Understand Semantic Kernel function calling in C# -- the difference between native functions and prompt functions, how auto-invoke works, FunctionChoiceBehavior options, and when to use each type in your .NET AI applications.
When to use Strategy pattern in C#: decision criteria, code examples, and scenarios to determine if Strategy pattern is the right choice for your application.
Learn how to create custom plugins for Semantic Kernel in C# step by step. Build native function plugins, prompt plugins, and multi-function plugin classes with KernelFunction, Description attributes, and dependency injection.
How to implement Prototype pattern in C#: step-by-step guide with code examples, shallow vs deep copy, and best practices for creational design patterns.
Master the advanced GitHub Copilot SDK in C# with AIFunctionFactory tools, session hooks, multi-model routing, and multi-agent patterns.
How to implement Strategy pattern in C#: step-by-step guide with code examples, best practices, and common pitfalls for behavioral design patterns.
Building real apps with GitHub Copilot SDK in C#: master app architecture patterns, CLI tools, ASP.NET Core APIs, and console agents in .NET.
Prototype design pattern in C#: complete guide with code examples, implementation, and best practices for object cloning and creational design patterns.
Getting started with GitHub Copilot SDK in C#: master installation, CopilotClient setup, streaming responses, and build your first .NET AI app.
Strategy design pattern in C#: complete guide with code examples, implementation, and best practices for flexible algorithm selection.
Master RAG with Semantic Kernel in C# using vector stores, embeddings, and InMemoryVectorStore. Complete guide with working .NET code examples.
When to use Factory Method pattern in C#: decision criteria, code examples, and scenarios to determine if Factory Method is the right choice.
![Weekly Recap: Microsoft Agent Framework, Semantic Kernel, and Builder Patterns in C# [Feb 2026]](https://devleader-d2f9ggbjfpdqcka7.z01.azurefd.net/media/SquareBanner.webp)
This week covers the Microsoft Agent Framework in C# -- from core AIAgent abstractions to AgentSessions and function tools -- plus Semantic Kernel agents and plugins, Builder pattern deep dives, and GitHub Copilot SDK development. Also included: new videos on software engineering planning and hiring insights.
Master Semantic Kernel agents in C# with ChatCompletionAgent, AgentGroupChat orchestration, and Microsoft Agent Framework integration.
See Builder pattern in action with a complete real-world C# example. Step-by-step implementation of a configuration system demonstrating step-by-step object construction.
Master Semantic Kernel plugins in C# with this guide. Learn to create native functions, prompt functions, and OpenAPI plugins with real code examples.
Master the Factory Method design pattern in C# with code examples, real-world scenarios, and practical guidance for flexible object creation.
Learn the GitHub Copilot SDK for .NET in this complete developer guide. Build custom AI agents with CopilotClient, CopilotSession, streaming, tools, and multi-model support in C#.
Understand the differences between Builder and Fluent Interface patterns in C# with code examples, use cases, and guidance on when to use each pattern.
Master Semantic Kernel in C# with this complete guide. Learn plugins, agents, RAG, and vector stores to build production AI applications with .NET.
Master Builder pattern best practices in C#. Learn code organization strategies, interface design principles, dependency injection integration, and maintainability tips.
Learn when to use Builder pattern in C# with clear decision criteria, code examples, and scenarios. Understand the signs that indicate Builder is the right choice.
Learn how to implement Builder pattern in C# with a complete step-by-step guide. Includes code examples, best practices, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Learn how to use keyed services in Needlr to register and resolve multiple implementations of the same interface using .NET 8's keyed service support.
Master the Builder design pattern in C# with code examples, real-world scenarios, and implementation guidance for constructing complex objects step by step.
Learn how to implement the decorator pattern in C# using Needlr's automatic decorator discovery, including the DecoratorFor attribute and manual decorator wiring.
Master Abstract Factory pattern best practices in C#. Learn code organization strategies, interface design principles, dependency injection integration, and maintainability tips.
