Task.WhenAll in C#: A Visual Guide with LINQPad

In modern C# development, handling multiple asynchronous operations efficiently is crucial for building responsive applications. Today, we’ll explore how Task.WhenAll can simplify bulk task management, and I’ll show you how LINQPad’s visualization tools make debugging and monitoring these operations a breeze!

Understanding Task.WhenAll

Task.WhenAll is a powerful method in the Task Parallel Library that allows you to await multiple tasks simultaneously. It’s particularly useful when you need to:

Process multiple operations in parallel
Wait for a collection of tasks to complete
Handle a varying number of asynchronous operations

Download LINQPad Today

Get started with the most powerful .NET Rapid Progress Tool (RPT) available.

Get LINQPad Premium

Powerful .NET acceleration. Code at the speed of thought.

Basic Implementation

var tasks = new List<Task>();
// Add your tasks to the list
await Task.WhenAll(tasks);

The Challenge of Error Handling

One of the trickier aspects of using Task.WhenAll is proper error handling. When any task in the collection throws an exception, it can be challenging to:

Identify which task failed
Handle multiple exceptions
Maintain application stability

LINQPad to the Rescue!

This is where LINQPad’s visualization capabilities truly shine. Let’s explore how LINQPad helps us manage and debug parallel tasks effectively.

DumpContainer: Your Visual Debugging Ally

The DumpContainer class in LINQPad provides pixel-perfect control over your output visualization. It’s particularly use to organize data from multiple sources to avoid clogging the console.

Practical Example: ASP.NET Core Integration

When working with ASP.NET Core applications, logging can quickly clutter your output window. Here’s how to handle this effectively:

var container = new DumpContainer();
container.Dump(); // Initial dump to establish the container

// Your Task.WhenAll implementation
var tasks = new List<Task>();
// ... add your tasks ...

try {
    await Task.WhenAll(tasks);
    container.Content = "All tasks completed successfully!";
} catch (Exception ex) {
    container.Content = $"Error: {ex.Message}";
}

Port Management

A common challenge when working with ASP.NET Core applications is port management. Remember to use StopApplication to properly free up port 5000 when needed:

// Proper cleanup
await host.StopApplication();

Best Practices for Task.WhenAll

Error Handling
- Use try-catch blocks
- Consider using Task.WhenAll with error aggregation
- Implement proper logging
Resource Management
- Always clean up resources
- Use proper port management
- Implement cancellation tokens when needed
Visualization
- Use DumpContainer for real-time updates
- Implement proper logging strategies
- Create clear visual feedback

Conclusion

The combination of Task.WhenAll and LINQPad’s visualization tools creates a powerful development experience. The ability to:

Process multiple tasks efficiently
Visualize operations in real-time
Debug complex async flows
Manage resources properly

makes this combination invaluable for modern C# development.

Try It Yourself

Want to experiment with Task.WhenAll and LINQPad’s visualization capabilities? I’ve created a complete working example that demonstrates these concepts in action.

View the full script on LINQPad Share

Learn More

At Learning LINQPad, I’m passionate about helping developers master these powerful tools. Whether you’re working with parallel processing, async operations, or complex debugging scenarios, LINQPad provides the visualization tools you need to succeed.

Ready to take your C# development to the next level? Visit Learning LINQPad for more tutorials, tips, and resources to help you master these powerful tools.