Thursday, October 16, 2014

Is Silverlight still the preferred choice of developers ?

RIA development, Microsoft Silverlight development, Silverlight web developerMicrosoft's Build 2014 conference during the April 2 to April 4, 2014 had been Satya Nadella's first developer conference as CEO. Build is actually an yearly conference and the event conducted by Microsoft, focused on software as well as on web developers. Microsoft looked a totally different from the one anybody witnessed earlier. The very first time in several years, this can be a Microsoft which is all set to look at the future. The Microsoft from the previous few years can be described as secretive, defensive company. While in the introduction of Windows 8, particularly, the involvement with developers, along with users, and with media had been limited. Once involvement began to happen, it had been both of the regularly unidirectional, there had been little effort to get suggestions by the community or repeat designs according to real world experience and also limited with its perspective. There had been a rejection to describe trajectories or provide any kind of indications on how this company planned to build their software. Along with a combination of political and of technological conflict, the issue of communication meant the communities Redmond when worked nicely and had been treated badly.

As an example, lots of developers who learned and also taken Silverlight, Microsoft's .NET-based platform for the developing of rich client applications, equally in the web browser as well as on the desktop. In the past, Silverlight had been a significant tool, one which developers noticed beneficial and loved using it. Then again in the Microsoft, it dropped away from favor. HTML5 rather had become the encouraged technology for creating the same types of app. Then again, there wasn't any significant communication for this impact. No sharp statement to exactly how Silverlight might possibly be wound down or perhaps this would stop for development. Developers that dedicated to the framework had been simply kept quiet and wondering.

The position for the developers by using the WPF graphical platform had been similar. There were gossips that this has been canceled as well as the team which handled it separated, however there had never been any positive information by the Microsoft and slight or perhaps no light shed regarding the framework's potential future, whether it really had one. Additionally, developers made the investment in the WPF, and then they had been kept in the lurch. This is also true for the developers making use of the XNA game framework which, compared with WPF, have really been eliminated and arguably also .NET in general. Although the company kept quiet regarding these types of issues, it however wanted their developer community on wholehearted to learn about latest tools and APIs. Programmers had been anticipated to write apps for the Windows 8, using its latest WinRT API, as well as Windows Phone 8, along with its unusual mixture of the latest WinRT and with old Silverlight. The software organization never created a great case for the reason why developers should learn still additional stuff, and it also did not give any kind of guarantees that these types of new stuff would not even be removed.

The company will give the appearance to be open and communicative with, for instance, extended blogs describing several new Windows 8 features or some other or perhaps explaining the reason why certain decisions had been made. However it was entirely one-sided. The community given quite reasonable reviews mentioning, for instance, that the Windows 8 will leave new consumers into the lurch, providing absolutely nothing to support them through the latest interface mechanisms, or even recommending in which the Windows RT compared to Windows 8 dichotomy had been improperly communicated as well as, for many, complicated. The feedback was actually met with, at the best, unconcern, and also at worst, a quite arrogantly stubborn insisting that there had been no issue, that things were fine, and it was quite rude to suggest normally. This would help you leverage the benefits of RIA development.

We provide Microsoft Silverlight development services. If you would like to discuss with a certified Silverlight web developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Cake PHP and ways for Effective Forms Management

PHP development company India, PHP development, hire PHP developersCake PHP is endorsed for developing projects by some of the most experienced web designers across the globe. The primary reason behind is that PHP platform offers an organized and trouble free way to create applications. It is more than a mere framework as it enables the developers to achieve a correct perspective of the CMS as well. There are diverse features in this framework that allows the developers to create extensive websites with explicit functionality, flexibility, and impressive results. Coding in this framework is clean and a host of plugins helps the developers to build solutions that are flexible enough for numerous customers. CakePHP also improves the quality of the code while reducing its quantity. This makes it effective for forms management application development.

Multistep form

This is a difficult and tedious task while developing an application. With the Ecommerce websites on the rise, the multistep form has become an indispensable part in creation of websites. For taking care of intensive customer data, this form is used. You cannot put all the data on a single page. It becomes lengthy and inconvenient to use. CakePHP has powerful classes which can be effectively used to for dealing with this form where user experience is the priority. The codes to be used are quite less and the work is not repetitive as well.

CRUD

Managing data easily is another reason why this framework is preferred over other CMS platforms. As an effective open source platform, it enables to create, update, read and delete various kinds of entities within the system. The CRUD is one method that is successfully applied to solve the data management issues. All the developers have to do is implement this within the framework.

Easy to manage codes

In order to facilitate successful forms management it is equally important that the codes can be easily used. As far as CakePHP is concerned, the program code can be smoothly rebuilt or expanded. The write up and management in it are neatly done. This is the reason why programmers prefer it for reusing codes while developing a number of projects. If you are planning to maintain the module reference guides or the library codes, then the framework proves to be extremely useful. In fact, reusability is one of the primary advantages of Cake PHP.

Besides the above mentioned reasons, there are several others for which Cake PHP is popular amongst the programmers. There are several features which enable it to develop apps fast and make them more user-friendly.

Impressive organization

A highly organized environment is offered by it. All the data is further divided into classes, organizations, and management. Thus managing these are no trouble at all. The data is also maintained on a tabular form that is well ordered. Thus the programmers find it easy to develop relationships between the classes and elements in this framework.

No complicated configuration

Configurations are often tricky businesses. But the Cake PHP makes working with configuration quite hassle free. Since the controls can be detected automatically, it becomes extremely easy to work with. Thus, instead of getting involved in a long battle for configuring the system, the programmers can plan a quick launch of the website.

Development is quicker

This PHP framework is best known for its small span of development time. Fast development is a feature that is preferred by programmers all over the world. They can utilize a host of tools with ease in a small time frame. When it comes to form management the same tools and elements can be effectively used to achieve success.

To handle projects in a dynamic way the Cake PHP framework is widely used. The MIT license makes it easy to acquire and implement. The advantage of this license is that the programmers can use it conveniently. There are no issues regarding modifications, copying, publishing, sublicensing, merging, or being used. Thus, they have complete freedom in using it effectively to build forms management. This would help you leverage the benefits of PHP certified professionals when hiring services of a PHP development company India.

