 8: Remember what your mom said about books & their covers

So you’ve installed Windows 8 Release Preview like I told you to, yeah? Stop it. I can hear you from here. “wtf, where’s my damn start menu? how the hell…” I have been using Windows 8 as my only operating system at my workstation since Consumer Preview and here’s my recommendation: do not judge your… Read More »

Anonymous methods + Async = hell yeah

I’m a huge fan of C# 4.5’s new async/await keywords, and if you haven’t played with the Async CTP (for C# 4.0) I highly suggest you do so, especially if you’re doing mobile dev. If you are, you know that there’s no synchronous call off WebClient (to make web service calls) and in Windows 8… Read More »

Mobile != NetworkConnected

Unlike all the coding you’ve been doing for a desktop, when writing for mobile applications (i.e.: not becoming a COBOL programmer) you need to keep in mind that your end user won’t always have network connectivity. “Well duh, just wrap your stuff in an if statement” Right, so do you really want your code to… Read More »

What are you waiting for?

Dude, if you haven’t already downloaded the Windows 8 Release Preview, seriously what are you doing? Today at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Microsoft announced that over 630 million installs of Windows 7 are around the globe. Every one of them is going to be upgradable to Windows 8 for $40.$40. Tell me you… Read More »