This isn't a newsy bit on CodeSmith, though there is a pretty new
3.2.5 version of CodeSmith available if you're still using 3.2.4 or earlier. This post is more an example to serve as a nudgie for .NET developers who may not think in terms of Code Generation in everyday development. I used this template a couple of days ago. It's a Data Layer oldie but goodie I wrote probably about two years ago to generate data update and entry methods for both a primary and secondary SQL table.
I don't want to get sidetracked in the details of the CodeSmith Template (
located here) or the generated code. The point is that I was able to create a Data Layer Class that entered data into four different SQL tables in a matter of minutes using CodeSmith. I passed a business object (also created in CodeSmith in a couple of minutes) to each method and had to edit some of the properties of that object generated from CodeSmith, but with full intellisense that was a snap.
Below is the Data Layer Class, minimized to demonstrate the amount of code generated. An individual method is shown in the pull-out. To be able to knock out a utility class like this in such a short amount of time is a tribute to the power of CodeSmith and thinking in terms of Code Generation in everyday development.
The result of course is more quality dog walking time. A guy's gotta have priorities.
Technorati Tags: CodeSmith