Json Pretty Printer/Beautifier Library For .Net

Admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:47:00 GMT

In the current project I'm working on, I need to create a lot of configuration/data files for when the application builds the database (Fluent-Nhibernate). This appears necessary because the application must populate the database with some default mostly static domain objects that are required for the application to begin working normally.

The two main .net json Beautifiers were Jayrock, and the C# source code of a "quick and dirty" json pretty printer by Raymond Glover . I actually like Raymond's a little better, because Jayrock is more of a general purpose Json library rather than being focused on pretty printing.

Raymond's was cool, but I wanted one that would conform exactly to a specific json beautifier JsonLint . Seeing how short and easy it was for Raymond, I decide to write my own json beautifier/pretty printer and wire it up to my blog. I think I mostly wanted an excuse to use the strategy pattern in a situation where it appeared to be needed.

You can download the DLL here (using .net framework 3.5). [10k] or the source code here. [223k, zip]

You can use the pretty printer object or just the extension methods I've provided. I've included json and/or beautifing extension methods, for ease of use.

Random Name Generator .Net Library

Admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:22:00 GMT

While I was working on my current project, I found I needed the ability to generate a name randomly. Pretty simple task, but I have been unable to google a free .net random name generating library that I could use. After reading this question, I came to the conclusion that no such library exists. So I decided to make one myself, and give it out for free in the hopes that it might generate a few hits.

You can try it out right here:

: Click To Generate

You can download a zip file containing the DLL here (using .net framework 3.5). [406k]

The library contains a stripped down lists of human names from the US Census names list, and a list of place names from another census list. The library allows you to get random first and last names or both and you can get male and female first names. You can also generate random place names as well. To access this functionality create a NameGenerator in namespace RandomNameGenerator, and call one of the functions like GenerateRandomFirstAndLastName(). The functions names describe literally and simply what those functions do.

For this demo post, I used jQuery's $.getJSON to perform the Ajax, and ASP.net MVC on the server side to receive the request. A controller there asks the library for a random name.

You are free to use the library however you like, commerical or otherwise, but I would expect you not to claim that you made it or sue me for some reason.

If anyone wants the source code, or a version of the library that compresses and decompresses the names lists (in order to trade disk size for in-memory computation), let me know!

.net - Mark Rogers

Json Pretty Printer/Beautifier Library For .Net

Random Name Generator .Net Library