Technology

.NET-development platform

The Microsoft .NET development platform is a comprehensive set of tools, frameworks and technologies that developers use to build .NET applications. The .NET development platform is designed to provide developers with a wide range of tools and capabilities to build applications for a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, mobile and the cloud. It offers flexibility and choice, allowing developers to work with the tools and technologies that best fit their specific project needs. The platform for .NET development includes several components, below we describe 2 components important to us:

• Programming Language C#
  
  C# (pronounced see sharp) is a programming language developed by Microsoft as part of the .NET platform. It is one of the main programming languages within the .NET ecosystem. C# is the successor to the older VB.NET and is designed to develop modern software applications, including desktop applications, Web applications and services. C# has a structured and readable syntax. It emphasizes clarity and understandability, making it a good choice for novice developers.
  
  The syntax is very similar to natural language. C# is an object-oriented programming language, which means it supports objects and classes for modeling data and functionality. C# can be used in conjunction with data-access technologies to build applications that access databases.
  
  
• Development Environment Visual Studio
  
  Visual Studio is the premier integrated development environment for .NET. It provides tools for writing, debugging and deploying .NET applications. Visual Studio provides a comprehensive set of features to facilitate and accelerate the development process. Visual Studio provides comprehensive debugging and testing tools, including step-by-step debugging, unit testing, and performance analysis.
  
  For developing graphical user interfaces, Visual Studio offers tools such as Windows Forms and WPF for desktop applications, and XAML for Web and mobile apps. Visual Studio integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools and technologies, such as Azure for cloud development, SQL Server for database development. 

SQL database system

An SQL database is a collection of data organized and stored in accordance with the relational database management system (RDBMS). Well-known examples of SQL databases include Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle Database and SQLite. These databases are used for a wide range of applications, including enterprise software, Web applications, mobile apps, data analytics and more. SQL databases are ideal for storing and managing structured data, and they are an essential part of modern information systems.

 

We use Microsoft SQL Server, which is known as a powerful database solution for its performance, security and scalability. A relational database means that data is organized into tables with rows and columns. This makes it easy to store and manage structured data. Tables have a clear structure and relationships between tables can be defined to ensure data integrity and consistency. SQL Server uses SQL (Structured Query Language) to perform database operations, such as creating, reading, updating and deleting data.

 

SQL is a standard language for relational databases. SQL databases use indexes to allow quick access to data. Indexes improve query performance by speeding up data search and retrieval. SQL databases support transactions, which means that multiple database operations can be performed as one. This ensures that a series of operations are either fully completed or fully reversed in case of an error.

 

SQL Server provides comprehensive security features, such as access control, encryption and auditing capabilities to protect data from unauthorized access and meet regulatory requirements. In addition, SQL Server can be easily scaled both vertically (by upgrading the server) and horizontally (by using clustering or replication) to meet the demands of growing applications.

Azure Cloud Platform

Microsoft Azure, often referred to simply as "Azure," is a cloud computing platform and service provider. Azure offers a wide range of cloud-based services, including compute, storage, databases, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), development tools and more. It is designed to help organizations build, deploy and manage different types of applications and services in the cloud. We use Azure for our IT infrastructure (IaaS, Infrastructure as a Service) and for developing and managing our Web applications (Paas, Platform as a Service).

• Infrastructuur as a Service (IaaS)
  
  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a cloud computing model in which IT infrastructure resources, such as computing power, storage, networking and virtual machines, are delivered as cloud services to organizations over the Internet. In this model, organizations do not need to purchase and maintain physical servers, data centers or network equipment. Instead, they can rent these resources on-demand from a cloud service provider.
  
  
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
  
  Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides IT developers with a platform to develop, test and deploy applications without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. PaaS provides the tools, services and environment needed to build and manage applications, allowing developers to focus on developing software code and the functionality of their applications.

In addition, Azure has strong security and compliance features, including identity management, encryption and security certifications, keeping data and applications secure. Azure is available in a global network of data centers, allowing data and services to be hosted close to users for optimal performance.