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What is the fastest way to build a 10000 record dataset on a device? (Funny yet informative)

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I was reading the .NET Compact Framework Newsgroup posts this morning and came across a hilarious post by Neil Cowburn.  Numbers 3, 5, & 6 are actually informative.

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Question:  What is the fastest way to build a 10000 record dataset on a device?

Neil's response:

1. Tie one end of a piece of string to the WiFi antenna, if your device has
one, and tie the other end to a tin can. Enumerate the 10,000 records on
your desktop computer and verablly dictate each record into the tin can.

Performance: slow;
Success rate: zero.
Implementation: easy peasy lemon squeezy.

2. Purchase a flock of carrier pigeons, 10,000 in number. Hand-write each
record onto a piece of paper and attach to the bird. Aim the bird at the
device and release.

Performance: slow:
Success rate: zero.
Implementation: possibly very messy.

3. Move to SQL Server. RDA and Merge Replication are your friends.

Performance: good!
Success rate: >1,000,000,000 pigeons.
Implementation: well documented.

4. Hire 10,000 people and get them to memorize one record each. Get them to
follow the device wherever it goes.

Performance: In theory, should outperform Oracle for record access. In
reality, you're statistically likely to get a few "slow" records
Success rate: Depends on the demographics of your recordset.
Implementation: costly, just like Oracle :)

5. Populate the DataSet on the server and transmit as a DataSet object using
Web Services ().

Performance: suffers from a serialization/deserialization overhead which is
costly with 10,000 records.
Success rate: Jackpot, baby!
Implementation: piece of cake.

6. Re-architect your solution. No one should need 10,000 records on a
device. Don't even think about loading that into a ListView either :)

Performance: the best yet.
Success rate: it's the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Implementation: requires some research and reading of those folded paper
thingies.... (books)

Personally, I *seriously* push you in the direction of #6.

--Neil

PS -- Don't take #1, #2, or #4 too seriously or as an insult. I'm just
messing with ya :)

Link to post on google
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Thanks for the humorous yet informative post Neil!

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