We provide PHP development services. To hire PHP developers from us, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Android OS Versions - A Complete List

Android development company India, Android app programming services, Android app developers for hireAccording to an International Data Corporation press release, “Android will undoubtedly remain the clear market leader among smartphone operating systems with share expected to hit 80.2% in 2014.” The hugely popular Google mobile operating system was originally designed based on the Linux kernel for touch screen devices. But at present, Android is being used by wrist watches (Android Wear), televisions (Android TV), cars (Android Auto) and other specialized interfaces along with smartphones, tablets and phablets. The huge popularity of the mobile operating system can be attributed to a variety of factors. But each version of Android contributed towards enhancing its popularity and global market share. Each version of the mobile operating system interestingly has a dessert-based nickname.

About Major Commercial Versions of Android

Cupcake (Android 1.5): Android 1.5 SDK was releases in April 2009. Cupcake considered beginning the era of the modern Android phone. It was also the first revamped version of the mobile OS that came with many UI changes. The version 1.5 also supported widgets and folders on the home screen. At the same time, Cupcake also included camcorder support, improved Bluetooth support, and upload services like Picasa and YouTube.

Donut (Android 1.6): In September 2009, Donut was released. It was built based on the features of Android 1.5, while expanding the features. Some of the behind the scene improvements were not even noticeable by end users. But it allows users to initiate universal search and access the Android Market. At the same time, Donut also supported improved camera, galleries, and higher resolution touchscreens. Donut is considered to provide the framework base for future updates.

Eclair (Android 2.0/2.01/2.1): Éclair, released in late 2009, is considered to be major step up over earlier versions. The Android 2.0 came with a new user interface (UI), an improved web browser and Google Maps. Google Maps enable the platform to compete with other stand-along GPS navigation systems. Google further updated Éclair with additional features and bug fixes.

Froyo (Android 2.2): Google announced Froyo in May 2010 at the Google IO Conference. The Android 2.2 came with a Just-In-Time (JIT) Compiler to drastically improve the processing power of devices. Froyo further supported Adobe Flash 10.1. So the users now have option to access their Flash-based content and games on the mobile web browser. Froyo also supported tethering to enable users to provide internet connectivity to any device from their Android smartphone's data connection.

Gingerbread (Android 2.3): Gingerbread was released in December 2010 with several UI improvements and support for new technologies. The UI improvements to Android resulted in making the menus, dialogs and notification bars feel consistent. At the same time, Gingerbread also supported innovative technologies like Near Field Communication (NFC) and Internet Calling (SIP). Android 2.3 also came with an optimized JIT compiler and battery life.

Honeycomb (Android 3.X): Honeycomb was the first Android version that was designed for tablets. IT was released in February 2011 with a set of new elements for tablets. Along with the new recent apps button, Honeycomb also came with the updated Gmail and Talk apps. The Talk app makes it easier for tablet users to video chat. Honeycomb was released under Google’s new distribution method. The distribution method required the device manufacturers to get their hardware choices approved by Google to obtain the required source code and license.

Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0): Google released Android 4.0 in December 2011. Ice Cream Sandwich was designed to bring some of the design elements of Honeycomb to smartphones, while refining the user experience. However, Google subsequently updated Android 4.0 for both smartphones and tablets.

Jelly Bean (Android 4.1-4.3): Jelly Bean was released by Google in 2012. Google also releases Android versions 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 within a shorter span of time. It included the polished UI design along with several new features. Jelly Bean is also the first version of Android that came with lock screen widgets, actionable notifications, multi-user accounts support and quick settings in the notification bar. The combination of customization options and useful services make Jelly Bean the turning point for the Google mobile operating system.

Each updated version of Android comes with several additional and improvements. Google has unveiled the next version of the mobile operating system with the working title of Android L. But the formal version of Android L is expected to release by late 2014. If you are planning to hire service of Android development company India, you must evaluate them to see if they are sufficiently agile or not!

We provide Android app programming services. If you would like to talk one of our certified Android app developers for hire, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Why is WordPress Considered to be the Favourite CMS

WordPress CMS development, Wordpress customization services, expert WordPress developersAmong so many CMS or Content Management Systems that are available, WordPress is considered to be the most the adored as well as the preferred one. There are a number of reasons behind it. Let us discuss the features that have made WordPress the most accepted CMS.

Firstly, it is considered to be one of the most powerful semantic platforms that facilitate publishing of content – irrespective of volume. Secondly, it comes up with a series of value added features that are specifically designed to make the end users experience as pleasant, as friendly, as well as, as smooth as possible as a publisher. Let us discuss the features that make this particular CMS so much popular.

Updated as well as Improved Post Editor

WP comes up with TinyMCE, which is a software that powers its visual editor. The latest version of WP comes up with an updated version of this Post Editor by the virtue of which, the interface looks much cleaner, as well as less cluttered or clumsy than in was in the previous versions. The customary “Paste from Word” button is missing as it is not required anymore, because pasting a text from the MS Word does not leave the users with a messy cluster of words any more that needs to be rearranged or edited afresh. There are options to preview the galleries from the editor. All the users need to do is to upload the images and then follow it up by inserting a gallery for checking them out.

Drag and Drop option of Images

WP also comes up with a unique feature that allows the users to drag as well as drop images into the Post Editor. For that the users do not have to click on the “Add Media” tab. As soon as an image is dragged into the post editor, the media uploader automatically pops up to let the users add a caption, ascertain the size of the image etc.

Live Widget Preview

The new version of WordPress provides the option of editing and previewing the Widgets instantly from the Customizer Screen. Therefore, there is no need to continuously save the widgets and refresh the sites to have a look at every change – small or big, that has been done on the front end, before saving or publishing the settings. Then there is the updated Customizer feature that helps the users to upload, crop as well as manage the header images.

Editing the Images

When it comes to editing the images, WordPress comes up with a handful of options that help adding as well as editing of images in a seamless way. It also helps in cropping and editing the images even when a post is being written. The users also can crop a photo into the post editor by clicking on the photo in question, and resizing it by dragging the handles to the edges. Even while editing the images, an edit image screen comes up in modal form. Hence, the user does not have to go to the Edit Image page separately – the fact that saves time, besides making the process much simpler.

Theme Installer

The 3.8 version of WP comes in a much improved form with the Theme Installer feature that makes it easier, smoother, as well as simpler for the users to browse through various themes that they are looking forward to preview and then install.

It also provides the option of tracking the site statistics if and when needed, and also allows the users to customize their designs to meet their needs or objectives without any effort whatsoever. WordPress also helps creating as well as reading various kinds of mobile apps for devices like iPhone, Android, iPad and Blackberry. The feature is specifically designed as well as developed for publishing and sharing content, thereby luring the readers to visit a site. The CMS also has certain qualities with the help of which it ensures that the site in question is presented in an optimal format so that it appears at the top of the search engine pages, the moment the page is published and shared. This ensures maximum visibility – one of the reasons why WP is today the most cherish CMS. To get maximum benefits of Wordpress, you may consider hiring services of a WordPress CMS development company.

