Building Applications with .NET Compact Framework: Best Practices
Usability:
Size of device being a key constraint, usability becomes a key factor to be considered while developing applications for smart devices
1. Keep the UI simple and easy going.
2. Avoid multiple data entries
3. Avoid new forms, try using tab controls
4. Use Hardware functions
Performance:
1. Keep the functionality simple i.e. avoid complex functionality
2. Use Disconnected Dataset
3. Reduce Data joins
4. Use Multi Threading
5. Create threads for long jobs
6. User Asynchronous Calls
7. Mostly making a call to unmanaged code will be costly from performance point of view
Data Access:
1. Use ADO.NET datasets
2. Sometime it's better to de-normalize the tables to ensure faster data access
3. Multiple SQLCE connections not possible
Deployment:
1. Avoid Desktop ActiveSync
2. Use CABs.
3. Deploy .NETcf core and SQLCE as separate CABs