ASP.NET 3.5 Application Architecture and Design

Application Architecture and Design

Vivek Thakur

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2008
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781847195517
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Information Technology
• Index: Computer Science

This is a practical hands-on book with clear instructions and lot of code examples. It takes a simple approach, guiding you through different architectural topics using realistic sample projects.A single project is implemented using different architectural styles to make the reader understand the details of each style. There are also many small independent code samples to explain design patterns, WCF, and localization. This book is for people familiar with the ASP.NET framework using either C# or VB.NET. You don't need to be an ASP.NET guru the book is ideal for novice and intermediate developers.If reading about application architecture usually confuses you or sends you to sleep, then this book will be perfect for you! In short, any ASP.NET programmer who is confused or disoriented reading different books or materials on architectures wondering how and what to implement in their application, will definitely benefit from this book!

ASP.NET 3.5

Application Architecture and Design

Vivek Thakur

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Table of Contents

ASP.NET 3.5

Credits

About the Author

About the Reviewers

Preface

What This Book Covers

What You Need for This Book

Who is This Book For

Conventions

Reader Feedback

Customer Support

Downloading the Example Code for the Book

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. Introduction to Architecture and Design

Software Architecture

Software Design

Architectural Styles

Architecture and Design in ASP.NET

Technology and Art

Architecture: First Steps

Design Patterns

Project Life Cycle

Project Initiation

Project Planning and Prototyping

Project Plan

Use Case Design

Prototyping

Class Model

Database Model

Project Construction: Programming and Development

Project Transition and Release

Tiers and Layers

Physical Separation

Logical Separation

Single Tier—Single Layer Model

Single Tier—Two Layer Model

Single Tier—Three Layer Model

Two Tier Model

Two Tier—Two Layer Model

Three Tier Model

Summary

2. 1-Tier 1-Layer Architecture in ASP.NET

Default N-Tier Nature of Web Applications

Classic ASP Style: Inline Coding

Sample Project using Inline Code

Code-Behind Model: The Second UI Layer

Sample Project using Code-Behind

Limitations of Coding in the UI Layer

Data Source Controls

A Sample Project using Inbuilt Data Source Controls

Summary

3. ER Diagrams, Domain Model, and N-Layer Architecture

Entity-Relationship Diagram

Degree and Cardinality of a Relationship

OMS Project using 2-Layer

Sample Project

Domain Model using UML

Class Diagram

UML Relationships

Dependency Relationship

Association Relationship

Aggregation

Composition

Generalization Relationship

Realization Relationship

Multiplicity

1-tier 3-layer Architecture using a Domain Model

Layer 1: Data Access Layer (DAL)

Layer 2: Business Layer (BL)

Layer 3: The UI Layer

Object Data Source Controls

Summary

4. N-Tier Architecture

Why N-Tier?

Performance

Scalability

Re-usability

Loose-Coupling

Plug and Play

A 4-Tier Approach

5-Tier Architecture

Data Transfer Objects

Lazy Loading

Updating Business Objects

GUI Tier

Generics and Custom Collections

Summary

5. Model View Controller

Page Controller Pattern in ASP.NET

Problems with Page Controller Design

GUI Unit Testing

MVC Design: A Front Controller based Approach

Front Controller Design

Basics of MVC

REST: Representation State Transfer

MVC and REST

ASP.NET MVC Framework

Sample Project

URL Routing Engine

The Controller

The View

The Model

Wiring Controller, Model, and View

Unit Testing and ASP.NET MVC

Summary

6. Design Patterns

Understanding Design Patterns

History of Patterns

Singleton Pattern

Understanding Singleton with Code Example

Factory Method

Core Principle: Programming to an Interface instead of an Implementation

The Need for Factory Design

Dependency Injection

Basic Approach

Step 1: Create an Interface

Step 2: Create an Implementation

Step 3: Create another Implementation

Step 4: Create a Factory Class

Step 5: Implement the Configuration Settings

Step 6: Implement another Custom Algorithm

Command Design Pattern

Decoupling the GUI completely from the BL

Creating the Command Interface

Creating the Value Objects

Creating the Command Factory

Tying it all up with the GUI

Summary

7. SOA and WCF

Understanding Application Size, Scope, and Granularity

Small Applications Versus Big Applications

Tight and Fine-Grained Domain Model

Coarse-Grained Model

What is SOA?

