Tools-Reference.md

🛠️ Tools.* Namespace Reference

Status: Complete reference for Sphere10 Framework v3.0.0
Last Updated: December 31, 2025

The Tools namespace is a central organizational feature of Sphere10 Framework, providing a unified, IntelliSense-discoverable collection of static utility methods across all framework projects. This document catalogs all Tools classes and their primary operations.

Table of Contents

1. Core Framework Tools
2. Platform-Specific Tools
3. Database Tools
4. Usage Patterns
5. Adding New Tools

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Core Framework Tools

Located in Sphere10.Framework and organized by domain:

Collection & Data Structure Tools

Tools.Array

Array manipulation, bounds checking, copying, resizing.

var subarray = Tools.Array.SubArray(data, startIndex, length);
var resized = Tools.Array.Resize(array, newSize);
bool contains = Tools.Array.Contains(array, value);

Tools.Collection

Collection operations: filtering, mapping, iteration, flattening.

var filtered = Tools.Collection.Where(items, predicate);
var transformed = Tools.Collection.Select(items, mapper);
var flattened = Tools.Collection.Flatten(nestedList);
var grouped = Tools.Collection.GroupBy(items, keySelector);

Tools.Stream

Stream decorators, readers, writers, bounded access.

var bounded = Tools.Stream.CreateBoundedStream(source, maxBytes);
byte[] data = Tools.Stream.ReadAllBytes(stream);
Tools.Stream.WriteAllBytes(stream, data);
var decorated = Tools.Stream.WrapWithCompression(stream);

Cryptography Tools

Tools.Crypto

Hashing, signatures, key derivation, cryptographic operations.

byte[] hash = Tools.Crypto.SHA256(data);
byte[] hash256 = Tools.Crypto.BLAKE2B(data);
byte[] signature = Tools.Crypto.Sign(privateKey, message);
bool valid = Tools.Crypto.VerifySignature(publicKey, message, signature);
byte[] derived = Tools.Crypto.DeriveKey(password, salt, iterations);

String & Text Tools

Tools.Text

String manipulation, formatting, validation, generation.

string trimmed = Tools.Text.RemoveWhitespace(text);
string truncated = Tools.Text.Truncate(text, 100);
string pascal = Tools.Text.ToPascalCase(text);
string random = Tools.Text.GenerateRandomString(length);
string padded = Tools.Text.PadLeft(text, totalWidth, paddingChar);
bool isEmail = Tools.Text.IsValidEmail(email);

Tools.Parse

String parsing, numeric conversion, safe type conversion.

int parsed = Tools.Parse.ToInt32(text, defaultValue);
decimal decimal = Tools.Parse.ToDecimal(text);
Guid guid = Tools.Parse.ToGuid(guidString);
var typed = Tools.Parse.TryParse<T>(text, out var result);

Type & Reflection Tools

Tools.Reflection

Type inspection, member discovery, attribute analysis.

var properties = Tools.Reflection.GetProperties(type);
var methods = Tools.Reflection.GetMethods(type);
bool hasAttribute = Tools.Reflection.HasAttribute<MyAttribute>(type);
var attribute = Tools.Reflection.GetAttribute<MyAttribute>(type);
object instance = Tools.Reflection.CreateInstance(type, args);

Tools.Enum

Enumeration utilities, descriptions, conversion.

string description = Tools.Enum.GetDescription(enumValue);
int value = Tools.Enum.ToInt32(enumValue);
MyEnum parsed = Tools.Enum.Parse<MyEnum>(text);
var values = Tools.Enum.GetValues<MyEnum>();

Tools.Value

Value type utilities, conversions, comparisons.

bool equals = Tools.Value.Equals(obj1, obj2);
int hashCode = Tools.Value.GetHashCode(obj);
object clone = Tools.Value.Clone(obj);

Numeric & Math Tools

Tools.Math

Basic mathematical operations, RNG, calculations.

double sqrt = Tools.Math.Sqrt(value);
double pow = Tools.Math.Power(base, exponent);
int random = Tools.Math.Random.Next(min, max);
byte[] randomBytes = Tools.Math.Random.NextBytes(count);

