I’m Michael Reynolds, a .NET Developer and C# Engineer with a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. I’ve been working with the .NET ecosystem since 2011, building enterprise applications, cloud-native APIs, and scalable backend systems using C#. Over the years, I’ve seen the language evolve from .NET Framework to .NET Core and now .NET 8 - and I’ve grown alongside it.
C# is a language of depth and elegance. From LINQ and async/await to advanced patterns like dependency injection and clean architecture, mastering C# is a journey. I write book reviews to help developers choose the right learning path. Not all C# books are created equal - some teach outdated practices or ignore architectural thinking. My mission is to spotlight the ones that make developers better, not just faster.
What Matters Most in My Engineering Practice
I believe in writing code that serves people - users, developers, and businesses. C# is a tool for building systems that are stable, testable, and future-proof. My development philosophy is pragmatic and quality-driven.
- Clean architecture beats quick fixes
- Embrace SOLID and DRY principles
- Async/await is powerful - but requires discipline
- Code is for humans first, compilers second
- Tests are code too - write them with care
- Don't fight the framework - learn to extend it
- Always think about maintainability in teams
What I’ve Built with C# and .NET in the Real World
I’ve led backend development in financial, healthcare, and SaaS products using the .NET stack. I specialize in building high-performance REST APIs, asynchronous processing systems, and scalable microservices with C# and Azure.
Highlighted Projects:
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PayTrack – Financial Operations API
Designed and implemented an ASP.NET Core API for payment processing and reconciliation. Leveraged Entity Framework Core, MediatR for CQRS, and FluentValidation for input integrity. Focused on transactional consistency and performance. -
HealthForms – EHR Data Workflow Platform
Built a form builder and data ingestion engine for electronic health records. Used SignalR for real-time updates and background workers for validation pipelines. Integrated FHIR standards for interoperability. -
NotifyHub – Real-Time Notification Service
Created a scalable .NET Core microservice architecture for managing multi-channel notifications (email, SMS, push). Implemented background queues using Hangfire and ensured horizontal scalability with Redis and Azure Service Bus. -
Insight360 – Business Analytics Dashboard
Engineered a backend for an analytics system using C# and Dapper. Handled large volumes of aggregated data, dynamic filtering, and exportable reports with role-based access and caching via Redis. -
DocStore – Cloud Document Management System
Developed a secure API for document storage and retrieval using Azure Blob Storage. Applied Clean Architecture, integrated IdentityServer4 for auth, and added support for soft-deletes and audit trails.
My .NET Tech Stack for Building Scalable and Maintainable Enterprise Software
As a .NET Developer, I build scalable web services, enterprise APIs, and business-critical systems using modern C# and the .NET ecosystem. I focus on writing clean, testable, and maintainable code - often in high-availability environments. Whether I'm working with RESTful APIs, background workers, or integrating third-party systems, I always aim for stability, observability, and developer-friendly architecture.
Below are the core technologies I use regularly and how I apply them in real-world .NET development:
| Technology | Using Since | How I Use It in Practice |
| C# (.NET Core/.NET 6+) | 2013 | My primary language for backend services and API logic. I use modern C# features (LINQ, async/await, records) to write expressive and performant code. |
| ASP.NET Core | 2016 | I use ASP.NET Core for building modular, cross-platform REST APIs with dependency injection, middleware, and strong routing patterns. |
| Entity Framework Core | 2016 | ORM of choice for database access. I use EF Core with migrations, LINQ queries, and fluent configurations to keep data models clean and maintainable. |
| SQL Server / PostgreSQL | 2013 | I write optimized queries, manage indexes, and build schema-first designs that reflect actual business logic needs. |
| Serilog / NLog | 2017 | I implement structured logging for diagnostics and auditing, integrated with sinks like Elasticsearch and Seq. |
| xUnit / Moq | 2015 | I write unit, integration, and API tests using xUnit and use Moq for dependency mocking. I treat testing as part of the core development process. |
| Docker | 2019 | I containerize services for local dev, CI/CD, and deployment to Azure or Kubernetes. Multi-stage builds and health checks are part of every setup. |
| Azure DevOps / GitHub Actions | 2020 | I automate builds, tests, and deployments with CI/CD pipelines for .NET projects, including versioning, environment config, and rollback support. |
My Advice for Developers New to C# and .NET
- Start with the book "Unity 6 Game Development with C# Scripting" by Lem Apperson
- Practice by building REST APIs with ASP.NET Core
- Learn LINQ deeply - it’s a superpower
- Use async/await early, but understand its mechanics
- Structure your code with layers, not spaghetti
- Write tests from day one - even simple ones
- Understand interfaces, dependency injection, and IoC early on
Want to ace your C# interview? Practice with these PDF full of C# interview questions and answers - covering everything from language basics to async programming, LINQ, and real-world architecture scenarios.
From the Field: Common Questions and Expert Advice
Question 1. What’s the most important thing to master early in C#?
Mastering object-oriented programming (OOP) with interfaces, inheritance, and polymorphism is foundational. Once you understand those, you can start to appreciate patterns like dependency injection, repository, and mediator. Also, learn how async/await works under the hood - it’s a common source of bugs and confusion if misused.
Question 2. What makes C# stand out among backend languages?
C# combines power, safety, and readability. With features like LINQ, async/await, records, and pattern matching, it's both expressive and maintainable. Add to that .NET's performance and rich ecosystem (from web to mobile to cloud), and you’ve got a language that scales from startups to enterprise systems.
Question 3. Is Entity Framework enough for database access?
Entity Framework is powerful, especially for CRUD-heavy apps. But for high-performance scenarios or complex queries, Dapper is a great complement. I often use EF Core for most of the app, and Dapper selectively where raw performance or control is critical. Knowing both gives you flexibility.
Question 4. What makes a good C# book in your opinion?
It should cover both the language and the mindset. I look for books that combine theory, best practices, and modern usage. Bonus points if it includes architectural thinking, testability, and patterns like CQRS or Clean Architecture. Code examples must be current - I avoid books stuck in .NET Framework-era design.