We provide Wordpress customization services. If you would like to discuss with a expert WordPress developers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Mobile App Development for Marketing - Is it the best way to promote business

top mobile app development companies, custom mobile application development, hire mobile app developersAre you planning to shift from the paper form of promotion to the mobile apps? You are on the right track. Businesses are increasingly becoming more aware of the importance of mobile marketing. Often the adoption of technology in business is a result of personal use of these technologies. This is especially evident from the prevalence of mobile app development for marketing. Consumers nowadays consist of people who are used to download apps in a jiffy, use them according to their own convenience or share photos at their own will. Their consumer grade technology expectations are slowly spilling over to the business arenas as well.

If you are wondering whether mobile app marketing works for promoting business, then check out the following benefits for which this method is preferred:

Increases workforce visibility: If your business is opting for mobile workforce then there are troubles tracing the real time workers on a daily or hourly basis. It is also difficult to track down their performances. People on outdoor jobs are not really easy to locate unless they return to their desks. But the cloud based mobile applications provide greater visibility for the workforce in various ways. One of their advantages is that they present greater accuracy. As a result there are fewer problems to deal with. The companies will also require lesser time to spend on tracking their employees and thus, divert their attention to more important tasks.

Improved Sales Opportunities: One of the biggest reasons why businesses are prone to adopt mobile marketing apps is that with the popularity of the smartphones greater opportunities have opened up for shopping and other engagements. The interaction between customers and business representatives has grown immensely as a result. Moreover, since smartphones are commonly found in every pocket it has become easier to reach out to the customers through the handheld devices. All you got to do is include a push notification to remind the users about their old shopping carts and tempt them back to the shopping world. If you can offer a better seamless experience of login ids and billing information, it spells a better path to win over your consumers.

Utilize GPS facility: It would be a real loss not to make use of the latest technologies that are at your behest. The GPS facility is one of them. If you are planning to develop a cloud based mobile app to meet your marketing demands then it can also significantly enhance the routing efficiency by tracking job sites, workers and more importantly customer locations. With the help of the GPS, the business owners can easily see the map routes and even calculate time and date. Once you have been able to track the routes probably, it can save you a headache regarding fuel and wear and tear of your vehicles.

Aid in improving quality control: These apps are also helpful in carrying out quality control checks and safety inspections at the work sites. If you are still using the paper forms, there would be several discrepancies and insufficiencies. But with an activated GPS facility, the inspection processes will not suffer. You will be better armed to deal with the data provided to you and can also resort to multimedia (photos, videos) for more authentic reports. You can also make use of the date and time stamps.

Gathering data is made easy: Using mobile app development for marketing can open up a whole wide world of data collecting opportunities for you. If you are still stuck in the physical world it is time to shift to the virtual one to track the move of your customers. This would definitely help you to formulate better business plans and generate revenues. On the other hand, certain applications, like, Salesforce or Dropbox, are effective tools for storing the collected data which can be shared across several verticals. With a mobile data sharing capability the employees can put in information anywhere, anytime.

Technology, in every form, is a powerful tool but it should be handled carefully. Similar laws apply to mobile app development for marketing as well. If you can use a mobile app for marketing properly, then it will prove the best way to promote your business. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide custom mobile application development services. If you would like to hire mobile app developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Playground Feature In Swift Gives Developers A reason To Rejoice

iPhone software development, iPhone app development services, hire iPhone consultantWhen the Apple’s Worldwide Wide Developers Conference, many have been discussed and writing on Swift and iOS 8. Now, developers and non developers at various backgrounds will have the ability to reach a lot easier into iOS and OS X worlds.

Without a doubt, the most awesome announcement for the iOS developers is definitely the Playground feature which will allow these people to test the code lines instantly. However Swift is actually a compiled language, the feature allows the code to be interpreted also delivered in the live preview in the Xcode IDE. It's going to save developers a number of problems and can enable them to produce much better projects within a short duration. Apple’s statement describes that nicely, “Playgrounds will make writing Swift code effective and simple. Type the line of code, then the results can be seen instantly”. Incase, for instance, the code runs from a loop, one would will have the ability to include the line in issue into the Timeline Assistant to view it progress. That will point out the source of performance issues through timing the executing the code. One could highlight variables in the graph, check each step of the process of drawing a view, or perhaps view an animated Sprite Kit scene. If you are improved the code within the playground, simply shift that code in the project.

Try out with Swift code playground. One doesn't need to compile and run the whole project, the playground gives quick comments on the results of the coding experiments. Xcode reviews the code when that is typed in. As soon as you complete a statement or perhaps take a break from typing, Xcode shows the code results within a sidebar at the right side in the source editor window. When you change the code, results might temporarily gets changed from black into gray and Xcode recalculates them. If you make an error, Xcode shows an error sign in gutter. Click on the sign to view a description for the particular error. Once you fix or remove the error, Xcode re-displays the results of the valid code. To analyze the value for the variable apart from the result, type the variable in a different line. Xcode reviews the variable and shows the value on the results sidebar. Quick Look buttons turn up for the results which represent content meant for graphical display, including images and strings. The playground contains the regular source-code editing features of Xcode. For instance, the playground offers syntax correction, code completion, as well as syntax-aware fonts and text colors. Once you are pleased with the outcomes of the experiments, you may copy the code in the playground and then paste that to the source files of the iOS and OS X projects.

Additionally Swift simply being far more easy for the developers, Playground will enable them to understand on the way. They could learn in the Playground - “The blend of highly formatted documentation along with playground that is interactive makes it simple to completely explore the API, modifying''. However with the run-as-you-type Playground the new feature, one would have never be amazed to observing a few simple bugs. But the very first among these, might not be a little one as it might even clear off the hard drive. That's what was stated by Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) on the Twitter, Playground isn't really sandboxed, hence entered code could do everything without hitting enter. Although we are pretty confident that Apple would certainly make the extra effort into this to prevent any issues. To get maximum benefits of mobile apps, you may consider hiring services of a certified iPhone software development company.

We provide iPhone app development services. Companies hire iPhone consultant from us at Mindfire Solutions. If you are ready, please contact us today.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The "Next Big Things" in Open Source

WordPress development, Wordpress website development, expert WordPress developersA constant increase is noted in the number of enterprises relying on open source technologies to curtail project overheads. Normally, the copyright holder of the open source software allows other users to study, change and distribute it without paying any licensing fees. Many developers even contribute towards making the open source software better. However, it is always important for both individual developers and enterprises to keep track of the next big things in open source. If you are gathering information about the hot open source technologies, it is a good idea to have a look at some of the best open source application development tools.