Learn how to implement Abstract Factory pattern in C# with a complete step-by-step guide. Includes code examples, best practices, and common pitfalls to avoid.
See Abstract Factory pattern in action with a complete real-world C# example. Step-by-step implementation of a furniture shop system demonstrating families of related objects.
Deep dive into Needlr's Syringe class and its fluent API for configuring dependency injection, discovery strategies, and type registration in C#.
Learn when to use Abstract Factory pattern in C# with clear decision criteria, code examples, and scenarios. Understand the signs that indicate Abstract Factory is the right choice.
Learn how Needlr's automatic service discovery works in C# with convention-based registration, type scanning, and the DoNotAutoRegister attribute for .NET applications.
Understand the differences between Abstract Factory and Factory Method patterns in C# with code examples, use cases, and guidance on when to use each pattern.
Compare Needlr's source generation and reflection strategies for dependency injection in C# to choose the right approach for AOT, performance, and flexibility.
Master the Abstract Factory design pattern in C# with complete code examples, real-world scenarios, and practical implementation guidance for creating families of related objects.
Learn how to install and configure Needlr for dependency injection in .NET with step-by-step setup, NuGet packages, and your first fluent DI application.
Learn how Needlr simplifies dependency injection in C# with automatic service discovery, source generation, and a fluent API for .NET applications.
How can we use Dapper and strongly typed IDs from the StronglyTypedId package? Let's see if we can generalize the guidance from the original author!
How can you use an IServiceCollection in console applications to get dependency injection? Is this a viable option if you don't want to use Autofac?
Learn how to use Autofac ComponentRegistryBuilder in ASP.NET Core! We'll see how we can move closer to getting the C# plugin architecture support we want!
Learn how to use Autofac ContainerBuilder in ASP.NET Core to wire up dependency injection. I'll explore what we can and cannot do with this approach!
Learn how to use AutofacServiceProviderFactory in ASP.NET Core for dependency injection! This article explains how to set it up along with the pros and cons.
Learn how to use MudBlazor with Blazor interactive SSR! Blazor's Server Side Rendering can be used alongside MudBlazor for building your next Blazor app!
Learn how exception handling works in C# with the basics of try catch. This article is perfect for junior software engineers aiming to understand dotnet and C#.
Learn how to convert a C# string to a byte[] using UTF-8, ASCII, and Unicode encodings. Copy-paste code examples included for each method.
Want to add API key authentication middleware into your ASP.NET Core application? Check out this article for a simple code example that shows you how!
I tried to get C# regular expression benchmarks in my original article, but messed up a critical assumption. Let's see how to fix that and get the real data!
Regular expressions are powerful for pattern matching, but what about performance? Check out this article for details on C# regex performance from benchmarks!
Check these examples of composition in C#! Learn about composition in object-oriented programming with these simple code examples in C# - perfect for beginners!
See examples of inheritance in C# in this introductory guide to object oriented programming. Learn about when to use inheritance in C# and... when not to!
Check out these 3 simple examples of regular expressions in C#! If you're new to regex and coding in CSharp, these are a perfect starting point for you!
Regular expressions are powerful for pattern matching, but what are the regex options in C# that we have access to? What do they do and how can we use them?
Check out these benchmarks measuring collection initializer performance in C#. How the heck did I speed up C# collection initialization by 87%?!
See code examples for C# collection initializers and collection expressions! Compare and contrast the readability of these different examples.
Curious about C# MongoDB insert benchmarks? In this article, I show you BenchmarkDotNet code and the results for several variations of inserting data!
Learn how to use C# Testcontainers for MongoDB! If you're developing a dotnet application and want to use MongoDB, Testcontainers can be a HUGE asset!
See code examples for how to delete documents from MongoDB in C#. This article covers the basics of different methods you can use to delete records from Mongo!
See code examples for how to update MongoDB documents in C#. This article covers the basics of different methods you can use to update records.
Learn the basics of MongoDB Filtering in C# with simple code examples! See how to use the MongoDB FilterDefinitionBuilder to support filtering in MongoDB.
