Stop Repeating Yourself: Cleaner API Responses in ASP.NET Core

TL;DR Avoid repetitive response handling in ASP.NET Core controllers by using helper methods or result wrapper patterns. Helper methods reduce boilerplate for common responses like BadRequest, NotFound, and Ok. The result wrapper pattern centralizes success and error handling, making controllers cleaner and responses consistent. Keep business logic in services and HTTP response logic in controllers for better separation of concerns. Use extension methods and middleware for standardized error handling and global exception management. Consistent response patterns improve API documentation and client experience. Minimal performance impact; benefits in maintainability and clarity far outweigh the overhead. We’ve all been there. You’re building an API and you find yourself writing the same code over and over again: ...

June 26, 2025 · Last modified: July 24, 2025 · 5 min
Diagram showing HTTP request and response flow through custom logging middleware with stream capturing and rewinding techniques

Mastering Request and Response Body Logging in ASP.NET Core Middleware

TL;DR Use custom middleware to log HTTP request and response bodies in ASP.NET Core for better debugging and diagnostics. Implement stream rewinding to read request bodies without breaking downstream middleware. Always redact sensitive data and use selective logging to avoid performance and security issues. Handle large bodies by truncating logs and excluding static or health check endpoints. Consider built-in HttpLogging for simple scenarios, but use custom middleware for full control and compliance. We’ve all been there, stuck debugging an API issue for hours, wishing we could just see what’s actually coming in and going out of our application. That’s exactly what request and response body logging solves. ...

June 25, 2025 · 13 min

Angular @defer: Cut Initial Load Time by 97% [Real Benchmarks & Code]

TL;DR: Angular’s @defer directive delays non-critical UI rendering, cutting initial load time by up to 97% in real apps. Use it to lazy load heavy components, reduce Time to Interactive (TTI), and improve Core Web Vitals. Includes real benchmarks and production-ready examples. Introduction Ever loaded up an Angular app and watched that progress bar crawl while your users bail? Yeah, me too. That’s why I got so excited when the Angular team released the @defer feature. It’s a game-changer for those of us battling slow initial load times. ...

June 23, 2025 · Last modified: July 3, 2025 · 21 min

Handling Request Cancellation in ASP.NET Core: From Browser to Database

TL;DR: ASP.NET Core cancels requests when the client disconnects or times out. Use HttpContext.RequestAborted and pass it through to services and EF Core/database calls. Proper cancellation avoids wasted CPU, memory leaks, and long-running queries. Always propagate the cancellation token from controller to database for graceful shutdown. Ever clicked the stop button while waiting for a web page to load? What actually happens on the server when you do that? ...

June 22, 2025 · Last modified: July 31, 2025 · 13 min

C# 14’s params for Collections: Say Goodbye to Arrays!

Ever used the params keyword in C#? If you write C# code regularly, you probably reach for it whenever you need to pass a variable number of arguments to a method. It’s super handy, letting you skip the tedious step of creating arrays first. But until now, there’s been a limitation: params only worked with arrays. This meant every call created memory allocations with potential performance costs. The good news? C# 14 is changing the game by extending params to work with modern collections like IEnumerable<T>, Span<T>, and more. ...

June 21, 2025 · Last modified: July 24, 2025 · 3 min

5 Essential Benefits of Immutability in C# Programming

TL;DR: Immutable objects can’t be changed after creation. In C#, this can make your code safer, easier to test, and bug-resistant, especially in multithreaded or async scenarios. Have you ever had a bug where some object mysteriously changed its value? Or spent hours debugging a weird race condition? Immutability might be the solution you need. In simple terms, immutable objects can’t be changed after they’re created. Instead of modifying an existing object, you create a new one with the updated values. It’s like the difference between editing a document and making a new copy with your changes. ...

June 20, 2025 · Last modified: July 24, 2025 · 8 min

C# Constructor Chaining - Why It Matters for Clean Code

Constructor chaining in C# reduces code duplication by allowing one constructor to call another. Learn how to use this technique effectively with examples, best practices, and when to avoid it.

June 20, 2025 · Last modified: July 24, 2025 · 6 min

Custom Route Constraints in ASP.NET Core: Because Regex Isn’t Enough

TL;DR Learn how to build custom route constraints in ASP.NET Core using IRouteConstraint. Use them to validate route parameters (like ensuring only alphabets or specific patterns), inject services like IUserService, and simplify controller logic. Bonus: works with minimal APIs, conventional routes, and supports DI in constraints via the new ASP.NET Core routing system. URL routing is a fundamental part of ASP.NET Core applications, determining how incoming requests are mapped to controller actions. While the framework provides numerous built-in route constraints like int, bool, and guid, there are situations where you need more sophisticated validation rules for your URL parameters. This is where custom route constraints become invaluable. ...

June 20, 2025 · Last modified: July 24, 2025 · 8 min

DIP vs DI vs IoC: Understanding Key Software Design Concepts

TL;DR: DIP (Dependency Inversion Principle): High-level modules should not depend on low-level modules; both depend on abstractions. DI (Dependency Injection): A technique to supply dependencies from outside a class, improving testability and flexibility. IoC (Inversion of Control): A broader concept where control of object creation and dependency resolution is delegated to a container or framework. Together, they enable decoupled, maintainable, and testable applications. DIP is a design principle, DI is a pattern, IoC is the overarching concept. Introduction If you’ve ever been in a job interview for a software developer position, chances are you’ve been asked to explain the difference between DIP, DI, and IoC. I know I have, and the first time I was asked, I definitely stumbled through my answer! ...

June 20, 2025 · Last modified: July 26, 2025 · 13 min

Solving Deadlocks in C#: Causes, Examples, and Prevention

TL;DR: A deadlock happens when threads block each other, waiting for resources that never become available. Most deadlocks in C# are caused by inconsistent lock ordering or mixing sync and async code. Recognize deadlocks by symptoms like app hangs, high thread count, or timeout exceptions. Prevent deadlocks by always acquiring locks in a consistent order, minimizing lock duration, and using lock timeouts. Prefer higher-level synchronization tools like SemaphoreSlim or concurrent collections to reduce risk. In async code, avoid blocking calls like .Wait() or .Result - use await all the way. Use debugging tools and thread dumps to detect and analyze deadlocks in production. Design your multithreaded code with prevention in mind; fixing deadlocks after deployment is much harder. What is a Deadlock? If you’ve ever worked on multithreaded applications in C#, you’ve likely encountered or at least heard about deadlocks. A deadlock is one of the most frustrating concurrency issues that can bring your application to a complete standstill. ...

June 20, 2025 · Last modified: July 30, 2025 · 9 min
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