The Houston Computer Consulting software development team has worked tirelessly to stay current on multiple technologies used to develop real world software solutions. Here is a list of the various architectures we follow.

.Net CoreThe .NET platform has been revolutionized with the advent of .NET Core. A platform once limited primarily to Windows is now officially supported on just about any platform that you'd like to develop and run applications. In this course, Building Cross-platform Applications with .NET Core, you'll learn how to develop and run .NET Core apps on a variety of platforms. You'll learn how to publish your app to run on different runtimes as well as understand different deployment models and how to test both platform agnostic and platform specific functionality. You'll see how to work with files, app configuration, logging, and dependency injection. You'll also learn how to build console app, services and web endpoints to see that you can create just about any type of app. Finally you'll get an update on the state .of the .NET Core tooling that's still being developed including the latest changes to use the MSBuild project system. By the time you're done, you'll know what it takes to successfully develop a cross-platform .NET Core application.
AngularJSHTML is great for declaring static documents, but it falters when we try to use it for declaring dynamic views in web-applications. AngularJS lets you extend HTML vocabulary for your application. The resulting environment is extraordinarily expressive, readable, and quick to develop.
AntlrA powerful parser generator for reading, processing, executing, or translating structured text or binary files. It's widely used to build languages, tools, and frameworks. From a grammar, ANTLR generates a parser that can build and walk parse trees.
Application InsightsDetect, triage and diagnose issues in your web apps and services with interactive analytics and out-of-the-box insights over your app data.
ASP.Net IdentityThe assumption that users will log in by entering a user name and password that they have registered in your own application is no longer valid. The web has become more social. Users are interacting with each other in real time through social channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social web sites. Developers want users to be able to log in with their social identities so that they can have a rich experience on their web sites. A modern membership system must enable redirection-based log-ins to authentication providers such as Facebook, Twitter, and others.
ASP.Net MembershipASP.NET Membership was designed to solve site membership requirements that were common in 2005, which involved Forms Authentication, and a SQL Server database for user names, passwords, and profile data. Today there is a much broader array of data storage options for web applications, and most developers want to enable their sites to use social identity providers for authentication and authorization functionality.
ASP.Net MVCASP.NET MVC gives you a powerful, patterns-based way to build dynamic websites that enables a clean separation of concerns and that gives you full control over markup for enjoyable, agile development. ASP.NET MVC includes many features that enable fast, TDD-friendly development for creating sophisticated applications that use the latest web standards.
ASP.Net MVC BoilerPlateASP.NET Boilerplate is an application framework built on latest ASP.NET MVC & Web API technologies. It makes easy to use dependency injection, logging, validation, exception handling, localization and so on. It makes these not only itself but also using most popular framework and libraries. Convention over configuration.
ASP.Net RazorA server side markup language. Razor is a markup syntax that lets you embed server-based code (Visual Basic and C#) into web pages. Server-based code can create dynamic web content on the fly, while a web page is written to the browser. When a web page is called, the server executes the server-based code inside the page before it returns the page to the browser. By running on the server, the code can perform complex tasks, like accessing databases. Razor is based on ASP.NET, and designed for creating web applications. It has the power of traditional ASP.NET markup, but it is easier to use, and easier to learn.
ASP.Net SignalRASP.NET SignalR is a new library for ASP.NET developers that makes developing real-time web functionality easy. SignalR allows bi-directional communication between server and client. Servers can now push content to connected clients instantly as it becomes available. SignalR supports Web Sockets, and falls back to other compatible techniques for older browsers. SignalR includes APIs for connection management (for instance, connect and disconnect events), grouping connections, and authorization.
ASP.Net WebAPIASP.NET Web API is a framework that makes it easy to build HTTP services that reach a broad range of clients, including browsers and mobile devices. ASP.NET Web API is an ideal platform for building RESTful applications on the .NET Framework.
ASP.Net ZeroA starting point for new web applications with a modern UI and solid architecture. It saves your time by providing pre-built and working pages and a strong infrastructure.
AutoMapperAutoMapper uses a fluent configuration API to define an object-object mapping strategy. AutoMapper uses a convention-based matching algorithm to match up source to destination values.