This article explains the basics of inserting documents into MongoDB in C#. See code examples of InsertOne, InsertMany, and their async counterparts.
Running into issues with your Blazor render mode? In my case, I didn't even know it was breaking my dependency injection AND my event handlers. My error though!
See how you can use MudBlazor list items to make awesome GUIs! Properly leverage the MustList and MudListItem controls to get custom user interfaces!
Learn how to use Autofac in ASP NET Core applications with only a couple of lines of code! Avoid this common problem when setting up dependency injection.
Check out these 7 C# project ideas for beginners to help escape from tutorial hell! These C# project ideas will give you hands-on practice writing software.
Using reflection in DotNet to create object instances? See the performance of ConstructorInfo compared to other methods provided by reflection in DotNet!
Let's compare Activator.CreateInstance vs Type.InvokeMember! Check out this head to head battle for ways to create instances using reflection in dotnet!
Learn how to safely use async event handlers in C#. Understand the dangers and discover best practices for managing async event handlers in your C# code.
Learn about plugin architecture in C# to create extensible apps! This article provides examples with code snippets to explain how to start with C# plugins.
Learn how to automatically cast between types in C#! Leveraging implicit operators in C#, we can do away with explicit casts to convert between types.
Learn about the Facade design pattern in C# and how it simplifies complex subsystems. Check out these 4 code examples to see how the facade pattern in C# works!
Learn why async void methods in C# can be dangerous with clear code examples. A perfect for beginner software engineers wanting to understand the risks.
See how to use the Extract Method refactoring technique to get started on your journey to being more skilled at refactoring! Check out this C# code example!
Learn how to use BenchmarkDotNet to effectively create and run benchmarks on your C# code. Dig into where you have opportunities to optimize your C# code!
Learn how to perform implicit conversions by using implicit operators in C#. This is a helpful feature that can enhance readability when done with care.
Learn how to use Polly in C# to handle faults and retries with ease! Check these 3 code examples showcasing different use cases of Polly in C#!
Learn how to use Scrutor in C# for dependency injection with these 3 simple tips. Try out Scrutor in your next C# application and simplify your registrations!
Learn about efficiently refactoring C# code with these 4 simple techniques! Follow along with code examples that show you how to approach refactoring.
Leverage Activator.CreateInstance in C#, part of reflection in C#, to create object instances! This beginner's guide walks you through simple C# code examples.
Dive into async await in C# with these 3 beginner tips. Learn how to write async await code, handle multiple exceptions, and avoid dreaded deadlocks!
Reflection in C# is powerful, but with great power comes great responsibility. Check out these 4 quick examples of reflection in C# to see it in action!
Learn how to use Autofac in C# for dependency injection! Check out these three code examples to help you get started with dependency injection in C#.
Scrutor vs Autofac in C#! Which one comes out on top between these two solutions for dependency injection in dotnet? See how each are used with code examples!
Considering C# as you get started on your programming journey? This article is focused on C# for beginners, and I've included 5 concepts from C# with code!
Step-by-step guide to using IServiceCollection in C# for dependency injection. Learn AddSingleton, AddScoped, and AddTransient with real code examples.
Use Testcontainers in ASP.NET Core testing to get better coverage! Learn how to simulate dependencies, test in parallel, and integrate with CI/CD tools!
Leverage NUNit in ASP.NET Core for crafting reliable code with confidence! Learn to create tests, use advanced techniques, and improve your code quality!
Interested in using Google Drive and Google Sheets in C#? Get started with the Google Sheets API to access spreadsheets in C# in your own dotnet applications!
Are you struggling with memory leaks due to your event handlers and events in C#? Check out how weak events in C# can help with garbage collection in your apps!
Learn how to leverage xUnit in ASP.NET Core tests with simple code examples. See how to write easy-to-understand test code and cover your ASP.NET Core apps!
Learn about the CQRS pattern in C# and Clean Architecture for better software development. Get code examples and best practices to improve your skills today!
