informit.com (LiveLessons) - C# Async Fundamentals

As one of the most important new feature in the C# language, Async is an integral part of the Windows Runtime library. Developers will need to use the async / await features in most, if not all, of their upcoming development efforts. With async methods baked into more and more of the underlying libraries, developers will need strong skills around these features.
In this video training, C# expert and bestselling author Bill Wagner teaches the basics of C# async and await, and the Task Asynchronous Programming Model. Lesson 1 provides the basis for putting async and await into practice in your daily development efforts. All the remaining Lessons are designed to take you through a series of common mistakes developers make using async and await.
In Lesson 2 "Sync over Async", you'll examine where sync over async can creep into an application, and learn how to remove to ensure you don't suffer from its effects. In Lesson 3 you'll explore the perils of async void methods, an issue at the heart of the C# compiler team. In Lesson 4 he'll get you up-to-speed on techniques to ensure that you avoid forcing async methods to run serially. In Lesson 5 you'll learn techniques for unit testing async methods.
Skill Level
This topic should be of interest to anyone developing using the C# language. This includes Windows Server, Windows 8, Windows Phone, MonoDroid, and Mono Touch developers at the following skill level:

Beginner
Intermediate

What You Will Learn

Learn to avoid the sync over async anti-pattern.
Learn how to ensure that you can recover from errors in async tasks.
Learn to structure async code for better responsiveness.
Learn how to construct unit tests for async code.
Learn how to construct async APIs that express clarity to your users.

Who Should Take This Course

Developers looking for a practical introduction to C# async

Course Requirements

Some experience with C# programming.
A passing familiarity with async /await features is helpful.


Lesson 1: Overview of the syntax and the TAP programming model
Lesson 2: Sync Over Async
Lab Review
Task.Wait blocking API
IAsyncResult.GetResults Blocking API
Task.Result Blocking API
The Payoff of Responsiveness
Lesson 3: Async Void
Did my task finish?
Removing Async Void code smell
Review of app behavior changes
Lesson 4: Async Serial Tasks
Await results, not task launch
Searching for unnecessary awaits
ConfigureAwait and Context affinity
When APIs need the UI context
Lesson 5: Unit Testing Async Methods
Testing logic and the fast path
Testing the slow path and task completion order
Testing for failed tasks
Lesson 6: Putting what you've learned about Async to practice