5 Application Development Tools: the "Next Big Things" in Open Source

1) Data-Driven Documents (D3)

As a JavaScript, D3.js is designed with features for manipulation and virtualization of data-based documents. It enables developers to virtualize the data using HTML, CSS and SVG. Initially, the developers have to bind the arbitrary data to a Document Object Model (DOM). The data-driven transformations can be subsequently applied to the document. The web programmers can D3.js to present the data in an engaging and easy-to-understand way. For instance, they can use D3.js to present an array of numbers as a HTML table or interactive SVG bar chart. Along with being fast and flexible, D3.js also supports large datasets, and the dynamic behaviors required for interaction and animation.

2) Famo.us

The open source JavaScript framework allows programmers to create smooth and complex UIs for a variety of screens. Famo.us is also the only JavaScript framework that comes with a 3D layout engine fully integrated with a 3D physics animation engine. The integration enables Famo.us to render DOM, Canvas or WebGL. The programmers also have option to create Famo.us applications and sites by using free tools. Further, they can integrate the JavaScript framework seamlessly with other frameworks like jQuery, Backbone, Angular and Cordova. Famo.us can also be used for both web application and mobile app development.

3) jQuery

The jQuery Foundation aims to “support the advancement of web through JavaScript”. It allows developers to use both jQuery UI and jQuery Mobile. The jQuery UI is developed on the jQuery JavaScript Library. It includes widgets, effects, themes and user interface interactions. The web developers can use jQuery UI to accomplish both simple and complex tasks. On the other hand, jQuery Mobile is a designed as a HTML5-based user interface system. It helps developers in creating responsive websites and applications that can be accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.

4) Atom

The developers have described Atom as “a hackable text editor for the 21st Century”. The open source desktop editor is developed based on web technologies. But it includes a set of innovative tools that can be used to customize anything. The programmers can start using Atom immediately without putting any time or effort for configuration. At the same time, Atom also comes with the features provided by other modern text editors including code folding, snippets, file system browser, a clean preferences UI, multiple cursors and pans, and fast project-wide search and replace.

5) Brackets

The open source code editor is launched by Adobe. Brackets comes with the features required by front-end developers and web designers. Adobe has designed Brackets as an optimized tool to edit code written in open source technologies like HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Brackets further allow developers to use an extension manager, with extensions for some commonly used programming languages. The programmers can further enjoy live HTML development and efficient JavaScript debugging.

You must experiment with the latest open source application development tools to save both time and effort. But while evaluating the next best things in open source, you must keep in mind the specific requirements of your projects. You must compare different open source tools to complete the project within the shortest time frame. To get maximum benefits of Open-source, you may consider hiring services of a WordPress development company.

We provide Wordpress website development services. If you would like to discuss with a expert WordPress developers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Parse PHP SDK - Things to Know About It

PHP web development company India, PHP application development, PHP developers IndiaIn August, Parse, a company acquired by Facebook last year, released the Parse PHP SDK. It is the first SDK released by Parse for any server-side scripting language. The SDK enables developers to create PHP scripts and websites within a shorter span of time. The PHP developers can use the SDK provided by Parse to accomplish a wide range of tasks including tracking analytics, sending push notifications, storing data and managing users. Further, they can accomplish these important tasks without writing longer lines of code. The code can be integrated seamlessly with both new and existing PHP applications.

According to official Parse Blog, “This is our first SDK for a server-side language, and the first to be truly open-source. PHP is an incredibly popular programming language and has consistently been in the top 10 on the TIOBE index for the past 15 years. Some metrics report that it is still serving the vast majority of websites on the internet. Until now, if you wanted to access Parse from PHP, the REST API was the only option. A few Parse API wrapper libraries have been released by third parties on GitHub. While we think this is awesome, many developers requested better PHP support and we decided to build a first-party SDK.

Important Facts about Parse PHP SDK Each Beginner Needs to Know

Open Source

Each programmer wants to adopt a new technology without increasing the project overheads. Parse has released the source of PHP SDK as open source. So the Parse PHP SDK can be used by PHP developers without paying any licensing fees. Further, they can avail the assistance of other users, and contribute to improve the open source SDK.

Requires Minimum Configuration

Despite allowing PHP developers to accomplish several complex tasks without writing lengthy code, the Parse PHP SDK does not require any robust configuration. Parse has designed the SDK to help PHP developers to create large and complex application rapidly with minimum configuration. The programmers can simply download the SDK, and use it quickly to build PHP applications on Parse.

Manages Entire Backend

While creating PHP applications on Parse, the programmers have option to avail the advantages of Parse Cloud. Parse Cloud is designed with features to efficiently handle the entire backend of the application. So the programmers are not required to focus on scalability, performance and databases. Thus, they have more time to focus on the features and functionality of the web application to make it deliver richer user experience.

Allows Saving Data Flexibly

Parse has designed the PHP SDK with features to make it easier for developers to work with native objects without writing longer lines of code. They can simply use the ParseObject to store a variety of data on Parse. The individual ParseObject further contains key-value pairs of JSON-compatible data. As the data is schemaless, the keys for each ParseObject need not be specified in advance. So it becomes easier for PHP programmers to save the data objects to the cloud flexibly through the SDK.

Allows Deployment of Multiple Versions of the Same Application

While creating PHP applications on Parse, the developers have option to create an App for individual applications. They can further apply the distinct application id and REST API key of the App to their web application. Thus, they can accommodate multiple Apps in a single account on Parse. The option helps them in deploying different versions of the same application to optimize both production and testing.

On the whole, Parse PHP SDK is designed by keeping in mind the latest trends in web application development. The programmers can use it to rapidly create complex application without writing lengthy code and requiring robust configurations. Further, the open source SDK allows developers to focus on making the application deliver richer user experience by handling the entire backend. This would help you leverage the benefits of PHP certified professionals when hiring services of a PHP web development company India.

We provide PHP application development services. To hire PHP developers India from us, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Things to Avoid While Developing Mobile Application

top mobile app development companies, mobile app development, hire mobile app developersTechnology has developed in leaps and bounds in the recent years. Mobile development, too, has altered a lot since the days of its inception. With more number of technologies being introduced, the room for committing errors has increased as well. Developing a mobile application is no child’s play. There are several factors that need to be checked for its success. One error can ruin the application or even the entire brand. An app is meant for the users and it is important to ensure good user experience. Although developers check their products for finding out mistakes but there are certain common errors that are committed by several of them.

