Just code - Tamir Khason : teched, C#

New year – new blog or how to migrate Community Server to any other engine, supports XML-RPC

Tamir Khason — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:33:04 GMT

Please update your bookmarks, because the new url of this blog is http://khason.net/ (you have not update RSS feeds, it will be done automatically). Why I did it? Why I decided to go to “stand-alone”… Well. there are some reasons. Generally, I do not want to explain all those here, but trust me, there are some. The main reason is, that there is no responsible person in charge for this blog platform in Microsoft Israel. This why, if your blog is popular and you have a respect to your blog visitors, you cannot host it here… Take a look into new comments notifications in my inbox. Would you answer your readers with such “small amount” of SPAM and capcha, that cannot be fixed already for three years in this platform? This how my inbox looks like for last three years. So now, you should not ask me, why I not answered your email or comments. Aren’t you? :)

Currently, all comments in this blog are disabled, so if you want to comment, please use new url of posts (this will appear shortly in the beginning of each post). Also, this post will not be syndicated in RSS.

So, this post is the last. I loved this platform, and loved people started it. But, unfortunately, it seemed, that bloggers community is not important enough for new platform managers.

Also, If you want to learn how to use C# and XML-RCP to migrate from CS2007, used in this platform, visit my new home :)

Have a great year and, as always, be good people. This post marked with all possible tags automatically. Sorry.

Configuring and running Mono ASP.NET 3.5 (AJAX.NET) on Linux computers

Tamir Khason — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:27:10 GMT

[This blog was migrated. You will not be able to comment here.
The new URL of this post is http://khason.net/blog/configuring-and-running-mono-aspnet-35-ajaxnet-on-linux-computers/]

Before we will start, we should install Linux. To do this, you can download any of LiveCDs with live installation. Officially, Mono supported only on one free Linux - openSuse. However, you can make it work on any RedHat (and its alternatives), OpenSolaris. It works, but unsupported on Debians, Ubuntu and Maemo. We’ll stick to openSuse by now.

Let’s install it - OS

I’m assuming, that you’re installing Linux as the only OS on the machine, so insert liveCD (it can be either Gnome or KDE) and wait for Linux to run. It will run live image directly on your machine without installation.

When it’ll up, you’ll see liveInstall icon in your desktop. Click it and skip first two screens (it is only language and local settings). Next screen (disk partitions) is necessary for us.

On this screen, first delete all automatic partitions. The only one main partition will remain (/DEV/SDA or /DEV/HDA). Next you should choose non-LVM option and then start creating partitions.

Create first partition with mount point /boot and size of 100Mb. File system for this partition should be ext3.

Create second partition with file system SWAP (you will not have mount point) and set the size twice bigger, then RAM amount.

Create last partition with mount point / and all remaining size on disk.

All other steps are optional, you can just click Next button.

After about 10 minutes you’ll have up and running openSuse system. (If you forgot to remove CD, choose HardDisk as boot option)

Web Server installation

Now we have to install web server. You can choose either Apache, FastCGI or use build-in server within Mono – XSP. We’ll choose Apache

Goto “Computer” it’s in the same place as Start button :) and choose YaST. You’ll be asked for admin password, you entered while installing the system.

Now in the Filter field, type “Install”. Choose “Software Management” from the available programs at right. Now, when Package Selection dialog opens, type “apache”, you’ll find apache2. Select it and click Install. Apache will move to the right column. Optionally, you can install also prefork and utils packages.

Now hit “Apply” to install it. Within two minutes, you’ll be asked to log off and log on. Do it.

By now apache is not running, you should run it and set it starts automatically. To do this, enter terminal window (you can either do it from “Computer” menu or right clicking desktop).

You need elevation to administrate startup programs. So type: “su –“ and enter your password. Terminal color turns red. Type “chkconfig apache2 on”. Now you should check whether it done, so type: “chkconfig apache2 –list”. You should see “On” near number 3 and 5.

To run apache manually, just type “/etc/init.d/apache2 start” to stop “/etc/init.d/apache2 stop”, to restart “/etc/init.d/apache2 restart” and to check the status “/etc/init.d/apache2 status”

We done, apache is up and running. Now we should install mono

Mono installation

Start with the same YaST but this time, type “mono” – you’'ll get a lot of programs. To simplified installation, choose (or type) mono-complete. This will all available Mono modules.

