Sachin Chavan

Further update to my last post.

Good reference can be found at following locations.

Troubleshooting WPF and Silverlight Designer Load Failures

How to: Debug a Designer Load Failure

While Using WPF there are design-time errors for data binding.

Following is good reference on how to debug this errors here.

Right… so what exactly went wrong? Well, it’s easy to find out: In the code-behind, the XAML code is parsed in the method InitializeComponent which is automatically generated. This method is called in the Window object’s constructor. So to have more details about the exception, put the call to InitializeComponent in a try/catch block. This way, you have access to the useless XamlParseException, but also to its InnerExceptions and to the StackTrace.

Also the further update can be found here.

How to find binding errors?
Another annoying thing when the XAML is wrong is that binding errors get swallowed silently. You don’t know what’s wrong, but the binding doesn’t work as expected. There is a little-known way to find out more about what went wrong. For example, the following code doesn’t work, but no error is shown (well, in that case it’s easy to find out: The ElementName refers to mainWindow2, which doesn’t exist (should be mainWindow).

Will help you in your journey as programmer.

From the publisher

Straight from the programming trenches, The Pragmatic Programmer cuts through the increasing specialization and technicalities of modern software development to examine the core process–taking a requirement and producing working, maintainable code that delights its users. It covers topics ranging from personal responsibility and career development to architectural techniques for keeping your code flexible and easy to adapt and reuse. Read this book, and you’ll learn how to

• Fight software rot;
• Avoid the trap of duplicating knowledge;
• Write flexible, dynamic, and adaptable code;
• Avoid programming by coincidence;
• Bullet-proof your code with contracts, assertions, and exceptions;
• Capture real requirements;
• Test ruthlessly and effectively;
• Delight your users;
• Build teams of pragmatic programmers; and
• Make your developments more precise with automation.

Written as a series of self-contained sections and filled with entertaining anecdotes, thoughtful examples, and interesting analogies, The Pragmatic Programmer illustrates the best practices and major pitfalls of many different aspects of software development. Whether you’re a new coder, an experienced programmer, or a manager responsible for software projects, use these lessons daily, and you’ll quickly see improvements in personal productivity, accuracy, and job satisfaction. You’ll learn skills and develop habits and attitudes that form the foundation for long-term success in your career. You’ll become a Pragmatic Programmer.

Real good book for any software programmer.

From the publisher

For more than a decade, Steve McConnell, one of the premier authors
and voices in the software community, has helped change the way
developers write code–and produce better software. Now his classic
book, CODE COMPLETE, has been fully updated and revised with best
practices in the art and science of constructing software. Whether
you’re a new developer seeking a sound introduction to the practice of
software development or a veteran exploring strategic new approaches to
problem solving, you’ll find a wealth of practical suggestions and
methods for strengthening your skills. Topics include design, applying
good techniques to construction, eliminating errors, planning, managing
construction activities, and relating personal character to superior
software. This new edition features fully updated information on
programming techniques, including the emergence of Web-style
programming, and integrated coverage of object-oriented design. You’ll
also find new code examples–both good and bad–in C++, Microsoft(r)
Visual Basic(r), C#, and Java, though the focus is squarely on
techniques and practices.

Head First Design Pattern
The edition is of 2004 but still very relevant.

From the publisher
If you’ve read a Head First book, you know what to expect–a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory, Head First Design Patterns will load patterns into your brain in a way that sticks. In a way that lets you put them to work immediately. In a way that makes you better at solving software design problems, and better at speaking the language of patterns with others on your team.

You’re not alone.

At any given moment, somewhere in the world someone struggles with the same software design problems you have. You know you don’t want to reinvent the wheel (or worse, a flat tire), so you look to Design Patterns–the lessons learned by those who’ve faced the same problems. With Design Patterns, you get to take advantage of the best practices and experience of others, so that you can spend your time on…something else. Something more challenging. Something more complex. Something more fun.

You want to learn about the patterns that matter–why to use them, when to use them, how to use them (and when NOT to use them). But you don’t just want to see how patterns look in a book, you want to know how they look “in the wild”. In their native environment. In other words, in real world applications. You also want to learn how patterns are used in the Java API, and how to exploit Java’s built-in pattern support in your own code.

You want to learn the real OO design principles and why everything your boss told you about inheritance might be wrong (and what to do instead). You want to learn how those principles will help the next time you’re up a creek without a design pattern.

Most importantly, you want to learn the “secret language” of Design Patterns so that you can hold your own with your co-worker (and impress cocktail party guests) when he casually mentions his stunningly clever use of Command, Facade, Proxy, and Factory in between sips of a martini. You’ll easily counter with your deep understanding of why Singleton isn’t as simple as it sounds, how the Factory is so often misunderstood, or on the real relationship between Decorator, Facade and Adapter.

With Head First Design Patterns, you’ll avoid the embarrassment of thinking Decorator is something from the “Trading Spaces” show. Best of all, in a way that won’t put you to sleep! We think your time is too important (and too short) to spend it struggling with academic texts.

If you’ve read a Head First book, you know what to expect–a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory, Head First Design Patterns will load patterns into your brain in a way that sticks. In a way that lets you put them to work immediately. In a way that makes you better at solving software design problems, and better at speaking the language of patterns with others on your team.