Here’s a list of 7 mistakes that the developers need to avoid while developing a mobile application:

1. Mobile apps are a competitive business where the developers might be required to build for Google Play as well as Apple App Store. It is always advisable to build them on a single platform instead of the multiple ones. This also aids in achieving minimum viable product from the app store quickly. If the app is developed on two platforms and require changes, then the modifications will have to be done on both the platforms. This will lead to additional costing and time. It is better, however, to finalize the app on iOS before porting it to Android.

2. Keep two things in mind before you develop the application – consumers as well as marketing. Thus, it is significant to decide the category in which you want to introduce the app. With so much competition in this market, it is essential that your product gets noticed.

3. User experience is another criterion to keep in mind while dealing with mobile apps. The mobile users just do not put up with applications that offer bad user experience. You cannot afford to compromise this whilst developing an app for the handheld devices.

4. Once you have selected a platform to launch your application it is essential that you have a set of features for the MVP. In the first version, you would like to see how the users are responding to the app. If you already own a good website do not plan to condense it into a mobile format. Think afresh and develop a separate plan solely focused on the mobile user experience. Do not rush during the development process and launch a product that has bugs. Instead of opting for a rocky start, go slow with your process and launch an app that is 100% bug free. Mobile users are more than often quite unforgiving when it comes to mistakes.

5. Do not commit the error of launching a mobile application without putting it on the analytics. A tracking tool like, Flurry, can be used to decide on issues, such as, content, design and user experience.

6. It is vital to market the product before submitting them. Take a look at the marketing strategies of some of the biggest brands in the mobile world. All of them keep advertising about their app development right from the planning stage. This is an important marketing strategy to reach out to the users. Release images and required tidbits for the users to relate.

7. Many of the most popular apps are for free. Hence, monetization is one thing about which you will have to plan carefully from the very beginning.

A number of companies mismanage their projects by not hiring professionals. This is a very wrong step as the developers are the key factors in developing an app. To ensure that it can be launched successfully, the best option is to indulge in proper market research, plan effective monetization strategy, and ensure there is suitable collaboration between designers and developers. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to hire mobile app developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The importance of mHealth apps in healthcare industry

mobile health app development, Medical Software Development, outsource mhealth developmentMobile apps can certainly help many people to take care of their health & wellness, a healthier lifestyle, and also gives access to valuable information whenever they require it. These power tools are now being embraced almost as soon as they are built. As per industry reports, five hundred million smartphone consumers around the world will use at least one healthcare app by 2015, and 50% of the over 3.4 billion smartphone & tablet consumers are going to have installed moibile health apps by 2018. The government some time ago established a process of connecting medical center (and provider) reimbursement for the facilities to patient satisfaction ratings provided by HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems). Though there's significant discussion on the relationship regarding patient satisfaction with the quality of care, the system is not going away soon - at least for some time.

One of the essential drawback within the system according to David Lee Scher, MD - Owner & Director of DLS Healthcare Consulting, could make the system fail, would be the significant delay in delivering the results to the institutions. The delay goes in the order for ten months. Additionally, surveys might be provided to patients around 6 weeks once discharge. Could anyone recall exactly what his or her ER stay was like earlier on a three month hospitalization 6 weeks later when going home? There are certain apps currently available that enable patients to carry out the survey immediately. This might lead to a lot more secure data which providers could act upon much faster, that could eventually enhance satisfaction quicker. CMS isn't currently permit such type of technology. One particular issue is usually that the patients may be afraid of retribution while in the hospitalization for the negative reviews. David, further stated that this isn't a common issue in which people might expect that the criticisms might end up in positive modifications which providers ethics would overcome pride.

Nowadays, there are several patient knowledge tools available to choose from. Many are offered like a service by the pharma & medical device organizations. Some others are offered by many very good 3rd party commercial agencies. But the use of such apps is usually very low. Providers are, generally, aren't offering digital information to the patients. The mandate for the use of patient portals is just about 10% of hospitalized Medicare patients & 5% of outpatients. Additionally, the necessity for the exchange of data is quite unknown. An investment towards patient education tools will probably lead to enhanced risk management, reducing lawsuits, develop patient adherence to the medications & instructions and enable for the caregivers to get access to the information. Venture capitalists are usually made investments in the technologies which enable medical experiences with smartphones. The industry for this type of interactions has emerged like a natural development on the use of mobile technologies within the retail & financial fields along with Congressional desire for growing telehealth services.

As illustrated in the Merrit Howkins study about physician appointment wait times, insufficient access to the care, effect from in-person visits to caregivers, logistical issues for remote patients and also insufficient availablily of cost-effective care are the aspects which makes this particular technology interesting. Although many mobile health tools in use nowadays are reference apps for the healthcare providers and for the patients, there are methods through which other kinds of mobile technologies could be extremely helpful. To get maximum benefits of mHealth, you may consider hiring services of a mobile health app development company.

We provide Medical Software Development services. To outsource mhealth development needs of your organization, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Few things to consider for successful testing of applications

Agile software testing, QA and testing services, hire software qa analystInternet, today, is a fast growing world where there is a continuous need for new applications. The customers want better and faster applications than their competitors. Whether the app is meant for the web or the mobile, customers do not want to work with defective products. What they need is a properly functioning application that will work smoothly to generate the maximum benefits. Hence, it is imperative to fix all the errors before releasing an app. If the product released by you keeps disrupting the users, that would get a bad name for the company. Hence testing is a process which the developers cannot skip at all. But which factors are considered most effective for a successful testing?

Here’s a list of factors that the developers must consider to ensure that the testing process is successful:

Objective: What is the aim of the application? Unless you answer this question it is impossible to test whether that app will be effective. It does not matter if the developers are developing a web or mobile application; there should be a bunch of objectives in front of the team so that they are given priority. Your product might not be perfect but it should meet the requirements of the intended customer.

Analysis: It is essential to analyze the test results in details. The need is to find the main reason behind the success or failure of the app. If you know the thing thoroughly it will also help to deal with other problems that might arise during the testing process. As a tester it will also assist in increasing knowledge base.

Perfection: This is not possible while developing apps. But what the developers might endeavour for is a trouble free and user friendly product.

Break It Up: Divide the apps in modules, sub modules and sub-sub modules. Having independent test cases for each of them will also prove useful. This process makes testing easier. Make a matrix sheet with the necessary summary linked to the test cases. Here you can include the status of each of the test cases and refer to them every time you need by merely glancing through the sheet.