After Mono will be installed, you should install also apache2-mod_mono to make possible running ASP.NET mono pages in Apache. do this.

Log off – log on and move to configuration

Mono configuration

Now it’s time to configure what ASP.NET pages you want to run. We want ASP.NET 2.0, so we should run mono apache mode for this version. To do this, go to the terminal, elevate yourself (su –) and type following: “vi /etc/apache2/httpd.conf” This will open VI editor with apache configuration file in it.

Now it’s time to learn VI a little. To start editing, you should type “A” – it will write “INSERT” in the lower left corner. To return to the command mode, hit escape key. To save (from command mode) “:w” to exit and save “:wq” to exit without save “:q!”. To find “/” and string the pattern you are looking for.

Now go the the very end of the file and write under Include “/etc/apache2/vhosts.d/*.conf” following:
(to short string “[D]” is your virtual directory (slash blank is root), “[P]” is physical path to your site without trailing slash)

MonoServerPath default /usr/bin/mod-mono_server2
Alias [D] “[P]”
AddMonoApplications default “[D]:[P]”
<Location [D]>
SetHandler mono
</Location>

So, if your site is MySite and it is in /srv/www/htdocs/MySite, this section will looks as following:

MonoServerPath default /usr/bin/mod-mono_server2
Alias /MySite “/srv/www/htdocs/MySite”
AddMonoApplications default “/MySite:/srv/www/htdocs/MySite”
<Location /MySite>
SetHandler mono
</Location>

If you want to turn it to the root site, this will looks following:

MonoServerPath default /usr/bin/mod-mono_server2
AddMonoApplications default “/:/srv/www/htdocs/MySite”
<Location />
SetHandler mono
</Location>

Now, we’ll add mono administrative site to be able to restart mono only without touching apache itself. To do this, after last </Location> you should add following:

<Location /mono>
SetHandler mono-ctrl
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 127.0.0.1
</Location>

I think it’s very clear what it did :)

If you have more, then one site and want to configure mono differently for each one of those, you should add VirtualHost section. To do this, include your configuration in to

<VirtualHost [IP and port you want, for example 1.1.1.1:80 or *:80 for all IPs on port 80]>
ServerName [Name you want]
…
</VirtualHost>

We done. Restart apache and enter the url you set (for example http://localhost/MySite/)

Working? Good. You finished.

Not working (familiar yellow error 500 screen)? Keep reading…

Debugging Mono website

Do you remember, that you have no development environment in this machine? You can install it, or download Mono liveCD with openSuse. But before doing it, please note, that GTK# (it’s devenv) is not very user friendly. It even worse, then Eclipse. So let’s try to understand first whether we can fix small compatibility problems without entering code.

The most convenient method to debug web site on Mono is by using XSP and XSP2 mini web servers. Just enter the directory of the site and run it. By default you’ll be able to access the site by using “http://localhost:8080” (it also be written for you). Enter and notice whether you have any errors in console. No? Keep doing

The most common problem is “error 500” with nonsense stack. If it contains ScriptManager error Type not found, the problem is in Web.config file. Try to regenerate it to be compatible to Mono (for example, Mono has different version of System.Web.Extensions assembly. In ASP.NET 3.5 it has version 3.5, Mono has only 1.0.61025.0 (the old AJAX.NET). To recreate your web.config all you have to do is to execute “mconfig af AJAX Web.config” It will create default web.config file, supports System.Web.Extensions (AJAX features).

Not helped? Keep doing. Let’s look another time into the stack – if it contains errors in “EnablePageMethods” or “ShouldGenerateScript” or “EncryptString” – the problem is serialization. Mono has very limited support for JSON, XML and SOAP serialization. Try to look into your code and notice if you have classes, marked with [Serializable] or you are transferring your own classes by using PageMethods. If so, replace it with regular strings (my grandma serialization).

