An Introduction to Azure Virtual Networks and Private Links
Learn how to secure Azure deployments using vnets and VPNs to minimize exposure and protect your services. A step-by-step guide on setting up a secure environment.
Technology Articles
Exploring software development, web technologies, and tech trends
All posts in Technology Articles
Deploying Frontdoor to ASP.NET in Different Regions with BICEP
Learn how to deploy ASP.NET apps in Azure with regional data segregation and Azure Front Door for optimal performance and security.
ASP.NET + SQL Server + Managed Identity with BICEP
Learn how to deploy an AppService with a SQL Server and set the right permissions for the managed identity to access the database. No more secrets in your configuration files.
Adding a reverse proxy to an Astro site hosted on Cloudflare Pages
Learn how to seamlessly integrate API calls into static Astro websites hosted on Cloudflare Pages with simple serverless functions.
Converting Astro redirects to Cloudflare redirects
Learn how to automate Astro redirects to Cloudflare's `_redirects` file for seamless site navigation management.
Migrating from Postmark Templates to React Email
In this blog I explore how to migrate from Postmark templates to React.Email for flexible email templating and reduce my dependency on a single provider. It covers converting templates from Postmark, creating a custom API, and deploying a scalable solution to support multiple ESPs.
Adding ASP.NET Rate Limiting Policies to individual Pages, Folders and Areas through Page Conventions
Discover how to enhance your ASP.NET apps with rate limiting for IP-based control and customizable policies for improved performance and security.
Adding Distributed Rate Limiting to ASP.NET Identity Pages
Secure your ASP.NET apps with distributed rate limiting and Altcha to protect against automated attacks. Learn how at my Minimal Identity UI project.
Adding a self-hosted captcha alternative to ASP.NET Identity
Discover how to enhance ASP.NET Identity forms with Altcha for bot protection, including a fix for replay attacks. A self-hosted, privacy-centric solution.
A more beautiful based ASP.NET Identity UI based on TailwindCSS and Preline
Revamp your ASP.NET Identity UI with a modern, TailwindCSS makeover using MinimalIdentityUI - simple, open-source, and ready to use!
Using Clerk as an OAuth Provider for ASP.NET Core
Discover how to integrate Clerk authentication with ASP.NET for secure server-side user management. Updates include OAuth scope and sign-out enhancements.
NextJS Router compatible Weglot Language Switcher
Discover how I enhanced SecureMailMerge with Weglot for easy multilingual support, tackling NextJS challenges along the way.
How to quickly setup typesense as a drop-in replacement for Algolia DocSearch on TailwindUI templates
"Discover how to easily switch from Algolia to Typesense for TailwindUI sites - a quick, cost-effective search solution!"
Using Caddy 2 on an Azure VM to host static content from blob storage
Learn how to serve static websites with HTTPS on Azure for less than $5/month using Azure Blob, CDN, Cloudflare, and Caddy 2 with this step-by-step guide.
ASP.NET Identity Cookies in Office 365 / Outlook Add-Ins and the SameSite security setting
Discover how setting SameSite to None enables Office365 Add-Ins to authenticate seamlessly across devices using web technologies.
Azure Key Vault - Add Custom Role for Deployment Access Only
Secure Azure deployments with custom roles in KeyVault to deploy without accessing secrets – ideal for teams!
Azure KeyVault - Authenticating with Certificates and Reading Secrets
Learn how to securely use Azure KeyVault for web app configurations, avoiding the pitfalls of storing sensitive info in files or app settings.
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Using Certificates from KeyVault in AppServices
Learn to secure your Azure AppService & set up SSL with custom domains using KeyVault certificates, including a self-signed cert guide.
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Securing your Parameters with KeyVault
Learn how to securely store secrets in Azure using KeyVault instead of exposing them in resource templates. Ideal for safe, scalable deployments.
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Deploying a Website with a Database
Learn to deploy a web app with a database to Azure using Resource Manager templates. Perfect for beginners in cloud deployment!
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Working with variables, parameters, functions, and loops
Discover the power of Azure Resource Manager Templates for efficient cloud deployments, using variables & parameters for easy changes.
Azure Resource Manager Templates 101
Learn how to deploy Azure resources efficiently using ARM templates & JSON in our latest blog post. Dive into incremental updates & error handling!