Explore the integration of C# Clean Architecture with MediatR for maintainable, scalable code! Learn how these work together with C# code examples!
Integrate the Unit of Work Pattern in C# with Clean Architecture for efficient programming. Learn benefits and check out C# code examples to avoid mistakes.
Discover the benefits of middleware in ASP.NET Core, including flexibility and modularity. Learn about middleware like authentication and logging!
Learn about different types of middleware and how to implement custom middleware in ASP.NET Core to solve common challenges in web development!
Looking to implement the Memento Pattern in C#? Learn about its origin and principles, and the different components & steps to implementation!
Learn how to implement the Composite Pattern in C#! This article explores the pros and the cons of this design pattern and how it works in C#. Check it out!
Organize your code with the Command Pattern in C#! Learn what the Command Pattern in C# is and the design principles it follows. Understand the pros and cons!
Are you looking for the best C# books for beginner developers? Check out this list to see my pick for best books for C# developers that are getting started.
Learn about the pipeline design pattern in C#. Discover how to create and chain pipeline stages. Get code examples, tips, and use cases for this design pattern.
Learn about the Specification Design Pattern in C# and its benefits for your code. See how this pattern can improve code quality and how to implement it!
What does yield do in C#? Explore the benefits of using C# yield keyword with large datasets and best practices for implementation. One more tool to leverage!
What is Inversion of Control? Learn about Inversion of Control (IOC) and Dependency Injection and how it can be applied in real-world scenarios.
Use the Chain of Responsibility pattern in C# to streamline your application architecture. Discover the benefits, key components, and best practices!
Learn how to format a string as Base64 in CSharp, including examples of encoding and decoding strings. Improve your coding skills with these practical tips!
Wondering how to compare strings in CSharp? We'll compare using string.Equals(), string.Compare(), and == operator to weigh the pros and the cons.
Learn about the factory pattern! This article showcases several examples of the factory pattern in C# so that you can better understand this design pattern!
We're done with excuses! No more claims that when dealing with legacy code your changes can't be tested! Check out this strategy to make anything more testable.
What is string interpolation in C#? Learn about its definition, syntax, and benefits for improving code readability and efficiency. Check out this guide!
Discover what is the Factory Software Pattern in C# and when it should be implemented. Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of this pattern in detail!
So, what is the adapter design pattern? Why use the adapter pattern? In this article, we'll look at one of the popular design patterns in detail!
Check out this example vertical slice architecture in ASP.NET core! Together we'll look at building a flight booking app using vertical slice architecture.
The Visitor Pattern is a very handy design pattern! Check out the examples of the visitor pattern in C# in this article to solidify your understanding!
Learn how to make your code more readable, flexible, and maintainable with CSharp optional parameters. Check out these examples of optional parameters in C#!
Learn how the Strategy Pattern in C# provides flexibility! Let's explore an example of the strategy pattern in C# along with the pros and cons of using it!
Let's explore examples of the Mediator Pattern in C#! See how the Mediator Pattern in C# can promote loose coupling, and increase scalability.
Simplify your code with the remove control flag refactoring technique in C#. See the benefits of removing control flags in this guide to applying the technique.
Check our these examples of the observer pattern in C#! Learn how the observer pattern in C# can simplify the usage of events in your next project!
Discover how to master the CSharp switch statement to make your code more effective and efficient. Follow along with C# switch statement examples!
Discover the benefits of using enums in CSharp, how to declare them step-by-step with examples, and the different types of enums available in this article!
Discover these top 10 refactoring techniques used by software engineers. Learn to refactor with confidence and make your code cleaner and more maintainable.
Learn how to build an ASP.NET core web API! This tutorial for beginners will guide you through setting up the project to building the API endpoints.
Looking for an online C# compiler? DotNetFiddle is a convenient online C# compiler that's free to use. But what are all of the features of DotNetFiddle?
Looking for a kickstart to your vertical slice architecture in your next ASP.NET project? Check our this vertical slice project template to get started!