Person p = new Person();
string sstr = string.Format(“{0}|{1}|{2}|{3}”, p.FirstName, p.LastName, p.Age, p.Wage);
return sstr;
…
var sstr = persons[i].split("|");
var p.FirstName = sstr[0];
var p.LastName = sstr[1];
var p.Age = sstr[2];
var p.Wage = sstr[3];

Not helped? Try to rename “Bin” directory into “bin” “mv Bin bin –r”. Actually this was fixed in latest versions of Mono, but who knows?…

No? Check whether you have partial classes, which is not supported by Mono. If so, recompile it like this

mcs /t:library /out:bin/test.dll –r:System.Web –r:System.Data –r:System.Web.Services –r:System.Web.UI.Controls test.aspx.cs

If you have Generics in your code, you should use gmcs, rather then mcs.

Not helped? It looks, that you have to either install Mono on your Windows machine and debug your code with it. Or, alternatively install GTK# and do in on Linux.

But wait, before doing such big step, install and check the binary compatibility of your code. To do this, you need “Moma” – a simple tool, that tell you if everything is ok for Mono in your assemblies.

Good luck and see you in my forthcoming TechEd session, where I’m presenting openSuse, running UDP multicast server with ASP.NET 3.5 extended methods (It uses recompiled ISAPI filters for apache, rather then regular limited AJAX support in Mono)

Have a nice day and be good people.

Quick note: New TechEd downloads

Tamir Khason — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:25:15 GMT

[This blog was migrated. You will not be able to comment here.
The new URL of this post is http://khason.net/blog/quick-note-new-teched-downloads/]

There is TechEd in Orlando, and this means, that there are a lot of new announcements. Let’s fill up our download managers with expensive fuel and start.

New WM 6.1 images (both standard and professional) – absolutely required if you’re programming Windows Mobile
Managed Extensibility Framework – I blogged about it a little in the past. Really cool approach for adding extensibility features to your applications. Krzysztof explains new features there.
Windows Live Writer new CTP + new SDK – the best tool to post into your blog.
New CTP of Microsoft Project Codename “Velocity” – great approach for development applications, using high performance in memory cache. Here the deep explanations in the team blog + quick start and samples.

Silverlight 2.0 beta 2 + Microsoft Expression Blend 2.5 June preview will be available for download very soon. Keep watching. Meanwhile, you can start learn about new TabControl, VisualStateManager, new templating system and cross-domain policy from Tim Heuer’s blog. Also there are some news about event bubbling in beta 2 in Jesse’s blog.

Silverlight accessibility and CEO support for beta 2

Tamir Khason — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:01:39 GMT

[This blog was migrated. You will not be able to comment here.
The new URL of this post is http://khason.net/blog/silverlight-accessibility-and-ceo-support-for-beta-2/]

Yesterday, beta 2 of Silverlight was officially announced in TechEd Orlando. There are a lot of interesting changes. One of most significant changes, I want to notice and accessibility support in Silverlight. See yourself (if you do not know what this image about, see this post)

What should you do in order this to happen? Absolutely nothing. This is build in feature in Silverlight 2.0 b2. It’s not like WPF, where you should use Automation namespace boundary. This just works. You can read the Silverlight content with screen narrators. Great respect to dev team.

Why this CEO friendly? Come to my Silverlight half day session at July, 30 to learn why.

Regarding other features, there is new templating model in Silverlight, named VisualStateManager. It can save your time in controls development. Do you remember me speaking about State oriented programming in Silverlight, rather, then KeyFrames oriented programming in Flesh? That what is it.

if (SomethingHappened) {
VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, “SomeState”, true);
}

Also, there is TabControl, text wrapping and scrollbars for TextBox. Regarding DataGrid it become much faster and enhanced by Reordering, Autosize and Sort capabilities.

There are also some security enhancements for Cross-Domain networking and duplex communication. If you not sure about what is it, see this and this post.

Also now you can work with LINQ-to-JSON, ASO.NET DS and SOAP-based data sources.

In additional, there is new XML-based format for DeepZoom MultiScaleTileSource and MultiScaleImage controls.

Have a nice day and be good people.

