Simple ways to notify a user without a MessageBox in WinForms

When sending notifications in a WinForms app, a MessageBox is the only way to go… or is it? Let’s get creative and see what else we might do.

  Aug 16, 2023 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  6 min

Why doesn't VS 2022 show my WinForms UI at design time?

Someone at work asked about whether we’d be able to use VS 2022 to work on our main WinForms app. It works just fine in VS 2019, so it should work in VS 2022, right? Except it doesn’t. What we get is white screens of brokenness whenever we try to open a Form in the designer. But why?

  Jan 14, 2023 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  9 min

Why do I need to install an extension just to copy/paste?

I was creating a document in Office365 the other day - something I’ve done a hundred times - but when I tried to paste with their custom right-click menu I was greeted with a popup telling me to download a browser addon. Well, that’s weird.

  Dec 31, 2022 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  7 min

6 space-related APIs to check out ahead of the Artemis I launch

The week of NASA launching Artemis I is a good time to check a few of the many APIs that make tons of raw space data accessible for anyone to use.

  Aug 28, 2022 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  9 min

What is Manifest V3 and why is Google pestering me about it?

If you’ve ever dug into the underpinnings of a browser extension, or maybe even created one yourself, you’ve seen the manifest.json file that acts as a sort of usage guide for an extension. Not the kind of usage guide most people would want to read, but it’s vital for browsers. The manifest file tells them what name and version to display, who the author is, what permissions to request access to, which icons to display, what css and js files to load and when. It’s important, but once you get the hang of it, pretty simple to implement. You create it and move on, only ever reopening it to bump the version when you’ve got something new to publish, and maybe requesting a new permission. ...

  Jun 6, 2022 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  12 min

Can I write my own HTML tags?

Can you create your own HTML tags? The answer is….. sorta. Yes and no. Not completely, but a little. Typical, I know.

  Jul 15, 2021 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  4 min

What is DotNet Try?

Do you prefer reading or doing? How about both? DotNet Try pulls in C# code from your project and turns your docs into an interactive experience.

  May 29, 2021 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  4 min

Scratch that itch for coding!

Learning a little about programming could benefit anyone. If you want a fun intro to coding and logical thinking, check out Scratch!

  Jan 19, 2021 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  5 min

13 addons to power up your GitHub game

GitHub is an amazing set of tools around Git, but it’s lacking in certain areas. Where it fails to impress, browser addons often pick up the slack. Here’s 13 addons (plus a few honorable mentions) that will take your GitHub experience to the next level!

  Apr 4, 2020 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  15 min

Why are websites requesting access to motion sensors... on my desktop?

I was checking the status of a FedEx order when Brave warned me that “this site has been blocked from accessing your motion sensors”. I’m struggling to understand why a website would need that access. Do I get a different experience if I drop my device? Tip my monitor over? Spin the mouse around?

  Dec 30, 2019 (rev. Sep 16, 2025) ·  11 min