Tools.MathPlus

Advanced mathematics, specialized algorithms.

var gcd = Tools.MathPlus.GreatestCommonDivisor(a, b);
var lcm = Tools.MathPlus.LeastCommonMultiple(a, b);
bool isPrime = Tools.MathPlus.IsPrime(number);

Memory & Buffer Tools

Tools.Memory

Buffer operations, memory allocation, size formatting.

string readable = Tools.Memory.GetBytesReadable(bytes);  // "1.5 MB"
byte[] allocated = Tools.Memory.AllocateBuffer(size);
Tools.Memory.ClearBuffer(buffer);
byte[] copy = Tools.Memory.CopyBuffer(source);

Temporal Tools

Tools.DateTime

Date/time parsing, formatting, calculations.

DateTime parsed = Tools.DateTime.Parse(dateString);
string formatted = Tools.DateTime.FormatISO8601(dateTime);
TimeSpan elapsed = Tools.DateTime.GetElapsedTime(startTime);
bool isLeapYear = Tools.DateTime.IsLeapYear(year);

I/O & File System Tools

Tools.FileSystem

File operations, directory management, temp files.

string tempFile = Tools.FileSystem.GenerateTempFilename();
string tempDir = Tools.FileSystem.GetTempDirectory();
Tools.FileSystem.WriteAllText(path, content);
string content = Tools.FileSystem.ReadAllText(path);
Tools.FileSystem.DeleteFile(path);
var files = Tools.FileSystem.GetFiles(directory, pattern);

Network Tools

Tools.Network

Network utilities, IP operations, connectivity.

bool online = Tools.Network.IsInternetAvailable();
string publicIP = Tools.Network.GetPublicIPAddress();
bool reachable = Tools.Network.IsPingable(host);
var addresses = Tools.Network.GetLocalIPAddresses();

Tools.Url

URL parsing, encoding, manipulation.

string encoded = Tools.Url.EncodeUrl(url);
string decoded = Tools.Url.DecodeUrl(encoded);
string query = Tools.Url.BuildQueryString(parameters);
var uri = Tools.Url.ParseUrl(urlString);

Tools.Mail

Email utilities, composition, validation.

bool isValid = Tools.Mail.IsValidEmail(email);
Tools.Mail.SendEmail(to, subject, body);
var message = Tools.Mail.CreateMessage(from, to, subject, body);

Functional & Expression Tools

Tools.Lambda

Lambda expression utilities and manipulation.

var property = Tools.Lambda.GetPropertyName(() => obj.Property);
var method = Tools.Lambda.GetMethodName(() => obj.Method());

Tools.Expression

LINQ expression building and manipulation.

var predicate = Tools.Expression.BuildPredicate<T>(field, value);
var combined = Tools.Expression.CombinePredicates(expr1, expr2);

Tools.Operator

Generic operator invocation without reflection overhead.

var sum = Tools.Operator.Add(a, b);
var product = Tools.Operator.Multiply(x, y);
bool less = Tools.Operator.LessThan(a, b);

Data Format Tools

Tools.Json

JSON serialization, parsing, transformation.

string json = Tools.Json.Serialize(obj);
var deserialized = Tools.Json.Deserialize<MyType>(json);
var pretty = Tools.Json.PrettyPrint(json);

Tools.Xml

XML parsing, serialization, transformation.

string xml = Tools.Xml.Serialize(obj);
var deserialized = Tools.Xml.Deserialize<MyType>(xml);
var document = Tools.Xml.ParseXml(xmlString);

Threading & Concurrency Tools

Tools.Thread

Threading utilities, synchronization, async helpers.