BlazorIn the past, you would typically use JavaScript to develop rich, interactive client-side web UIs. JavaScript has some language- and tooling limitations and doesn’t allow you to reuse server-side code. In this course, Blazor: The Big Picture you will learn a foundational knowledge of developing interactive client-side Web UIs with C#. First, you will learn what Blazor is and how it works. Next, you will discover what the difference is between Blazor and other tefchnologies like Angular and React. Finally, you will explore how to get ready to start developing Blazor applications. When you’re finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge of Blazor needed to develop interactive client-side Web UIs with C#.
BootStrapOne of the most popular front-end frameworks. Bootstrap was created at Twitter in mid-2010 by mdo and fat. Prior to being an open-sourced framework, Bootstrap was known as Twitter Blueprint. A few months into development, Twitter held its first Hack Week and the project exploded as developers of all skill levels jumped in without any external guidance. It served as the style guide for internal tools development at the company for over a year before its public release, and continues to do so today. Originally released on Friday, August 19, 2011, we've since had over twenty releases, including two major rewrites with v2 and v3. With Bootstrap 2, we added responsive functionality to the entire framework as an optional stylesheet. Building on that with Bootstrap 3, we rewrote the library once more to make it responsive by default with a mobile first approach.
C#an object-oriented programming language from Microsoft that aims to combine the computing power of C++ with the programming ease of Visual Basic. C# is based on C++ and contains features similar to those of Java.
Castle WindsorInversion of control
ChocolateyChocolatey is a package manager for Windows (like apt-get or yum but for Windows). It was designed to be a decentralized framework for quickly installing applications and tools that you need. It is built on the NuGet infrastructure currently using PowerShell as its focus for delivering packages from the distros to your door, err computer.
Claims-Based AuthenticationThe claims-based approach to identity makes it easy for users to sign in using Kerberos where it makes sense, but at the same time, it's just as easy for them to use one or more (perhaps more Internet-friendly) authentication techniques, without you having to recode, recompile, or even reconfigure your applications. You can support any authentication technique, some of the most popular being Kerberos, forms authentication, X.509 certificates, and smart cards, as well as information cards and others.
CSLACSLA is business object framework that allows you to easily create business objects on top of a data layer. It allows you to architect your application with solid object oriented principals and a good separation of concerns. Concentration on bridging the Network Boundary
DataAnnotations Makes code more readable. Used often in Entity Framework Code First implementations. Provides you with a way to describe configurations imperatively, in code. DataAnnotations are also understood by a number of .NET applications, such as ASP.NET MVC which allows these applications to leverage the same annotations for client-side validations.
Dependency InjectionIn software engineering, dependency injection is a software design pattern that implements inversion of control for resolving dependencies. A dependency is an object that can be used (a service). An injection is the passing of a dependency to a dependent object (a client) that would use it. The service is made part of the client's state.
ElmahAn application-wide error logging facility that is completely pluggable. It can be dynamically added to a running ASP.NET web application, or even all ASP.NET web applications on a machine, without any need for re-compilation or re-deployment.
Entity FrameworkAn open source object-relational mapping (ORM) framework for ADO.NET, part of .NET Framework. The Entity Framework is a set of technologies in ADO.NET that support the development of data-oriented software applications. Architects and developers of data-oriented applications have typically struggled with the need to achieve two very different objectives.
Fluent APIMakes code more readable. Used often in Entity Framework Code First implementations. Provides you with a way to describe configurations imperatively, in code.
Font AwesomeFont Awesome gives you scalable vector icons that can instantly be customized — size, color, drop shadow, and anything that can be done with the power of CSS.
Git A version control system that is used for software development and other version control tasks. As a distributed revision control system it is aimed at speed, data integrity, and support for distributed, non-linear workflows. Git was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 for development of the Linux kernel, with other kernel developers contributing to its initial development.
GlimpseA great tool for profiling and debugging your web applications during development. Application Insights is a tool for diagnosing issues and monitoring performance in live production. Because developers need both a great tool during development and a great tool in production, an integration of these products was created.
GlyphIconsGLYPHICONS is a library of precisely prepared monochromatic icons and symbols, created with an emphasis on simplicity and easy orientation.
gulpAutomation - gulp is a toolkit that helps you automate painful or time-consuming tasks in your development workflow.
