One of the most powerful aspects of the Microsoft® .NET Framework is its support for attributes. Attribute-based programming is extremely powerful because it adds a declarative dimension to designing and writing software. Declarative programming provides an elegant new way for developers to leverage services and functionality from reusable libraries and frameworks as well as from developer tools, such as the Visual Basic® .NET compiler. As a user of Visual Basic .NET, it's essential that you understand what attributes are and how to use the syntax necessary to apply them. I will cover these topics in this month's column and will then discuss..