Tools.Thread.Sleep(milliseconds);
Tools.Thread.RunOnThreadPool(action);
var task = Tools.Thread.RunAsync(asyncFunc);
Tools.Thread.WaitAll(tasks);

Environment & Runtime Tools

Tools.Runtime

Runtime environment, version detection, diagnostics.

string version = Tools.Runtime.GetFrameworkVersion();
bool is64Bit = Tools.Runtime.Is64BitProcess();
string osName = Tools.Runtime.GetOperatingSystem();
var processorCount = Tools.Runtime.GetProcessorCount();

Tools.Debugger

Debug-time utilities and diagnostics.

bool attached = Tools.Debugger.IsDebuggerAttached();
Tools.Debugger.Break();
Tools.Debugger.Log(message);

Exception & Scope Tools

Tools.Exception

Exception handling, formatting, analysis.

string message = Tools.Exception.FormatException(ex);
var innerMost = Tools.Exception.GetInnerMostException(ex);
Tools.Exception.LogException(ex);

Tools.Scope

Transactional scope management and lifecycle.

using var scope = Tools.Scope.CreateScope() {
    // transactional operations
    scope.Commit();
}

Other Framework Tools

Tools.Object

Object operations, cloning, copying, inspection.

object clone = Tools.Object.Clone(source);
Tools.Object.CopyProperties(source, target);
string description = Tools.Object.ToDebugString(obj);

Tools.Span

Span and memory utilities for high-performance code.

Span<byte> data = Tools.Span.AllocateSpan(size);
Tools.Span.CopySpan(source, destination);

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Platform-Specific Tools

Windows Platform

Tools.WinTool (Sphere10.Framework.Windows)

Windows-specific operations: registry, services, events, privileges.

// Registry operations
bool exists = Tools.WinTool.KeyExists(hostname, keyPath);
var key = Tools.WinTool.OpenKey(hostname, keyPath);
var subkeys = Tools.WinTool.GetSubKeys(hostname, keyPath);

// Service management
bool running = Tools.WinTool.IsServiceRunning(serviceName);
Tools.WinTool.StartService(serviceName);
Tools.WinTool.StopService(serviceName);
var status = Tools.WinTool.GetServiceStatus(serviceName);

// Privileges and security
bool modified = Tools.WinTool.ModifyState(tokenHandle, "SeRestorePrivilege", true);

// Bit operations
ushort hiword = Tools.WinTool.HIWORD(data);
ushort loword = Tools.WinTool.LOWORD(data);
int wheelDelta = Tools.WinTool.GET_WHEEL_DELTA_WPARAM(data);

// Virtual key mapping
Key key = Tools.WinTool.VirtualKeyToKey(virtualKeyCode);

Tools.WindowsTool (Sphere10.Framework.Windows)

Advanced Windows shell operations.

// ShortCut creation
Tools.WinShell.CreateShortcutForApplication(
    executable, 
    shortcutPath, 
    arguments
);
string shortcutPath = Tools.WinShell.DetermineStartupShortcutFilename(appName);

Tools (Sphere10.Framework.Windows.Forms)

WinForms-specific utilities.

// Drawing utilities
Color lightDark = Tools.DrawingTool.CalculateLightDarkColor(baseColor, factor);

Web Platform

Tools.Web.Html (Sphere10.Framework.Web.AspNetCore)

HTML generation, parsing, manipulation.

string sanitized = Tools.Web.Html.SanitizeHtml(userHtml);
string encoded = Tools.Web.Html.EncodeHtml(text);
var dom = Tools.Web.Html.ParseHtml(htmlString);

Tools.Web.AspNetCore (Sphere10.Framework.Web.AspNetCore)

ASP.NET Core integration.

var result = Tools.Web.AspNetCore.CreateResponse(data);
var error = Tools.Web.AspNetCore.CreateErrorResponse(message);
string animationClass = Tools.Web.AspNetCore.GetAnimationClass(animation, delay);

Tools.Web.Downloader (Sphere10.Framework)

HTTP downloads and streaming.

byte[] data = Tools.Web.Downloader.Download(url);
Tools.Web.Downloader.DownloadToFile(url, filePath);

Mobile Platforms

Tools.iOSTool (Sphere10.Framework.iOS)

iOS-specific utilities.

UIViewController topMost = Tools.iOSTool.GetTopMostController();
nfloat keyboardHeight = Tools.iOSTool.GetKeyboardHeight(view, notification);
UIImage image = Tools.iOSTool.EmbeddedImage(imageName);

Tools.AndroidTool (Sphere10.Framework.Android)

Android-specific utilities (as available).