In this CSharp switch statement tutorial, you'll learn how to properly use switch statements in your programs. Explore examples, features, and best practices!
Unit test your Blazor project! Improve code quality and catch bugs early with improved test coverage. Check out this Blazor unit testing tutorial now!
Looking to enhance your C# coding skills? Learn how to use enums in Csharp with this beginner guide, including best practices, limitations, and examples.
Improve your Blazor unit testing! Look no further than this article on Blazor unit testing with bUnit. Get started from scratch and write useful tests!
Learn about reflection in CSharp and how it can be used. See how reflection in C# allows you to explore and modify objects, classes, and assemblies at runtime.
Discover the easiest programming languages to learn in this beginner-friendly guide. From Python to JavaScript, let's see what options we have to work with!
Learn about exceptions in CSharp and effective exception handling. We'll cover try-catch blocks and other tips for working with exceptions in C#!
Want to simplify complex subsystems in your C# project? Learn about the Facade Pattern in C#. Explore an implementation and real-world examples in this article!
In this article, you'll explore the importance of Blazor unit testing and learn about Blazor unit testing best practices. Get started with Blazor today!
Let's learn how to make a budgeting app in C#! We'll dive into ASP.NET Core Blazor, the basics of the app, and even VPS hosting options like RackNerd!
Wondering, "How can I write code on my phone"? Learn how to write code on your phone with DotNetFiddle! Perfect for beginner C# devs without a laptop/desktop!
Learn how to build a personal website in Blazor and ASP.NET Core to show case your skills and experiences. Get started with our ASP.NET Core tutorial today!
Explore examples of Vertical Slice architecture in C#. Weigh the pros and cons of using Vertical Slice Architecture in C# by following along with some examples.
See how to use DotNetFiddle, a leading online C# compiler. Develop, test, and share code! We'll answer what is DotNetFiddle in the world of online C# compilers.
Learn how to organize code for vertical slices and use Autofac modules effectively. Discover how this improves code maintainability and enhances collaboration!
In this issue of Dev Leader Weekly, I share useful resources with a couple of videos focused on exceptions in C#! Thank you for supporting! Check it out!
Learn how to make a todo list in C# using ASP.NET Core and tackle data binding and user interface design. Blazor todo list - Perfect for a beginner portfolio!
You've started using Autofac for dependency injection in C#, but now you're wondering how to organize Autofac modules most effectively. Dive in for 5 easy tips!
In this issue of Dev Leader Weekly, I share a full spectrum of assorted content for all levels! Check out this issue for a nice variety!
In this article, we'll see how we can use an ASP.NET Core Blazor RenderFragment alongside plugins to dynamically load HTML into our applications!
Interested in building web applications? ASP.NET Core is a powerful dotnet tech stack for just that! Here are all of the details for ASP.NET Core for beginners!
In this issue of Dev Leader Weekly, I mention my travel to the office which slowed me down a bit. Still plenty of software engineering topics!
Interested in learning coding but you've been told it's too hard? This article focused on how to learn coding for beginners - and yes, YOU can code!
If you're a programmer dealing with converting bytes to and from strings, you'll deal with character encodings. But in the ASCII vs UTF8 debate, who wins?
If you're looking to create and analyze dotnet benchmarks, you'll want to get started with BenchmarkDotNet. We'll explore benchmarking in C# to get you started!
If you're familiar with Autofac and module registration but want to make things easier, automatic module discovery might be for you! Let's see how it works!
In this issue of Dev Leader Weekly, we have Blazor and plugin architecture taking the spotlight!
Want to have a plugin architecture that supports dynamic loading for Blazor? Follow this tutorial for a Blazor plugin architecture that leverages Autofac!
Like building ASP.NET web applications and want to maximize extensibility? This guide is a how-to on using a plugin architecture in Blazor. Check it out!
While I promote interfaces in C#, it felt necessary to cover the drawbacks of using interfaces in C#. Let's explore the drawbacks to using interfaces in C#!