My TechEd ‘08 presentation slides download

Tamir Khason — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:10:45 GMT

[This blog was migrated. You will not be able to comment here.
The new URL of this post is http://khason.net/blog/my-teched-%e2%80%9808-presentation-slides-download/]

I do not know why, but for some reason in development section of TechEd website there are only two recording and no presentations. I do not want to wait for them to upload (we sent all presentations a while ago), so here it comes. My TechEd presentation DEV335 - Game Development Using Microsoft’s Latest Technologies. I have no recordings by now (so pity), so you’ll have to wait for Microsoft to encode and upload it. Upon it will be done, I’ll publish it here.
There is no real reason to upload samples – they will not work without all environment we had there.

Download full slides from my TechEd presentation (PPT 7,165 KB) >>

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by using contact form or LinkedIn profile. You also can send me a message by twitter

Networking (raw sockets) in Silverlight and WPF - messaging in general

Tamir Khason — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:30:00 GMT

[This blog was migrated. You will not be able to comment here.
The new URL of this post is http://khason.net/blog/networking-raw-sockets-in-silverlight-and-wpf-messaging-in-general/]

You, probably, know how to use raw sockets in WinForms. It's pretty the same in WPF, however it is very different (and limited) in Silverlight. Today, we'll create sample application in Silverlight, WPF and WinForm that sending and receiving updates via TCP as well as broadcasting it via UDP (singlecast and multicast). So let's start.

First of all we'll create WinForms server, that should distribute updates. It knows what the time is it now and broadcasting the time message via UDP. Also it has TCP server, that distribute updates to all it's clients.

First of all UDP. We should create the working Socket first. It uses all ip addresses to broadcast changes via given port. In order to make the socket to be multicast, we should set appropriate socket options. Let's see the code.

lock (this)
                {
                    if (m_mainSocket == null)
                    {
                        m_mainSocket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork,
                            SocketType.Dgram,
                            ProtocolType.Udp);

                        IPEndPoint ipLocal = new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Any, port);

                        m_mainSocket.SetSocketOption(SocketOptionLevel.Socket, SocketOptionName.ReuseAddress, 1);

                        m_mainSocket.Bind(ipLocal);
                    }
                    IPAddress ip = IPAddress.Parse(castGroupIp);

                    EPCast = new IPEndPoint(ip, port);
                    m_mainSocket.SetSocketOption(SocketOptionLevel.IP, SocketOptionName.AddMembership, new MulticastOption(ip, IPAddress.Any));
                }

Now, the TCP part. It's very similar (for server we do not need specific IP address to bind), however, we should not set multicast options there aside with begin listening right after connection was established.

lock (this)
                {
                    if (m_mainSocket == null)
                    {
                        m_mainSocket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork,
                            SocketType.Stream,
                            ProtocolType.Tcp);
                        IPEndPoint ipLocal = new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Any, port);
                        m_mainSocket.Bind(ipLocal);
                        m_mainSocket.Listen(Backlog);
                        m_mainSocket.BeginAccept(new AsyncCallback(acceptCallback), null);
                    }
                }

In order to send data via UDP. All we have to do is to write it into current socket.

socket.SendTo(data, EPCast);

In TCP world, we should first know who we want to sent to, thus we have to enumerate all incoming clients to save the references to their sockets.

Socket workerSocket = m_mainSocket.EndAccept(asyn);
m_workerSocketList.Add(workerSocket.GetHashCode(), workerSocket);

m_mainSocket.BeginAccept(new AsyncCallback(acceptCallback), null);

Then when we know who to send, all we have to do is to send

socket.Send(data);

Now, when we know how to send, we should learn how to receive network messages. It's exactly the same within TCP or UDP. First check is there is data to receive, then receive it.

if (m_pfnCallBack == null)
                m_pfnCallBack = new AsyncCallback(dataReceivedCallback);
            SocketPacket theSocPkt = new SocketPacket(socket, bufferSize);

            socket.BeginReceive(theSocPkt.dataBuffer, 0,
                theSocPkt.dataBuffer.Length,
                SocketFlags.None,
                m_pfnCallBack,
                theSocPkt);

We done with WinForms and WPF networking. So, we can start with graphics. Since we have no a lot of graphics in WinForms, we'll focus on WPF stuff.