Azure/AzureRM PowerShell 101
Explore the essentials of managing Azure with PowerShell, focusing on the transition to AzureRM for improved control.
Loading Geonames.org data into SQL Server and SQL Azure or "Why Integers just aren't the right choice for population fields"
Learn how to import GeoNames data into SQL with my simple guide, from file conversion to bulk import and Azure loading.
Excluding Resource Mailboxes (e.g. rooms) from Dynamic Distribution Groups in Office365
Discover a fix for Office365's dynamic groups auto-adding meeting rooms to your invite list with this PowerShell guide!
Visual Studio 2013 Preview and Apps for SharePoint
Solved: How to fix common errors when setting up an App for SharePoint in Visual Studio 2013 on a new machine. Essential prerequisites listed!
"Bob is on BeardGroomers.com" - Your system is leaking information
Learn how hackers use email alerts to uncover private info and how to enhance your site's security against such tactics.
SAP .net Connector 2.0 (NCo) RFC Server in "Running" State but not appearing in SAP
Fixed a tricky SAP upgrade issue by manually copying librfc32.dll to system32. A solution not found on Google, shared to save others hours!
Great Sites! Great First Impressions? Learning from the best landing pages available.
Discover how a non-designer tackles web app design, learning from top sites to craft a compelling start page for a big new venture.
How do I run dotLess on embedded resources? or How to embed .less files in assemblies?
Learn how I streamline ASP.NET development by embedding core files for easy access and transformation to CSS.
Office 365: "Your data will be deleted in 1 day(s)" - Or how to scare the **** out of customers
Discover how a suspenseful Office 365 deletion warning turned out to be just a case of bad communication. #Office365 #DataSafety
Lessons learned from using the Facebook Like button
Discover how I tackled Facebook Like button issues for viral voting on my project, threelikes.com—a lesson in web development hacks.
SharePoint: Why won't you let me delete a column? A case of "Cannot complete this action."
"Today, I tackled SharePoint errors by adding the "item" content type, solving column deletion issues. Sometimes, the solution is simple!"
Tech-Ed 2010 Berlin - Was it worth it? A definitive Yes, but!
"Tech-Ed 2010 reflection: Less magic but still essential. Topics like OData, SharePoint in the cloud & networking highlighted. #TechEd2010"
Visio 2010 Background Layers - Hooray; Copying them crops the image - Boo
Discovered the power of background layers in Visio & a fix for a tricky copy-paste issue in Visio 2010. A must-read for Visio users!
SharePoint PeoplePicker is not displaying any AD Users? or "Why can't I add user permissions in WSS?"
Solved: How I fixed SharePoint's People Picker not finding AD users. A tale of troubleshooting and domain rejoining.
Big>Days and StudentBig>Days 2009 - Session Files
"Missed Microsoft Big>Days? Access my slides & source code for ASP.NET MVC sessions now on Codeplex & SkyDrive. Thanks for attending!"
Azure Services article in dot.net Magazin 04/09
"Excited to share my feature in the 04/09 dot.net Magazin on Windows Azure Services. Dive into the code [here]. Questions? Ask away!"
Coming up: Student Big>Days and Big>Days 2009
Join me at Austria's Big>Days and Student Big>Days events for deep dives into ASP.NET applications, MVC Framework insights, and more!
Tales from the trenches... or Tips for Team Foundation Server Installations in Dual Tier, Mixed x64/x86 and Multi-Domain Environments...
Explore my journey of setting up a development lab for TFS with SharePoint, overcoming obstacles, and essential tips for a smooth installation.
Quick Tip: System Center Operation Manager R2 Beta "failed to lower Monad ExecutionPolicy security level..."
Discover a simple fix for common SCOM R2 BETA installation errors related to User Account Control on my latest blog post.
Add Web Reference instead of Service Reference in Visual Studio 2008
Discover how I tackled migrating a 2-tier to 3-tier app & the nuances of using old-style web services in .NET 3.5 with Visual Studio 2008.
'MSDTC unavailable for SQL Express Transactions' or 'Who took my MSDTC settings on Vista?'
Solved MSDTC unavailability error on Vista by enabling Network DTC Access. Learn the quick fix for devs moving to newer systems.
Dynamic Data - GUIDs/uniqueidentifiers as primary keys
Discover how to effortlessly generate GUIDs in your .NET Dynamic Data projects with jQuery. A quick fix for primary key headaches!