Points to include in the Test Care summary: Firstly, all the basic points should be covered that are required for developing the app or its objective. Include Data transparency and ways to deal with unexpected errors.

Tracking the Results: Once executing the test results is in progress, it will generate a number of issues and bugs which are to be taken care of. During this stage it is essential to keep, organize and distribute all the information to the appropriate teams. You also need to keep management informed about the way your testing is progressing. It is significant that you keep a track about the results and progress of the apps.

Create a Separate Environment: To ensure that the new product will work fine when the codes are moved to and fro you need to create a separate web server, application server and a database server. The existing computers might not be used to create a separate test environment. It is also crucial to test the new versions of the source codes in order to properly identify them.

Usability Testing: This process is vital as it will decide the user experience. You have done your bit by developing the app. But is that enough? The answer is definitely negative. Checking the usability is unavoidable. Whether it is a web application or a mobile one, it is required that you check whether the product will be working fine with the users. Are there any jerks or is the navigation okay?

Whilst you are busy testing your apps, it would beneficial to have a work routine prepared. This way you will know the priorities and carry out the testing procedure accordingly. This ensures that time is saved and the right steps are taken to guarantee the app’s performance. To get maximum benefits of testing, you may consider hiring services of a Agile software testing company.

We provide QA and testing services. To hire software QA analyst from us, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

How valuable is Certification for QTP Testers?

custom QTP testing company, QTP automation services, certified software testing expertsHP has renamed the QuickTest Professional (QTP) as the Unified Functional Testing (UFT) software. UFT is used widely by organizations across the world for enterprise quality assurance. It also comes with a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easier for users to automate the regression and functional tests for both software applications and environments. So a testing professional can learn QTP to enhance his employment and career prospects. A software testing professional can even reap a number of benefits by obtaining HP-QTP certification.

HP conducts the certification exam called HP0-M4 in collaboration with Pearson VUE. The certification exam consists of 72 questions. The professional has to answer the questions within 105 minutes, and obtain a passing percentage of 75%. The certification exam is intended for all professionals who implement test automation by creating and running test, and analyzing the test results. So each tester has to invest both time and efforts to obtain the HP--QTP certification. However, the certification will definitely enhance his professional competence and career prospects.

Benefits of HP-QTP Certification for Individual Testers

Recognition of Professional Competence: The QTP certification is directly conducted by HP in collaboration with Pearson VUE. By awarding the certification, HP formally recognizes the individual’s proficiency in Unified Functional Testing software. Thus, the certification represents the professional’s in-depth knowledge, skills and professional competence. Many professionals try to clear the HP0-M4 exam to impress prospective employers by through enhanced professional competence.

Earn Respect: As a hugely popular test automation suite, HP QTP is used widely by many organizations and testers. So there are a large number of software testing professionals who are familiar with QTP. But the number of HP-QTP certified professionals is too small. So the professional certification earns respect and prestige for the certified QA engineers. The certification also provides competitive advantage to the certification-holders in the same field.

Better Employment Prospects: A constant increase is being noted in the number of organizations automating their software testing efforts. So the demand for HP UFT software increases is on the rise. But each company wants to hire testing professionals who hold HP-QTP certification. Many companies even prefer hiring HP-QTP certified testers during employee recruitment. There are also some large and reputable companies that have made HP-QTP certification a pre-requirement for employment.

Helpful during Appraisal: Like beginners, the experienced software testing professionals can also avail competitive advantage by obtaining HP-QTP certification. The prestigious certification, along with their professional experience and expertise, will help them in getting higher rating during performance appraisal. The certification will make it easier for them to get promotion and higher remuneration. They can even use the certification to effectively switch to large and reputable organizations.

Special Benefit for Consultants: The HP-QTP certification can also be valuable for freelance professionals and consultants. As these professionals have to impress clients to get the project, the certification will provide competitive advantage. The QTP certification is granted directly by HP who has also developed the UFT software. So the QTP certification makes it easier for freelance professional and consultants to establish a benchmark. For instance, when a consultancy firm deploys only QTP-certified testers, it will be easier for prove its professional competence and impress clients.

HP further allows software testing professionals to obtain two distinct certifications, i.e., Functional Testing 11.x and Advance Scripting using QuickTest Professional 11. Like individual software QA engineers, the HP-QTP certification is also valuable for organizations. The certified professional will help the organization in hiring the right QA engineers, and train the existing employees. Further, he will help the employer in optimize automation testing processes by establishing a professional standard. Therefore, most organizations, nowadays, prefer hiring testers with HP-QTP certification. To get maximum benefits of testing, you may consider hiring services of a custom QTP testing company.

We provide QTP automation services. If you would like to get your application tested by our certified software testing experts, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Monday, September 29, 2014

jRebel - What is it and what should developers know?

Java application development, Java development, java web development servicesjRebel is a Java development tool that was formerly known as JavaRebel. This tool removes the need to redeploy the code as it will immediately change the codes and you need not restart the system. The tool is especially helpful while executing a tricky logic which you want to get right. For instance, if you want to add an approval to your structure, with the help of jRebel you can include the rules in fields, one after the other. You can keep working on the errors until the structure has been perfected. In addition if you have to add more fields to the controller or manager, you can do that too without any difficulties. jRebel will save all the application states. This factor ensures that it does not matter how you are arriving at the page you want to alter.

Things Developers Should Know About jRebel

jRebel uses the JVM, a Java agent plugin, which is a command for line option. It is easily downloadable from Java. This tool utilizes it for installation. However, do not misinterpret jRebel as an IDE plugin. Although there are certain modifications that the developers can carry out with it for a better experience but jRebel can work equally efficiently with a vanilla Java compiler and text editor. It would also be helpful for the developers to know that this is not a framework either. An application is not dependent on it. Developers can remove it anytime they want and continue with their work without any hindrance. Finally, there is no need to make any alterations to JVM while developing with this tool. It is compatible with all the major JVM implementations.

How It Works

Developers will have to integrate the tool with applications servers and JVM at the class loader level. However, instead of creating of new ones, it will extend the existing ones so that they can manage the reloaded classes. Once a class is loaded, the tool searches for an equivalent .class file from the classpath and other places that are mentioned in the rebel.xmlconfiguration file. When it finds the file it is searching for, the instruments will match it with the found.class file. The .class file is monitored as the changes are made in the loaded class. The updates are produced via extended class loader to the application. If mention in rebel.xml, it can also scrutinize .class files.