We'll use ContentControl to present the content with datatemplate of our message. We'll create Ellipse for the clock and three rectangles for clock hands. Once data received, we should change RotateTransform value of RenderTransform for each of our rectangles (first set the TransformOrigin to the center of the clock). Bind it together

<Ellipse Width="250" Height="250" StrokeThickness="2" Stroke="Black"/>
                <Rectangle Height="100" Width="20" RadiusX="10" RadiusY="10" Fill="Black" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,1">
                    <Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                        <TransformGroup>
                            <RotateTransform/>
                            <TranslateTransform Y="25" X="115"/>
                        </TransformGroup>
                    </Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                </Rectangle>
                <Rectangle Height="125" Width="10" RadiusX="5" RadiusY="5" Fill="Black" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,1">
                    <Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                        <TransformGroup>
                            <RotateTransform/>
                            <TranslateTransform Y="0" X="120"/>
                        </TransformGroup>
                    </Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                </Rectangle>
                <Rectangle Height="125" Width="4" RadiusX="2" RadiusY="2" Fill="Black" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,1">
                    <Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                        <TransformGroup>
                            <RotateTransform/>
                            <TranslateTransform Y="0" X="123"/>
                        </TransformGroup>
                    </Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                </Rectangle>

How we should convert values received to the angle to turn the clock hand. We can use only one converter here and bind to the message, according following formula

HourAngle = (Hours * 30)+(12*Minutes/60);
MinuteAngle = Minutes * 6; (it's 360/60)
SecondAngle = Seconds * 6;

Let's run it. Nothing happens. Why? The reason is, that even each property of the object changes, it does not trigger binding, due to the fact, that whole object has not been changed. In order to fix it, we should bind to each property. And in case of hours to Hours and Minutes properties both. But how to make my converter to be single and multi value converter? Simple - all this about interfaces. So, following converter will do the work

public class TimeToAngleConverter : IValueConverter, IMultiValueConverter
    {

public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
        {
            return (double)value * 6;
        }

public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
        {
            return ((double)values[0] * 30) + (12 * (double)values[1] / 60);
        }

public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)        { throw new NotImplementedException(); }

public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)        { throw new NotImplementedException(); }

      }

Now binding expressions

<Rectangle Height="100" Width="20" RadiusX="10" RadiusY="10" Fill="Black" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,1">
                    <Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                        <TransformGroup>
                            <RotateTransform>
                                <RotateTransform.Angle>
                                    <MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource timeToAngle}">
                                        <Binding Path="Hour"/>
                                        <Binding Path="Minute"/>
                                    </MultiBinding>
                                </RotateTransform.Angle>
                            </RotateTransform>
                            <TranslateTransform Y="25" X="115"/>
                        </TransformGroup>
                    </Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                </Rectangle>
                <Rectangle Height="125" Width="10" RadiusX="5" RadiusY="5" Fill="Black" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,1">
                    <Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                        <TransformGroup>
                            <RotateTransform Angle="{Binding Path=Minute, Converter={StaticResource timeToAngle}}"/>
                            <TranslateTransform Y="0" X="120"/>
                        </TransformGroup>
                    </Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                </Rectangle>
                <Rectangle Height="125" Width="4" RadiusX="2" RadiusY="2" Fill="Black" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,1">
                    <Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                        <TransformGroup>
                            <RotateTransform Angle="{Binding Path=Second, Converter={StaticResource timeToAngle}}"/>
                            <TranslateTransform Y="0" X="123"/>
                        </TransformGroup>
                    </Rectangle.RenderTransform>
                </Rectangle>

We done with graphics in WPF. Let's start it over in Silverlight. We cannot do at least half of what has been done in WPF. MultiBinding is not supported, there is no implicitly templating and Transform class does not support Binding. What to do? Let's remember old good world.