Entity Data Model generated from SQL 2008 and used with SQL 2005
"Fixed Entity Framework bug with datetime2 type by changing EDMX file. Debugging WCF services led to a simple fix. Hope it helps others!"
Sync Framework is now RTM - Go check it out!
"Sync Framework is live! Dive into its offerings, future updates, and a special event in Vienna. Start syncing now!"
"SQL Server 2008 Agent will not accept DatabaseMail (bug in feb ctp?)" or "How to activate DatabaseMail using stored procedures/regedit"
Learn how to set up error notifications for SQL Server Agent jobs, troubleshooting tips included. Perfect for SQL Server 2008 users!
Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server connections beep
Ever been annoyed by beeping when using MSTSC on Windows Server 2008? I found a quick fix: "net stop beep". Here's how to silence it for good!
Visual Studio Database Projects with SQL Server 2008 or 'Why do I prefer Google Search?'
Discover fixes for Visual Studio Database Project issues with SQL Server 2008 and explore search engine results comparison, all in one interesting read!
Outlook Form Regions / User Properties / Add-Ins / Ribbons - A quick walkthrough
Discover how to seamlessly add user properties in Outlook with Visual Studio 2008 and handle COM interop like a pro.
SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 Tutorial in 5 Minutes or "How to send my boss a report from a view quickly"
Discover how to quickly master SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) 2008 with this easy-to-follow guide, perfect for busy professionals.
Installing MiniSAP 4.6D on SQL Server 2005
"Just tackled installing Mini-SAP on a Windows 2003 VM, hitting snags with SQL Server and registry keys, but finally succeeded. Here's how!"
TOP12 announced and what are *we* doing for the rest of the week
"Not in top 12 but enjoying Paris & sharing our BioMatch project. Excited for next year's possibility. Photos & thoughts on my blog!"
The Hattrick begins or The Imagine Cup 2008 Worldwide Finals
Follow my journey through Imagine Cup's highs and lows, from my first entry in 2003 to World Finals thrice!
Availability: March 2020?
Exploring the balance between release date promises and brutal honesty in software development. Will agile survive by 2020? Let's ponder together.
Restoring a backup. Wait, where are my permissions? or "How to replace all permissions in one directory tree with the permissions from another identical tree"
Discover how to mirror file and directory permissions across systems with our handy tool. Perfect for syncing security settings seamlessly!
SkyDrive: Why aren't thou nicer to me? or "How to crawl pages and download all images using C#"
Discover how to easily download all images from SkyDrive folders with this simple C# tool, perfect for saving time on manual downloads.
Off-Topic: T-SQL: Replace all occurrences in all columns in all tables?
"Just solved a tricky database problem: a script to safely replace strings across it. Handy for devs facing similar challenges! Use with caution."
dot.net Magazin 5.08 Sync Framework Article and File Sync with VB.net
"Just translated my .NET Mag article's code to VB.net for Microsoft Sync Framework. Check out the conversion tips and code example!"
TriggerCollection does not contain an Add method.
Discovered why my project wouldn't compile due to internal DLL issues, solved with a deep dive into SQL SMO versions.
Jetbrains dotTrace: Profiling VS2008 Web Apps
Discover how we overcame JetBrains dotTrace's limitations with ASP.net in VS08 for web app development.
Microsoft Sync Framework CTP2 is out...
"Join me on my journey as I explore the newly launched Microsoft Sync Framework next week! Stay tuned for insights."
A Reusable Secure Login Form
Discover how I built a secure login form using SecureString and encrypted settings to enhance app security. Dive into the details here!
LINQ to SQL for SQL Compact Edition - Did you know?
"Discover how to effortlessly generate LINQ to SQL classes for SQL CE 3.5 databases using SqlMetal in Visual Studio 08. A quick guide to simplifying your coding process."
Sync Framework: Where does the metadata come from for SqlCeClientSyncProvider (Sync Services for ADO.net 2.0)?
Discover the challenges and solutions in syncing SQL Compact Edition with servers, featuring insights on metadata management and SQLCeClientSyncProvider.
Windows 2008 - 3 things I wish I had known...
Learn from my VPC setup adventures with Windows 2008 and SQL 2005, including tips on Reporting Services, IE security, and SharePoint installs.