The developers can especially benefit from the fact that jRebel keeps the existing instances of the class while loading updates to it. This not only enables the application to keep running but it also does not go for a rerun when a new field is introduced.

If the programmers are using this tool then debugging gets a better solution. While chasing a bug, you research on what is happening, make changes and implement them and the effects will be shown immediately. Next time when such problems arise, the new code will break in directly once it has completed assembling the code.

Benefits of Using jRebel

There are various reasons why jRebel is used and the developers should be aware of it in order to apply this tool properly. This can be used to test and try the features of a framework together. Short codes to test the functionality of a new system can be included and the results will show immediately. The developers can also make use of the library to look for codes and install the same in the applications. Even in situations when owing to performance issues or diverse networks, the system cannot be stimulated, jRebel enables system deployment on the developer’s computer.

In addition to these, there are no restarts or intervention from this tool. This provides the developers with more chances and time to check if all is going well. They also have more time to improve things. To ensure scalability, performance and robustness, jRebel is the most convenient Java development tool available presently. To get maximum benefits of Java development, you may consider hiring services of a Java application development company.

We provide Java web development services. For all your Java development requirements, please get in touch with Mindfire Solutions.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Developing Mobile App - How To Protect User Data?

top mobile app development companies, mobile app development, hire mobile app developersIt isn’t that easy to develop a mobile application. Factors, like, app programming and marketing it are two major hurdles that the developers have to cross. But there is another aspect which demands equal attention. While developing a mobile app it is imperative to protect user data. But how can it be done? Tools should be there to ensure that users’ data will be protected properly when they are using the handheld devices. Thus, this factor has to be remembered at several stages of the app development – designing, execution and managing.

The motto should be ‘privacy by design.’ It is always preferable to integrate the privacy protection at the initial stages. It is, thus, useful if it is made sure that your business contracts comply with the rules and regulations mentioned in the Privacy Act. In order to avoid and manage the risks for protecting the personal information and other complaints in an organized manner a privacy management program is definitely required.

Secondly, managing privacy does not mean it has to be a complicated process. Anyone can develop such systems. All a business requires is to carry out a PIA or Privacy Impact Assessment which would help to take into account all the necessary issues. PIA should be conducted for every app that is developed. This tool defines a project from the privacy point of view. This describes in details about how the personal information is collected, utilized, accessed, stored, disclosed and deleted. It also analyzes how such an issue might affect the project and suggests ways to avoid any threats. Thus, it ensures that the app is modeled for impressive risk management.

Thirdly, a company needs to be transparent about such policies. There are certain points that must be included in this policy, like, how can the users contact you, how your apps gather personal information, what kind of information does it collect and store, their purpose for collection, how the personal information will be used, how the users can correct the collected information, how they will be disclosed, etc.

Fourthly, the users should be well aware about the practices so that they can provide adequate information when required. But if the Privacy Policy is too lengthy, the users will not read it. Hence, it is necessary that such a notice is short yet includes all the necessary content. But how can the developers achieve this end? They can use short form notices, include a privacy dashboard, use graphics to send across the message, etc. In addition to this the developers can also use colors to alert the users or sound to convey the policy to the disabled users.

Fifthly, acquiring user content is an important part for ensuring proper protection. Thus, it is critical when and where to introduce the consent form. The best option is to include it before they download it. Developers can include short messages that tell the users comprehensively about what will happen to their individual information.

Sixthly, it is always useful to collect only what you need. So gather personal information that you cannot do without. If there is some information which you cannot relate to the app, then avoid collecting it. In the same way delete the data that you do need anymore.

Finally, it is extremely important to secure what is collected. Put a stop to unauthorized access to prevent any modification, deletion or other forms of interference. To ensure that your app is user friendly, keep an option for the users to request the deletion of all their personal data. Avoid storing passwords in plain texts on the server and be secured while generating the credentials.

If you prepare and implement and privacy policy that is up-to-date, the mobile app will be able to protect the user data more securely. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to hire mobile app developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Java SE8 - Why is It the Best among All Its Releases?

Java web development, Java development services, expert Java developerAs a software development platform, Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) is used by enterprises to create applications for a wide range of platforms and devices. Java SE makes it easier for programmers to develop and deploy Java applications on desktops and servers, and in embedded environment. It is also designed with a set of features to help developers in creating portable, secure and high-performing Java applications in an easier and faster way. Oracle released Java SE8 with several changes. Some of these changes are major, others are minor. But these features make Java SE8 the best among all its releases.

New Features that Make Java SE8 the Best among All Its Releases

Language Syntax Changes: Oracle has changes the Java language syntax to make the programming language compete with C#, Scala and other modern programming languages. The changes in language syntax will make it easier for programmers to process connections by distributing them over multiple threads. Unlike earlier versions of Java, Java SE8 comes with significant changes and addition to the language syntax. The programmers can now avail functional programming and closures while writing code in Java.

Lambda Expressions: As a major change, lambda expression enables Java developers to work as functional programmers. However, the set of syntactical capabilities is not something completely new. But the Java programmers can use lambda expressions create anonymous functions, while introducing the new anonymous function type in Java. Like a method, a lambda expression also provides a body and a list of formal parameters. The programmers can express a block of code or an expression as the body in terms of the parameters.

Improved Date and Time API: Java SE8 further allows developers to manage date and time through a completely revamped API. While creating new applications, they can replace the older classes with the new date and time API. So the new API will make it easier for programmers to streamline their code, while writing more intuitive programs. At the same time, they can further manage the different local dates, local times and time zoned by using new classes. The new classes can also be used to calculate differences between various times.

Stream API: Java SE8 further enables programmers to manage collections by adding new tools. They can use the new tools to effectively manage collections of sets, lists or maps. The new stream API will further help them in managing each item in a collection without writing explicit looping code. They can further use the API to break their processing into multiple CPUs. So the stream API will make it easier for Java programmers to optimize the management of large and complex collection of data without writing any lengthy code.

Nashorn JavaScript Engine: Java SE8 also comes with the new Nashorn JavaScript engine. As the JavaScript engine is written from the scratch for Java developers, it enables programmers to write JavaScript code, along with integrating Java classes and objects. Nashorn further implements a lightweight JavaScript runtime in Java with a native JVM. So the programmers can now embed JavaScript easily in Java applications through JSR-223. Likewise, they can also use the jrunscript command-line to create independent JavaScript applications.

