top variable needs parentheses

declare @int int = 10

select top (@int) * from

bozo

more things done to improve sql

if force order hint is used - put left joins after inner joins
create indicies on temp tables after inserts

to loop through a c# DictionaryList

you use a DictionaryEntry

Failed to find project file at path in CI

do a build with clean option checked

to avoid distributed transaction errors during debugging

on the callee comment out :

/*[OperationBehavior(TransactionScopeRequired = true,
TransactionAutoComplete = true)]*/

debugging a windows service

follow this pattern in program file

#if DEBUG

            MethodInfo mi = qCenterService.GetType().GetMethod("OnStart", BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly | BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.InvokeMethod | BindingFlags.NonPublic);

            mi.Invoke(BlahService, new object[] { new string[0] });

            Console.ReadLine();

#else

                     ServiceBase.Run(new ServiceBase[] { BlahService });

#endif

recent things done to an important and complex sql query to improve performance

1. changed cross- apply to cte's
2. added indices that had all the output columns needed instead of using clustered index which forced more reads
3. removed max varchar columns from initial query to avoid key lookups and retrieved them at end of sql