// Android-specific operations

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Database Tools

Organized by database provider:

Tools.Data (Sphere10.Framework.Data)

Generic database operations.

var connection = Tools.Data.CreateConnection(connectionString);
var adapter = Tools.Data.CreateDataAdapter(connection);

Tools.Sqlite (Sphere10.Framework.Data.Sqlite)

SQLite-specific utilities.

var connection = Tools.Sqlite.Create(connectionString, pageSize);
Tools.Sqlite.Drop(Tools.Sqlite.GetFilePathFromConnectionString(connStr));
bool exists = Tools.Sqlite.Exists(connectionString);

Tools.MSSQL (Sphere10.Framework.Data.MSSQL)

SQL Server-specific utilities.

var adapter = Tools.MSSQL.CreateAdapter(connectionString);
var connection = Tools.MSSQL.CreateConnection(connectionString);

Tools.Firebird (Sphere10.Framework.Data.Firebird)

Firebird database utilities.

var connection = Tools.Firebird.CreateConnection(connectionString);

Tools.NHibernate (Sphere10.Framework.Data.NHibernate)

NHibernate ORM integration.

var session = Tools.NHibernate.CreateSession(configuration);
var query = Tools.NHibernate.CreateQuery<T>(session);

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Application & Testing Tools

Tools.Config (Sphere10.Framework.Application)

Configuration and settings management.

var value = Tools.Config.Get<T>(key);
Tools.Config.Set(key, value);
bool exists = Tools.Config.KeyExists(key);

Tools.NUnit (Sphere10.Framework.NUnit)

NUnit testing utilities.

string grid = Tools.NUnit.Convert2DArrayToString(name, array);

Tools.Drawing (Sphere10.Framework.Drawing)

Graphics and drawing operations.

Color lighter = Tools.DrawingTool.CalculateLightDarkColor(baseColor, 0.1f);
var resized = Tools.DrawingTool.Resize(image, newWidth, newHeight);

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Usage Patterns

Discovery Pattern

using Tools;  // Import global Tools namespace

// Start typing Tools. and IntelliSense shows all available operations
Tools.Crypto.
Tools.Text.
Tools.FileSystem.
Tools.Collection.

Chaining Operations

var result = Tools.Collection
    .Where(items, x => x.IsActive)
    .Select(x => x.Name)
    .OrderBy(x => x)
    .ToList();

Platform-Conditional Usage

#if WINDOWS
    Tools.WinTool.StartService("MyService");
#elif IOS
    var topmost = Tools.iOSTool.GetTopMostController();
#endif

Error Handling with Tools

try {
    var result = Tools.Parse.ToInt32(input);
} catch (Exception ex) {
    string formatted = Tools.Exception.FormatException(ex);
    Tools.Debugger.Log(formatted);
}

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Adding New Tools

When creating a new project in Sphere10 Framework, add a Tools class to the Tools namespace:

Naming Convention

• File: [Feature]Tool.cs (e.g., MyFeatureTool.cs)
• Class: [Feature]Tool (e.g., MyFeatureTool)
• Namespace: Tools or Tools.[Domain] (e.g., Tools.Web, Tools.Database)

Template

// File: MyFeatureTool.cs
namespace Tools;

/// <summary>
/// Tools for [Feature Description]
/// </summary>
public static class MyFeatureTool {
    /// <summary>
    /// [Operation description]
    /// </summary>
    public static TResult MyOperation<T, TResult>(T input) {
        // Implementation
    }
    
    /// <summary>
    /// [Another operation]
    /// </summary>
    public static void AnotherOperation(string parameter) {
        // Implementation
    }
}

Integration Steps

1. Add [Feature]Tool.cs to your project
2. Use namespace Tools; (or Tools.[Domain])
3. Add static methods for related operations
4. Update project README to list available tools
5. Document in the global docs/Tools-Reference.md file

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Related Documentation

• Sphere10.Framework README – Architecture and project overview
• Code Styling Guide – Conventions for Tools implementations
• Individual project READMEs – Domain-specific tool documentation

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Version: 3.0.0
Last Updated: December 31, 2025
Framework: Sphere10 Framework