HangfireAn easy way to perform background processing in .NET and .NET Core applications. No Windows Service or separate process required. Backed by persistent storage. Open and free for commercial use.
HockeyAppThe world's best developers develop the world’s best apps for iOS, Android, OS X, and Windows on HockeyApp. Bring Mobile DevOps to your apps with beta distribution, crash reporting, user metrics, feedback, and powerful workflow integrations.
HTML5HTML5 is a W3C specification that defines the fifth major revision of the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML. HTML5 may also be referred to as Web Applications 1.0.
HumanizerHumanizer meets all your JavaScript needs for manipulating and displaying strings, dates, times, numbers and quantities.
JqueryjQuery is a JavaScript library that allows web developers to add extra functionality to their websites. It is open source and provided for free under the MIT license.
JSHintA tool that helps to detect errors and potential problems in your JavaScript code.
JSONA text-based data interchange format designed for transmitting structured data. It is most commonly used for transferring data between web applications and web servers. A lightweight data-interchange format. It is easy for humans to read and write. It is easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language, Standard ECMA-262 3rd Edition - December 1999. JSON is a text format that is completely language independent but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and many others. These properties make JSON an ideal data-interchange language.
jTableA JQuery plugin to create AJAX based CRUD tables.
KnockoutA JavaScript library that helps you to create rich, responsive display and editor user interfaces with a clean underlying data model. Any time you have sections of UI that update dynamically (e.g., changing depending on the user’s actions or when an external data source changes), KO can help you implement it more simply and maintainably.
LINQLanguage-Integrated Query (LINQ) is an innovation introduced in the .NET Framework version 3.5 that bridges the gap between the world of objects and the world of data.
Log4NetThe Apache log4net library is a tool to help the programmer output log statements to a variety of output targets. log4net is a port of the excellent Apache log4j™ framework to the Microsoft® .NET runtime. We have kept the framework similar in spirit to the original log4j while taking advantage of new features in the .NET runtime. For more information on log4net see the features document.
LuxonA powerful, modern, and friendly wrapper for Javascript dates and times.
Microsoft Health MonitoringASP.NET health monitoring enables system administrators to monitor the status of deployed Web applications. Monitor the performance of an application to make sure that it is healthy.
ModernizrIt’s a collection of superfast tests – or “detects” as we like to call them – which run as your web page loads, then you can use the results to tailor the experience to the user.
MVCA software architectural pattern for implementing user interfaces on computers. It divides a given software application into three interconnected parts, so as to separate internal representations of information from the ways that information is presented to or accepted from the user. Traditionally used for desktop graphical user interfaces (GUIs), this architecture has become extremely popular for designing web applications.
MVVMMVVM facilitates a separation of development of the graphical user interface – be it via a markup language or GUI code – from development of the business logic or back-end logic (the data model). The view model of MVVM is a value converter; meaning the view model is responsible for exposing (converting) the data objects from the model in such a way that objects are easily managed and presented. In this respect, the view model is more model than view, and handles most if not all of the view's display logic. The view model may implement a mediator pattern, organizing access to the back-end logic around the set of use cases supported by the view.
NlogNLog is a logging platform for .NET, Silverlight and Windows Phone with rich log routing and management capabilities. It can help you produce and manage high-quality logs for your application regardless of its size or complexity. It uses familar logger pattern known from log4xxx.
Node.JsAs an asynchronous event driven JavaScript runtime, Node is designed to build scalable network applications. In the following "hello world" example, many connections can be handled concurrently. Upon each connection the callback is fired, but if there is no work to be done, Node will sleep.
OAuthOAuth is an open standard for authorization, commonly used as a way for Internet users to log into third party websites using their Microsoft, Google, Facebook or Twitter accounts without exposing their password. Generally, OAuth provides to clients a 'secure delegated access' to server resources on behalf of a resource owner.
OWINThe goal of the OWIN interface is to decouple server and application, encourage the development of simple modules for .NET web development, and, by being an open standard, stimulate the open source ecosystem of .NET web development tools.
ReactReact makes it painless to create interactive UIs. Design simple views for each state in your application, and React will efficiently update and render just the right components when your data changes. Declarative views make your code more predictable and easier to debug.
