Architecture of Scalable Applications

• Three-layer applications
• Distributed objects vs. clustering
• Communication between layers
• Challenges of a Web farm environment

Building the Data Layer

Architecting a scalable data layer

• Adapting data tables into business objects
• Writing and calling stored procedures
• Optimising data performance with caching

Creating .NET 3.5 typed DataSets

• DataTable
• DataRow
• TableAdapter

Working with ADO.NET low-level objects

• Connection
• Command
• DataReader
• Parameters
• Transaction
• Returning custom business entities using generics
• Leveraging the using block and IDisposable

Utilising LINQ in a 3-layer architecture

• Creating object models with LINQ to SQL
• Working with LINQ in the data access layer
• Filtering, sorting and aggregating with LINQ to Object

Implementing the Business Layer

Programming the middle tier

• Encapsulating business logic in .NET assemblies
• Creating a stateless business process library
• Building stateful business entity objects

Managing logical transactions

• Employing promotable .NET transactions
• Distributing transactions across multiple transaction servers

Creating More Responsive ASP.NET Pages with AJAX

Creating a richer UI with AJAX extensions

• Integrating AJAX and existing pages
• Increasing responsiveness with the UpdatePanel
• Utilising AsyncPostBack via Triggers and conditional updates
• Using AJAX with Master Pages via ScriptManagerProxy

Leveraging the ASP.NET AJAX toolkit

• Writing and calling an AJAX-enabled WCF Web service
• Employing CascadingDropDown with linked DropDownList controls
• Implementing the AJAX Accordion control

Enhancing Web Form controls with AJAX control extenders

• CalendarExtender
• SliderExtender
• AlwaysVisibleControlExtender
• Writing custom control extenders

Constructing a Web Presentation Layer

Working with ASP.NET controls

• Handling control events
• Binding business components with ObjectDataSource
• Exploiting simple and complex data binding

Managing Web Forms

• Inheriting from a base page
• Dynamically switching themes and master pages

Implementing Web Security

Integrating ASP.NET security

• Authenticating anonymous Internet users
• Achieving role-based Web security

Leveraging the membership API

• Customising security using the Provider Model
• Integrating Microsoft security tables with an existing database

Optimising State Management

Managing state in the Web farm environment

• Distributing session with state server and SQL Server
• Storing data in long-term user state with the Profile object
• Serialising session objects for distributed state

Accelerating performance with the Cache object

• Setting SqlNotification cache dependencies for a distributed environment
• Achieving fine-grained control over data expiry

Building Distributed Applications

• Sticky sessions vs. dynamic load balancing
• Utilising Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ)
• Reading from and writing to queues using the System.Messaging namespace
• Enlisting queues into transactions