Why SOA?

Service Orientation

XML Web Services and SOAP Messages

Sample Project

Building a Service Interface

Consuming Services

Windows Communication Foundation

Sample Project using WCF

Summary

8. Database Design

The Importance of a Database

Selecting the Right Database

Database Architecture and Design

Database Plan

Logical Design

An Example of a Logical Model

The Need for a Logical Data Model

The Domain Model Versus the Logical Data Model

Physical Data Model

Data Integrity

Normalization

Data Modeling using MS Visio

Creating Physical Tables

Creating Relationships

Summary

9. Localization

Globalization and Localization

Browser Settings

Basic Steps for Globalizing an ASP.NET Website

Culture and Locale

How do we Define or Change the Current Culture?

Switching Locale

Resource Files

Global Versus Local Resources

Creating Global Resources

Creating Local Resources

Choosing between Global and Local Resources

Satellite Assemblies

Implicit Versus Explicit Localization

Incorporating Globalization

Setting the Culture of the Thread Based on User Selection

dir Attribute for Language Direction

Editing Resource Files after publishing in ASP.NET 3.5

Entering Foreign Language Characters: Input Method Editor (IME)

Using a Database for Localization

Custom Resource-Provider-Model in ASP.NET

Summary

Index

ASP.NET 3.5

Application Architecture and Design

Copyright © 2008 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, Packt Publishing, nor its dealers or distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

First published: October 2008

Production Reference: 1171008

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

32 Lincoln Road

Olton

Birmingham, B27 6PA, UK.

ISBN 978-1-847195-50-0

www.packtpub.com

Cover Image by Nilesh Mohite (<[email protected]>)

Credits

Author

Vivek Thakur

Reviewers

Jerry Spohn

Ian Robinson

Tim Eisenhauer

Acquisition Editor

Adil Rizwan Ahmed

Development Editor

Ved Prakash Jha

Technical Editors

Rakesh Shejwal

Shadab Khan

Editorial Team Leader

Akshara Aware

Project Manager

Abhijeet Deobhakta

Project Coordinator

Lata Basantani

Indexer

Monica Ajmera

Proofreader

Dirk Manuel

Copy Editor

Sumathi Sridhar

Production Coordinator

Shantanu Zagade

Cover Work

Shantanu Zagade

About the Author

Vivek Thakur is passionate about architecting and developing applications based on the Microsoft .NET platform using ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET, and MS AJAX. He has authored several technical articles on ASP.NET and has also been an All-Star-level contributor on the ASP.NET forums. Vivek's passion for ASP.NET has been formally recognized by way of the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award given to him by Microsoft in April 2007, and again in 2008. He is also a Subject Matter Expert for Microsoft ASP.NET 3.5 Certification Exams. He is a leading contributor and moderator in the CodeAsp.Net forums. Vivek is currently working as the Managing Partner in Axero Solutions LLC, a US-based software product development and business consulting firm.

Although his expertise lies in Microsoft's .NET platform, Vivek is also knowledgeable on J2EE and C/C++. He has a deep interest in programming, chaos theory, and artificial intelligence, and is a strong advocate of chaos theory in software systems and management.

Besides his love for software architecture and design, Vivek also focuses on project management skills and has substantial experience in managing small to medium sized projects. He has also conducted numerous training sessions and provided concept-based tutoring for different software firms across India.

Vivek received his Bachelors degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, India.

Writing this book would not have been possible without the support of my family and friends. My sincere gratitude to my mother Sharda Thakur, father G.C Thakur, and my sisters Isha and Shikha Thakur for their continued support and encouragement while I was writing this book. Special thanks to...

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• ASP.NET 3.5