Regular ExpressionsIn theoretical computer science and formal language theory, a regular expression (sometimes called a rational expression) is a sequence of characters that define a search pattern, mainly for use in pattern matching with strings, or string matching, i.e. "find and replace"-like operations. The concept arose in the 1950s, when the American mathematician Stephen Kleene formalized the description of a regular language, and came into common use with the Unix text processing utilities ed, an editor, and grep, a filter. In modern usage, "regular expressions" are often distinguished from the derived, but fundamentally distinct concepts of regex or regexp, which no longer describe a regular language. See below for details. Regexes are so useful in computing that the various systems to specify regexes have evolved to provide both a basic and extended standard for the grammar and syntax; modern regexes heavily augment the standard. Regex processors are found in several search engines, search and replace dialogs of several word processors and text editors, and in the command lines of text processing utilities, such as sed and AWK.
Repository PatternMediates between the domain and data mapping layers using a collection-like interface for accessing domain objects.
SharpLabSharpLab is a .NET code playground that shows intermediate steps and results of code compilation. Some language features are thin wrappers on top of other features -- e.g. using() becomes try/finally. SharpLab allows you to see the code as compiler sees it, and get a better understanding of .NET languages. Recent versions include experimental support for running code, with some limitations.
SQLA standard interactive and programming language for getting information from and updating a database. Although SQL is both an ANSI and an ISO standard, many database products support SQL with proprietary extensions to the standard language. Queries take the form of a command language that lets you select, insert, update, find out the location of data, and so forth
SSRSThe SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a framework of reporting mechanisms such as the Report Builder, Report Designer, Report Manager and Report Server that work together through a Web interface to enable the development of concise interactive reporting solutions in print or Web format. Report Builder and Report Designer are two SSRS components for generating reports. Report Builder is a simple solution for the information worker or business user to create quick reports without the need to understand the core structure of the data. The Report Designer is a tool for developers because it adds complexity to custom reports development.
StyleCopStyleCop analyzes C# source code to enforce a set of style and consistency rules.
SwaggerThe OpenAPI Specification was donated to the Linux Foundation under the OpenAPI Initiative in 2015. The specification creates a RESTful interface for easily developing and consuming an API by effectively mapping all the resources and operations associated with it.
Template10Template 10 is a set of Visual Studio project templates. They sling-shot developer productivity by getting ~80% of the boilerplate stuff delivered in the template - things like navigation, suspension, and even a Hamburger control.
T-SQLA set of programming extensions that add several features to Structured Query Language (SQL) including transaction control, exception and error handling, row processing, and declared variables.
TypeScript TypeScript starts from the same syntax and semantics that millions of JavaScript developers know today. Use existing JavaScript code, incorporate popular JavaScript libraries, and call TypeScript code from JavaScript. TypeScript compiles to clean, simple JavaScript code which runs on any browser, in Node.js, or in any JavaScript engine that supports ECMAScript 3 (or newer). Types enable JavaScript developers to use highly-productive development tools and practices like static checking and code refactoring when developing JavaScript applications. Types are optional, and type inference allows a few type annotations to make a big difference to the static verification of your code. Types let you define interfaces between software components and gain insights into the behavior of existing JavaScript libraries.TypeScript offers support for the latest and evolving JavaScript features, including those from ECMAScript 2015 and future proposals, like async functions and decorators, to help build robust components. These features are available at development time for high-confidence app development, but are compiled into simple JavaScript that targets ECMAScript 3 (or newer) environments.
Unit of WorkUnit of Work is referred to as a single transaction that involves multiple operations of insert/update/delete and so on kinds. To say it in simple words, it means that for a specific user action (say registration on a website), all the transactions like insert/update/delete and so on are done in one single transaction, rather then doing multiple database transactions. This means, one unit of work here involves insert/update/delete operations, all in one single transaction.
WebGreaseA suite of tools for optimizing javascript, css files and images.
XamarinBuild native apps for multiple platforms on a shared C# codebase. Use the same IDE, language, and APIs everywhere.
XAMLPronounced "zammel," XAML was introduced with .NET Framework 3.0. XAML is used to define elements in the user interface (Windows Presentation Foundation) and in workflow structures (Windows Workflow Foundation). The "A" in XAML originally stood for "Avalon," the former name of Windows Presentation Foundation.