Set the control without using templates, then find resources and save references and set values explicitly (after subscribing to OnPropertyChanged event of cause. Other words, make binding with your own hands.

void onLoaded(object s, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            mt = ((RotateTransform)FindName("mTransform"));
            ht = ((RotateTransform)FindName("hTransform"));
            st = ((RotateTransform)FindName("sTransform"));
            ((NetTimeProvider)Resources["timeProvider"]).PropertyChanged += new PropertyChangedEventHandler(Page_PropertyChanged);
        }

        RotateTransform mt, ht, st;

        void Page_PropertyChanged(object sender, PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            //Binding to Transform does not supported (yet??);
            NetTimeProvider s = sender as NetTimeProvider;
            Dispatcher.BeginInvoke((SendOrPostCallback) delegate (object o)
            {
                NetTimeProvider ntp = o as NetTimeProvider;
                if (e.PropertyName == "Hour")
                {
                    ht.Angle = (ntp.Hour * 30) + (12 * ntp.Minute / 60); ;
                }
                else if (e.PropertyName == "Minute")
                {
                    mt.Angle = ntp.Minute * 6;
                }
                else if (e.PropertyName == "Second")
                {
                    st.Angle = ntp.Second * 6;
                }
            }, s);
        }

Now, when we have layout for our Silverlight control, we should connect to distribution network server. Reuse the manager, used for Winforms and WPF? We can't. Silverlight is subset of .NET framework, and it is not relays on it, so we have to write new network provider for Silverlight. UDP is not supported in Silverlight, thus we'll use TCP networking. Let's see what we have. WebRequest/WebResponse HttpWebRequest/HttpWebResponse - to use it - no. Our server neither HTTP nor Web server. We should use raw sockets in Silverlight. Socket class exists in System.Net dll for Silverlight, however it is very limited. Let's make the connection. First of all, we should know what IP to connect.

Due to security restrictions we cannot do DNS queries in Silverlight. From the other hand we do not want to restrict it to hardcoded name or IP address. In application class of Silverlight we have very handy property, named DnsSafeHost (Application.Current.Host.Source.DnsSafeHost). So let's use it.

What about ports? Can I use TCP socket for any port I want? No. This is another security restriction. The only port range able available for Silverlight is 4502-5432 (only 30 ports). So with those restrictions we'll create the connection as following.

socket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
            DnsEndPoint ep = new DnsEndPoint(Application.Current.Host.Source.DnsSafeHost, 4502);
            SocketAsyncEventArgs args = new SocketAsyncEventArgs()
            {
                RemoteEndPoint = ep
            };
            args.Completed += onConnected;
            socket.ConnectAsync(args);

Now we should check if the connection is established successfully. The only place we can do it is in onConnected handler. Here also we'll reuse completed event of SocketAsyncArgs to perform read sequence. Upon the end of the handler we'll try to read something from inline socket.

void onConnected(object sender, SocketAsyncEventArgs e)
       {
           if (e.SocketError == SocketError.Success)
           {
               e.Completed -= onConnected;
               e.Completed += onRead;
               Message = "Connected";
           }

           readMoreData(e);
       }

If you remember in regular framework we can wait on socket. We can do it as well in Silverlight.

void readMoreData(SocketAsyncEventArgs e)
{
    e.SetBuffer(buffer, bytesRead, (buffer.Length - bytesRead));
    if (!socket.ReceiveAsync(e))
    {
        onRead(socket, e);
    }
    else
    {
        Message = "Disconnected";
    }

}

So, if everything is ok and we have data in the socket, let's read it. There is some fault proofing should be done in it. First we should check if we go all the message. We know, that the message size is 20 bytes (5 integers - we check first four). Then we should check, that the message we got is our message. So in the header we'll check for Magic number. Then if it's ok we'll parse it and fill all properties of our class.

void onRead(object sender, SocketAsyncEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.BytesTransferred > 0)
            {
                bytesRead += e.BytesTransferred;
                if (bytesRead == 20 && BitConverter.ToUInt32(buffer, 0) == Magic)
                {
                    Hour = BitConverter.ToInt32(buffer, 4);
                    OnPropertyChanged("Hour");
                    Minute = BitConverter.ToInt32(buffer, 8);
                    OnPropertyChanged("Minute");
                    Second = BitConverter.ToInt32(buffer, 12);
                    OnPropertyChanged("Second");
                    bytesRead = 0;
                }
                readMoreData(e);
            }
        }

If everything fine, we'll return to wait for next message to arrive.