Whether it's an ASP.NET Core or console app, we can use the decorator pattern with Autofac for powerful results! Let's explore an Autofac example for each!
Learning about Object Oriented Programming? We'll cover what are classes in C# and look at OOP and interfaces in C# to learn about when we should use them!
In this issue of Dev Leader Weekly, we have plugin architecture topics being introduced along side beginner programmer resources! So much C# and dotnet!
After some of the basics of dictionaries in C#, what else do dictionaries in dotnet have to offer us? Let's dive in before we get into the performance deep end!
Dictionaries in C# are heavily used by all levels of software developers. Let's look at some dictionary use cases and comparisons to other collections in C#!
Want to know how the decorator pattern works? Let's check out an Autofac example in C# where we can get the decorator pattern with Autofac working!
In this article, we'll dive into a dictionary in C#! There are many collections for us to use in dotnet, and the dictionary class is one that is invaluable!
In this issue of Dev Leader Weekly, there are tons of beginner resources to highlight. Keep in mind - seniors can learn from these topics as well for coaching!
For beginners, it's hard to find projects to work on due to distractions. Writing a program to find the area of a rectangle can teach so many valuable lessons!
In Dev Leader Weekly, we'll explore thought-provoking ideas, code examples, and highlight content from the week to help you excel as a software engineer.
Have you ever wanted to change a picture into ASCII art? Now you can with your very own C# program that can generate ASCII art! Sample code included!
In Dev Leader Weekly, we'll explore thought-provoking ideas, code examples, and highlight content from the week to help you excel as a software engineer.
In Dev Leader Weekly, we'll explore thought-provoking ideas, code examples, and highlight content from the week to help you excel as a software engineer.
In Dev Leader Weekly, we'll explore thought-provoking ideas, code examples, and highlight content from the week to help you excel as a software engineer.
Implicit operators in C# are a feature that can make our code more readable and expressive. But beware! Misuse can backfire and cause a great deal of headaches!
Let's dive into the plugin architecture design pattern, exploring how it can be leveraged in ASP.NET Core to create more flexible and maintainable applications.
In Dev Leader Weekly, we'll explore thought-provoking ideas, code examples, and highlight content from the week to help you excel as a software engineer.
Exceptions and exception handling are a core part of C# and many other programming languages. But what If we didn't need to be throwing them?
In this newsletter, we'll explore thought-provoking ideas, code examples, and highlight some content from the week to help you excel as a software engineer.
Want to see how implicit operators work in C#? Check out this example code to see how you can make a multi-type object in dotnet that uses implicit operators!
The facade pattern is useful for hiding complexity by moving dependencies behind an API. Let's dive into the facade design pattern in C# in this article!
I wanted to create a follow-up post in my series on IEnumerables, iterators, and collections focusing on performance characteristics. When checking out the runtime performance and memory characteristics between these materialized collections and iterator benchmarks, I was very surprised! Check out this article for performance benchmark characteristics and some curious finds.
Without a doubt you've had to ask yourself, "What is the best beginner programming language?" if you're new to programming. This article will help you decide!
If you're writing asynchronous code in C# and using EventHandlers, odds are you've had issues with exceptions. Task EventHandlers might be consideration!
Dealing with async EventHandlers in C# can be very problematic. async void is a pattern cause headaches with exceptions. Check out this simple solution!
New to C# and looking to understand more about the IEnumerable interface? Check out this article for a crash course on getting started with C# IEnumerable!
Most intermediate dotnet devs writing async await code in C# will come across async void at some point. Here's a creative solution for avoiding the headaches.
Organizing code into Autofac modules can make maintaining code much easier and improve extensibility! It all starts with the Autofac module class. Check it out!
Looking to get started using dependency injection with Autofac in your projects? Here's a quick primer on what it is and how to get going for your next project.
Are you interested in learning about interfaces in C#? This article explains the idea behind a C# interface by showing examples of interfaces in code.
