Combining data from multiple sources in Azure Search

Azure Search is a great service that allows developers to add search functionality in their applications. I blogged about [how to index and query data from SQL Server using Azure Search](GHOST_URL/indexing-and-searching-sql-server-data-with-azure-search/" target="_blank) before. Today, I want to talk about a more advanced scenario and one that could be more common than you think. By default, every Search index is designed to pull data from one source. The source can be a SQL Database, a blob storage or Azure Table Storage. However, there are valid scenarios where you may want to combined data from multiple …[read more]

Indexing and searching SQL Server data with Azure Search

Another day and another opportunity to work with an exciting Azure service. This post is all about [Azure Search](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/search/search-what-is-azure-search" target="_blank), a sleeping giant that apparently can do some pretty impressive things that not many of us know about. Azure Search is a managed search service that you can implement to provide search services to your applications. The search service comes with a powerful REST API that allows you to both managed and consume although there are equally powerful SDKs to help you achieve the same. In the end, like …[read more]

Creating .NET fakes using Bogus

I work with many Proof Of Concepts (PoCs) these days and one of the things I find in need frequently is the ability to generate large collections of objects that may resemble what our customers expect. For obvious reasons, I can't grab a copy of a customer's database or access their Azure resources. So I need an efficient, reliable and fast way to generate fake but live-like data that I can use to test my code. Over the years I've used many different tools to do this but lately, I've grown extremely fond of [Bogus](https://github.com/bchavez/Bogus& …[read more]

2017 Retrospective

Here we are! Another year is behind us and it's time again to take a look at all the exciting and interesting things that took place over the course of the year. This is my way of reviewing my progress since my last retrospect in 2016. Although I review my progress on a regular basis and realign my goals as needed, I use the end-of-year review as an opportunity to document my failures and my successes. I've just reread my [2016 retrospective](GHOST_URL/2016-in-review/" target="_blank) and I'm really content with what I achieved in the space …[read more]

Applying consistent code styles with Visual Studio 2017

[Visual Studio 2017](https://www.visualstudio.com/" target="_blank) offers an extended set of tools that can help developers be more productive and for teams to be more cohesive and consistent. Code consistency is importan at any level you look at it: individual, team and enterprise. Although each developer has his/her unique code writing style, there are cases where we may want to apply a consistent set of rules/styles across a project or event an entire development team. In the past, the best way to do this was through code analysers such as [FxCop](https://blogs. …[read more]

Running Azure Functions anywhere with the power of containers

I work with Azure Functions a lot. I also work a lot with Docker, Windows Containers, and microservices in general. For some time I have been talking about these subjects either to customers or at conferences trying to explain how they can be used to fulfill different tasks and meet different project requirements. Azure Functions are the swiss army knife of developers and IT/Ops teams because they can solve so many problems with minimal code, maintenance overhead and infrastructure abstractions around scalability and reliability. Up until now, if someone needed to create a run an Azure Function there were …[read more]

Enforcing HTTPS-only traffic and HSTS settings for Azure Web Apps and Azure Functions

I hope that by now your site is running under HTTPS. If not, you may want to read Troy Hunt's [blog post(s)](https://www.troyhunt.com/ssl-is-not-about-encryption/" target="_blank ) on the subject. He does a great job explaining the WHY. If your site's running on Azure Web Apps under the default naming convention <yoursitename>.azurewebsites.net, you have the option to enforce HTTPS using the Azure certificate. However, this is not recommended. Most likely, you'll have your site running under a custom domain. If that's the case, you'll need a custom certificate. There are many …[read more]

TechDays Netherlands 2017

In October 2017 I got the privilege to speak at my first Microsoft-organised conference in the Netherlands. It was 2 days (well, 3 days if you count travelling) of packed talks, meetings, interesting conversations and general geeking out. I've spoken about why you should attend these kind of events either as a speaker or attendee many times and this event definitely proved me right. Apart from the awesome talks that I had the chance to attend, I met with many Microsoft and non-Microsoft developers from around the world and got the chance to learn from them and expand my network …[read more]