We done. WinForms, WPF and Silverlight speaks over the network one with another, by using TCP and UDP raw sockets. What can be better? When our message is not just clock information, but something related to gaming world (e.g. current position or state of other network players). What am I speaking about? Come to reveal it on my session DEV335: Game Development Using Microsoft’s Latest Technologies in TechEd Israel.

Have a nice day and be good people.

Source code for this article.

Running WPF on gas pump (or other Windows CE devices)?

Tamir Khason — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:06:07 GMT

[This blog was migrated. You will not be able to comment here.
The new URL of this post is http://khason.net/blog/running-wpf-on-gas-pump-or-other-windows-ce-devices/]

What do you think, is it possible to run WPF on Windows CE enabled devices (e.g. gas pumps, GPS systems, robots, game or automatic teller machines or, even, scientific calculators)? Let's see following code:

StackPanel panel = new StackPanel(Orientation.Horizontal);
            Ellipse ellipse = new Ellipse(10, 10);
            ellipse.Fill = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Red);
            ellipse.Stroke = new Pen(Color.Black);
            Rectangle rect = new Rectangle();
            rect.Width = 40;
            rect.Height = 40;
            Line l = new Line(20, 20);
            Polygon polygon = new Polygon(new int[] { 0, 0, 20, 0, 20, 20, 0, 20 });
            panel.Children.Add(ellipse);
            panel.Children.Add(rect);
            panel.Children.Add(l);
            panel.Children.Add(polygon);

            panel.AddHandler(Buttons.ButtonUpEvent, (ButtonEventHandler)delegate
            {
                panel.Orientation = panel.Orientation == Orientation.Horizontal ? Orientation.Vertical : Orientation.Horizontal;
            }, false);

Or even this code

void OnButtonHeld(object o)
{
    Button b = (Button)o;
    Dispatcher.Invoke(TimeSpan.FromTicks(10), (ButtonHeldDelegate)delegate(Button btn)
    {
        while (Buttons.IsButtonDown(btn))
        {
            switch (btn)
            {
                case Button.Left: p.X--; break;
                case Button.Up: p.Y--; break;
                case Button.Right: p.X++; break;
                case Button.Down: p.Y++; break;
                case Button.Select: p.X = mainWindow.Width / 2; p.Y = mainWindow.Height / 2; break;
            }
        }

        moveMouse();
    }, b);
}

void moveMouse()
{
    host.DrawRectangle(Colors.Black,2,p.X,p.Y, 100, 100,0,0,Colors.Red,0,0,Colors.Blue,100,100,255);
    host.Flush();
}

This code will run on any Windows CE device. And it is not WPF :) It's .NET Micro Framework. Actually, when we're looking for it's syntax, it looks like WPF/Silverlight and .NET Micro Framework have the same architect. However, it cannot use hardware acceleration and has very limited number of objects. All this because of it's purpose "platform to devices that do not need the fuller functionality available in the .NET Framework and the .NET Compact Framework". I would add Windows Presentation Foundation as well.

The application model of .NET Micro Framework is very similar to WPF. It has native CLR/PAL and HAL and managed libraries.

Sufficient number of components in CLR - types, threads and timers, reflection, serialization, GC, networking, other connectivities etc., enables you to create, even games, that will run on even Heart Device.

Other words, cool technology and possible cool appliance for your programming skills.

How to start? First of all, download .NET Micro Framework v2.5 (VS2005, you can also add Microsoft.SPOT assemblies into your regular VS2008 project) and start programming. It's really simple (I build snake game for less, then hour)

See your applications, running on embedded devices. BTW, I'll probably present something, developed with this framework in my TechEd session aside with WPF, Silverlight and XNA... Keep tuned and have a nice day

Just code - Tamir Khason : teched, C#

New year – new blog or how to migrate Community Server to any other engine, supports XML-RPC

Configuring and running Mono ASP.NET 3.5 (AJAX.NET) on Linux computers

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Let’s install it - OS

Web Server installation

Mono installation

Mono configuration

Debugging Mono website

Quick note: New TechEd downloads

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Silverlight accessibility and CEO support for beta 2

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My TechEd ‘08 presentation slides download

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Networking (raw sockets) in Silverlight and WPF - messaging in general

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Running WPF on gas pump (or other Windows CE devices)?

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