Turning a class library project into a MSTest project (or using MBUnit, MSTest and other frameworks in one project)
Learn how I made my unit tests MSTest compatible & navigated diverse dev tools. New insights and fixes ahead!
Sync Framework Interview on Channel 8
"Discover insights on the Sync Framework from my interview with Moe Khosravy ahead of the VSone conference."
Learn VB.net - German Screencasts Series
Dive into Visual Basic .NET with Mario's screen casts! From basics to new features, perfect for German-speaking learners.
Sync Framework Tutorial - Part #1 - Introduction
Discover the new Microsoft Sync Framework unveiled at Tech-Ed: enabling seamless data syncing across devices and platforms. Stay tuned for tutorials!
Sync Framework Tutorial - Part #2 - Sync Services for ADO.net
Explore Sync Services for ADO.net with a Microsoft Student Partner and take your database synchronization skills to the next level.
Sync Framework Tutorial - Part #3 - Preparing the server database
Join me on my tech journey as a Microsoft Student Partner diving into Sync Framework and data synchronization essentials. #TechTutorial
Sync Framework Tutorial - Part #4 - Thou hast to sync thy data (the client application)
Join an Austrian Microsoft intern's journey to master sync technologies with a hands-on tutorial on using the Sync Framework.
Sync Framework Tutorial - Part #5 - Some Client Provider Schema Details
Learn how to refine client database schemas post-sync with SQL Server Compact Edition to ensure data integrity in your app!
Looking for Alex? with Google AdSense
Discover SEO insights & uncover a new social phishing trend in Google Results. Join my journey into the digital marketing world!
Visual Studio 2008 - Automatic Properties and Object Initializers
Exploring VS08: Embracing automatic properties & streamlining code with object initializers. A journey of discovery and efficiency.
Touchdown! Visual Studio 2008 + .net 3.5 RTM
"Diving into the excitement of Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5's release. Join me in exploring the latest features!"
Powershell - Quick Tip #1: Run a .ps1 file
Discover how to run .ps1 files in Powershell & navigate script execution policies. A solution for every script enthusiast!
Channel 8: My interview with two VB.net stars
I stepped in for an exclusive interview with VB leaders Amanda Silver & Jay Schmelzer. Peek into VB's future, summary on Channel 8 & more!
Software Estimation and Austrian law
Exploring how Austrian law's strict cost estimation rules impact software projects, inspired by insights from "Software Estimation" by Steve McConnell.
LINQ in .net 2.0 - Did you know?
Discover how Visual Studio 2008 enhances .NET 2.0 projects with LINQ, expanding possibilities for your development work!
Tech-Ed: Download session files now
Created a tool to quickly download Tech-Ed session slides—no waiting for DVDs! Simple, effective, and ready for you to use or modify.
XING: Poor statistics on pro accounts
Discover my journey from free to pro on Xing, exploring the value of pro features for self-marketers & my quest for better profile stats.
Microsoft Student Partner EMEA Summit 2007
Discover the exciting world of Microsoft Student Partners (MSP) - a journey of passion, technology, and community. See how to become one and the perks!
Tech-Ed Day 2 - Sync framework and licensing services
Diving into Microsoft Sync Framework and exploring software's real user focus and latest licensing services at TechED. Stay tuned for more insights!
Microsoft Sync Framework
Explore the Microsoft Sync Framework, a key to seamless collaboration & offline app capabilities, through detailed examination and real-world applications.
Tech-Ed Day 1 - BizTalk and the DinnerNow tech case
"Day 1 at TechEd: Dived into the future of .NET and BizTalk Services. Plus, a cool look at DinnerNow.net's tech showcase. #TechEdDevelopers"
TechEd 2007 EMEA - Keynote
"Live from Barcelona, my take on the TechEd Keynote: unexpected revelations & usual corporate spiel. Stay tuned for more insights! #TechEd"
The old content
Discover archived posts from my old blog at gidion.wordpress.com - your go-to source for all my past writings, sans images. Check it out!
Is micromedia IT's catalytic converter?
"Exploring micromedia's role in propelling our generation towards unprecedented learning and growth in the IT industry. Join my journey."
2 Problems, 2 Solutions - Firefox and Outlook
Overcoming tech hurdles with Firefox and Outlook: this blog shares my journey on fixing an empty Download window in Firefox and a syncing issue in Outlook, explaining the benefits of syncing to central servers.