Blog

Mert Özen's blog posts on software development, backend, frontend, and DevOps.

Series

DTO-Entity Conversion: Writing It by Hand or Using AutoMapper?

We discuss the conversion between entity and DTO. The upsides of manual mapping, when AutoMapper is a convenience and when a hidden cost, and a practical look at which to choose in your project.

8 Aug 2026 12 min 54

Backend PART 10

Is the Repository Pattern Really Necessary? Let's Talk About the Service Layer

We discuss placing a layer between the controller and DbContext instead of using it directly. What the service layer is for, whether the repository pattern is really necessary, and when it pays off.

2 Aug 2026 13 min 76

Backend PART 07

What Is a DTO and Why Shouldn't We Return the Entity Directly?

We cover what DTOs are and why you shouldn't return database objects directly: the concrete benefits of using DTOs for security, privacy, flexibility, and contract stability.

2 Aug 2026 11 min 82