Introduction

Data-driven, or dynamic, programming is a series of techniques for modifying an application at runtime. You can accomplish this by storing screen definitions, business rules, and source code in a data source and then restoring them at runtime to alter the functionality of an application. The technology to perform data-driven programming encompasses many areas of software development. Languagespecific source code is used as well as the metadata from whatever RDBMS you are using for the back end. Data-driven development is used in code generation, for adding features to an installed application, and for altering the user interface and application response based on previously selected choices.This book explains the hows and whys of data-driven development. Here’s how it’s structured:

• Chapter 1 introduces the technology and explains the use of database metadata and its role in code generation.
• Chapter 2 explains Reflection, which is needed to examine the internals of a compiled assembly and manipulate objects at runtime.
• Chapter 3 shows how to compile .NET source code at runtime, thus altering its response completely.
• Chapters 4 , 5, and 6 explain the specifics of data-driven programming as it relates to WinForms, WebForms, and WPF development, respectively.
• Chapter 7 explains data-driven reports. It covers output to Excel, PDF, Crystal Reports, and SQL Server Reporting Services.
• Finally, Chapter 8 reviews optimal database design for data-driven applications.