.NET 6 SDK Advanced Exploration: Attributes

Course details

Attributes add metadata to your programs and allow you to annotate given types, assemblies, modules, and methods. They’re especially handy if you’re an advanced .NET developer, as they lend your code base more declarative power with the additional services of .NET tools and code libraries. In this course, senior LinkedIn Learning instructor Walt Ritscher shows you how to use predefined, standard .NET attributes as well as how to create custom attributes on your own.

Learn about the features of attributes, how they function, and why they’re such a vital part of .NET programs. Get quick tips and user tricks on annotating your code like a seasoned pro, from testing for object quality to marking your testing methods. Along the way, Walt teaches you how to create custom attributes that meet the specific needs of your projects, such as attributes for the JSON serializer, PropertyGrid and the category attribute, the BindProperty attribute, and more.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Use declarative approach to code with .NET attributes
02 - What you should know
03 - My programming setup and configuration
04 - How to access the sample code on GitHub

1. Overview

05 - Metadata and .NET assemblies
06 - Metadata consumers
07 - What is an attribute
08 - Examine the .NET attribute classes
09 - Reading metadata and code with reflection

2. Use an Attribute

10 - Use the Obsolete attribute
11 - See the attribute metadata in the .NET assembly
12 - Attribute constructors and properties
13 - Apply multiple attributes

3. Create a Custom JSON Serializer Attribute

14 - Examine the JSON serializer project
15 - Create the attribute
16 - Use the attribute in another project
17 - Write reflection code to discover the attribute
18 - Create a parameterized attribute
19 - Find parameters with reflection

4. Create a Custom Unit Test Framework

20 - Examine the zUnit projects
21 - Explore the unit test attributes
22 - Use the unit test attributes
23 - Load attributes
24 - Show the attribute metadata
25 - Run the unit tests
26 - Create an Assert class

5. Examples of .NET Attributes

27 - Bit field enums and the flags attribute
28 - PropertyGrid and the Category attribute
29 - The BindProperty attribute in ASP.NET Razor Pages
30 - Logging and the CallerMemberName attribute

Conclusion

31 - Next steps