.NET Framework Discussion

[jwmoore2001]

I am creating this thread to touch on a few points about the features of the .NET Framework.

I am currently on track to Microsoft MCSD certification, but besides getting certified my major goal is understanding some of the most important features of the .NET framework. So here are some things I would like to discuss.

- If datasets are disconnected then does'nt that make it possible for another user to be modifying data that you are manipulating yourself? If so, does that create a situation where the data can be inconsistent? Maybe I really dont understand datasets that well but it seems to me that would be the case.

- I beleive that typed datasets are best suited for small and enterprise solutions. I have seen many different views on this. What are some of your ideas on this topic?

- In ASP.NET is cached information stored for a user's session or is that available to all users? If it is cached per user then why not just use session varaibles to cache information?

- I have been studying the MCAD/MCSD microsoft press self-paced training kit and nowhere in there do they explain best practices for developing applications. As far as I have seen from practice exam tests some of the questions are geared toward the best way to implement something. I have not seen any other study guides so i dont know if there are guides that explain best practices. Is there anyone else on the same path that have encountered this or is it just me? It seems that the guides just explain the basics of using the .NET framework which is consistent with the practice exams except for the questions that ask a specific way to do something where the answers are all correct and are not asking select all that apply.

- The other thing about the consistency between study guides and the actual exam is the fact that the guide shows one way of implementing something and the test ask the question relating to that particular idea that shows a different way. For instance,

The book shows:

dim conDB as new sqlconnection("server=myserver;Database=mydatabase;Integrated Security=SSPI")

The question may include example code like:

dim conDB as new sqlconnection
 
conDB.ConnectionString = "Datasource=myserver;Initial Catalog=mydatabase;Trusted_Connection=true"

While this is just an example, is there a best way between these two. This goes for many other programming practices as well.

In my opinion the best way would be the first, then if you need to connect to another source u can change the connection string later. This goes for other objects as well.

Please feel free to add to this discussion. This is a completely open discussion.

Thanks.