Author Archives: Alex Shlega

Handling N:N relationships in Dynamics CRM plugins

Here is a quick and dirty example of how a plugin could be created to handle N:N associations. A plugin like this would need to be registered for the “Associate” message of “any” entity: using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading.Tasks; using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client; using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk; public void Execute(IServiceProvider serviceProvider) { IPluginExecutionContext context… Read More »

So, why is XRM awesome?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to say that XRM is flawless and/or that it fits anything and anyone. Not at all actually. If you gave me 15 minutes, I could keep complaining about missing XRM features for all that time. However, what I’m going to say is that, with the proper application of… Read More »

Electric Cars – are they worth it?

Every now and then, when our constantly-getting-older (but still not obsolete.. not even quite old yet) car needs some extra attention because of her age, we start looking around to see what could possibly replace her. This time around, there seem to be a few electric cars on the horizon which, I thought, would be… Read More »

Finding software design patterns in the normal world: decorator and proxy patterns

This is a continuation of the original “finding software design patterns in the normal world” challenge. For this one, let’s have a look at the proxy and decorator patterns. The difference between those two seems to be more conceptual than structural. For example, let’s say we have a soldier who can fire. Let’s put that soldier… Read More »

Finding software design patterns in the normal world: the singleton

I was always a little too lazy to really learn all those software design patterns, and it’s probably time to fill the gaps. However, there would be no fun in re-writing the definitions of the design patterns again and again.. I figured a little challenge might help. How about trying to find software design patterns in… Read More »

Blogging: what’s in it for me?

What are the reasons I’m blogging? Even if it only happens occasionally? I used to blog in the past for a few years, then I sort of lost connection with that first blog.. And, eventually, I closed it. Now I’m starting to do it again, so why? This blog is not about making money –… Read More »

Software Architecture: a mysterious discipline

I am surprised how software architecture discipline is suffering from the lack of self-identity, so I’m going to rant about it in this post.. just for the record, there will be no yet another definition of what software architecture is below. Why do I think there is a problem with the software architecture discipline? Let’s… Read More »

Who are Dynamics CRM Architects?

There are Dynamics CRM consultants- they do CRM consulting. There are Dynamics CRM developers – they do development. There are, also, Dynamics CRM Architects. What do they do? Here is a sample description of one of the actual CRM Architect positions: Deep Know-how and proven record of applying CRM in one or more industries; experience… Read More »

Dynamics XRM – why is it dangerous?

I think XRM is awesome. And I also think it is dangerous. This post is about the dark side of XRM. First of all, I think it’s not XRM itself which is dangerous. It’s how XRM is explained and sold to the clients – that’s what is making it dangerous. We do like to repeat… Read More »

Dynamics XRM vs Dynamics CRM

I’ve been working with Dynamics CRM for over 5 years so far. That did involve various projects, for both private and public sectors. Some of those projects were more about CRM than others, but I’ve never seen a project where a client would take Dynamics CRM and start using it as is. There is always… Read More »