Oracle has launched two distinct products that implement Java SE 8. But the Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 8 is designed as a subset of the Java SE Development Kit (JDK) 8. So the JDK 8 includes the features of JRE 8, while providing the APIs, JVM and other components required for running Java applications and applets. However, JRE 8 includes both standard and non-standard Java components that are not required by Java SE specification. So an enterprise must choose the product according to its specific needs to reap the benefits of Java SE 8. To get maximum benefits of Java development, you may consider hiring services of a Java web development company.

We provide Java development services. If you would like to discuss with a expert Java developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Why is Python Suitable for Web Development?

custom Python development company, Python development, hire Python developersA developer has option to choose from several programming language to write web applications. But many web developers prefer writing internet applications in Python as the programming language allows them to express concepts without writing longer lines of code. Along with being a high-level programming language, Python also supports several programming paradigms like object oriented, functional and programming language. At the same time, the web developers can integrate Python with other technologies to rapidly create large and complex internet applications. If you are comparing different programming languages for your web development project, it is time to understand why Python is being used widely for developing mission critical applications.

Why Python is Used Widely for Writing Rich Internet Applications?

Code Readability: Unlike other web technologies, Python is developed with features to increate the programmers’ productivity. The programming language strongly emphasize of code readability. So it enables developers to avoid writing lengthy code, while keeping their code simple, consistent and structured. The programmers have to adhere to strict indentation rules while using Python syntax. Also, the indentation in Python does have semantic meaning.

Code Reusability: Python encourages web developers to enhance code reusability by implementing modules and packages with utmost care. As an integral part of Python distribution, the web programmers can use loads of modules included in the Standard Python Library. At the same time, they can further share the break the functionality into a number of modules, and reuse them as components among other programs.

Large Standard Library: Python is hugely popular among web developers due to its large standard library. The library makes it easier for them to accomplish many tasks by using appropriate tools. The programming language further supports several standard protocols and formats including HTTP and MIME. The web developers can further use its module to manipulate regular expressions, connect to relational databases, create graphical user interfaces and conduct unit testing.

Compatibility: In addition to running seamlessly on multiple platforms, Python also has similar interface for varying operating systems. As the programming language is written in ANSI C, its design is not attached not any specific operating system. Thus, the web programmers have option to write a Python program on a Linux operating system, test the application on Mac operating system, and upload it to a Windows system. The feature helps web programmers in writing internet applications that are compatible with multiple operating systems.

Development Speed: The web developers also have option to execute Python code faster through standard implementation of CPython. CPython is written in C and meets the C89 standard. The main Python implementation compiles programs into intermediate bytecode. The intermediate bytecode can be processed by virtual machines at a much faster pace. Along with being compatible across platforms, CPython further comes with a large standard library that is written by combining C and Python. The web developers can use CPython as a command line interpreter to receive and deliver results to the user immediately.

Extensive Support: While creating large and complex internet applications, the programmers can avail the extensive support of other Python users. As the Python code can be accessed by web developers freely, they can accomplish several tasks without writing the code. Further, the programmers can avail the assistance and guidance of other Python developers to optimize the web application’s performance by adding fresh and innovative functionality.

Despite driving scalable and fast web application development, Python is still open source. So the programming language can even be used by small enterprises and startups without paying any licensing fees. The web programmers can further use several Python frameworks and implementation to reduce the development time and effort. To get maximum benefits of Python development, you may consider hiring services of a custom Python development company.

We provide Python development services. If you would like to hire Python developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Difference between Visual Basic .Net and Visual C# .Net

custom .net development company, asp.net development, expert dot net developersThere are 2 primary languages that are used in the .NET framework – Visual Basic .NET and C# .NET. Syntactically these are completely different from each other and have different history as well. The C# is based on the C programming language that was developed by Dennis Ritchie. It has since then evolved to C++ and then later to C#. However, though they are syntactically different, both were developed by Microsoft to be a part of .NET framework development platform. Both these languages are developed, managed and supported by a single management team at Microsoft. The IL or intermediate language in which they are compiled is the same. If one avoids the VB Compatibility libraries, then every command in Visual Basic has an equivalent one in C#. Another similarity between these two is that for extending their functionality both the languages refer to the same Base Classes available with ASP.NET framework. Barring a few exceptions, any program written in either of the languages can be injected on a simple syntax converter for translation.

So how do these differ from each other inspite of such similarities? Well, here are a few points on which these languages completely vary from one another:

Case Sensitivity: In VB framework, the identifier names are not case sensitive but those in C sharp are. While writing a code the developers may face a problem due to this but when debugging an existing program there are no issues.

Development Environment: Visual Studio plays an important role here in producing differences between the two, though minor in nature. There are certain additional features present in Visual Basic .NET, like, default namespace, option for hidden files, etc. In addition to this the background compilation feature is available for VB. Due to this the Error List panel is synchronized. But in C Sharp the error list panel can only be updated when the solution is rebuilt. This becomes increasingly difficult as there is the need for frequently rebuilding the solution.

Variables – Declaration and Assignment: Variables are declared in Visual Basic.NET prior to the data type. On the other hand, in C# it precedes the data type.

Dealing with Unmanaged Code: Unmanaged codes can be written freely on C#. While writing these codes the developers can operate and declare on pointers or opt for conversions between the kinds of integral and pointers. This is quite similar to writing Visual C code. In the other language writing unmanaged code is not allowed.

Termination of Statement: By the end of the line statements are terminated in VB.NET. Colon (:) is used to accommodate multiple statements in a single line. Apart from this, the line continuation (_) is used if the programmers want to span the statement several lines. For C#.NET semicolon (;) terminates the statement.

Passing Parameter: ByVal is used by Visual Basic dot NET for passing parameters by value and the ByRef for passing parameters by reference. This language can also force the parameters to pass by value irrespective of the fact how they were declared. Optional parameters are also included here which are clearly missing in C#. There are no options to pass reference types by value. In this case the unmanaged codes prove helpful as they can convert from pointer to pointer.

Statement Blocks: These are not used in Visual Basic dot NET. Rather particular keywords with special terminating statement are put to use. The other language uses braces ({}) to restrict a statement block. In case, these are not used, it is considered to be a single statement.

Checking Overflow: For checking overflow there is a project level setting in VB. This setting can be turned on or off at the project level only. On the contrary, the C sharp can run on both checked and unchecked context.

Late Binding: This can be applied to both the languages through reflection. But this process is easier in VB than C#.

The choice of language in building solutions is completely a personal preference. Since both of them use the same core platform, they are quite powerful. To get maximum benefits of .Net, you may consider hiring services of a custom .net development company.

We provide asp.net development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert dot net developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.