string is an alias in C# for System.String.
So technically, there is no difference. It's like int vs. System.Int32.
As far as guidelines, it's generally recommended to use string any time you're referring to an object.
e.g.
string place = "world";
Likewise, I think it's generally recommended to use String if you need to refer specifically to the class.
e.g.
string greet = String.Format("Hello {0}!", place);
This is the style that Microsoft tends to use in their examples.
It appears that the guidance in this area may have changed, as StyleCop now enforces the use of the C# specific aliases.
Shuffle any (I)List with an extension method based on the Fisher-Yates shuffle:
private static Random rng = new Random();
public static void Shuffle<T>(this IList<T> list)
{
int n = list.Count;
while (n > 1) {
n--;
int k = rng.Next(n + 1);
T value = list[k];
list[k] = list[n];
list[n] = value;
}
}
Usage:
List<Product> products = GetProducts();
products.Shuffle();
The code above uses the much criticised System.Random method to select swap candidates. It's fast but not as random as it should be. If you need a better quality of randomness in your shuffles use the random number generator in System.Security.Cryptography like so:
using System.Security.Cryptography;
...
public static void Shuffle<T>(this IList<T> list)
{
RNGCryptoServiceProvider provider = new RNGCryptoServiceProvider();
int n = list.Count;
while (n > 1)
{
byte[] box = new byte[1];
do provider.GetBytes(box);
while (!(box[0] < n * (Byte.MaxValue / n)));
int k = (box[0] % n);
n--;
T value = list[k];
list[k] = list[n];
list[n] = value;
}
}
A simple comparison is available at this blog (WayBack Machine).
Edit: Since writing this answer a couple years back, many people have commented or written to me, to point out the big silly flaw in my comparison. They are of course right. There's nothing wrong with System.Random if it's used in the way it was intended. In my first example above, I instantiate the rng variable inside of the Shuffle method, which is asking for trouble if the method is going to be called repeatedly. Below is a fixed, full example based on a really useful comment received today from @weston here on SO.
Program.cs:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Threading;
namespace SimpleLottery
{
class Program
{
private static void Main(string[] args)
{
var numbers = new List<int>(Enumerable.Range(1, 75));
numbers.Shuffle();
Console.WriteLine("The winning numbers are: {0}", string.Join(", ", numbers.GetRange(0, 5)));
}
}
public static class ThreadSafeRandom
{
[ThreadStatic] private static Random Local;
public static Random ThisThreadsRandom
{
get { return Local ?? (Local = new Random(unchecked(Environment.TickCount * 31 + Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId))); }
}
}
static class MyExtensions
{
public static void Shuffle<T>(this IList<T> list)
{
int n = list.Count;
while (n > 1)
{
n--;
int k = ThreadSafeRandom.ThisThreadsRandom.Next(n + 1);
T value = list[k];
list[k] = list[n];
list[n] = value;
}
}
}
}
Best Answer