c# - How to get rid of StackOverflow Exception in DataContext InitializeComponent?

Question

I am new to wpf c#, trying some sample application, the problem is when I mention DataContext in xaml the InitializeComponent is called recursively and is showing

System.StackOverflowException' occurred in mscorlib.dll

This is my XAML markup:

<Window x:Class="Company1.MainWindow"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Company1"
    Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525" >
<Window.DataContext>
   <local:MainWindow/>
</Window.DataContext>
  <Grid>
     <GroupBox Margin="5,5,5,5" Background="Beige">
         <Grid>
             <StackPanel>
                <Button Width="80" Height="25" Margin="10,10,10,10" 
                        Content="Employee" Command="{Binding ButtonCommand}"
                        DataContext="{Binding }">
                </Button>
            </StackPanel>
            <DataGrid 
                  Name="myGridView" Margin="5,69,5,5" 
                  Width="Auto" AutoGenerateColumns="True"
                  AlternatingRowBackground="Bisque">
                <DataGrid.Columns>
                    <DataGridTextColumn Header="Name"
                                        Binding="{Binding Path=EmpName}" 
                                        Width="*" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    <DataGridTextColumn Header="ID" 
                                        Binding="{Binding Path=EmpId}" 
                                        Width="*" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    <DataGridTextColumn Header="Place" 
                                        Binding="{Binding Path=Location}" 
                                        Width="*" IsReadOnly="False"/>
                    <DataGridTextColumn Header="Dept" 
                                        Binding="{Binding Path=Department}" 
                                        Width="*" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                </DataGrid.Columns>
            </DataGrid>
        </Grid>
    </GroupBox>
</Grid>
</Window>

XAML.cs:

 private ICommand m_ButtonCommand;
 public ICommand ButtonCommand
 {
     get { return m_ButtonCommand; }
     set { m_ButtonCommand = value; }
 }
 public MainWindow()
 {
     InitializeComponent();
     ButtonCommand = new RelayCommand(new Action<object>(ShowEmployees));
 }

Answer 1

U don't need to provide data context if you are using the properties in xaml.cs as it is the same partial class

When you set the data context as the MainWindow it creates another instance of MainWindow and tries to set its data context as MainWindow. Thus, going in an infinite loop giving stackoverflow exception.

Learn more about DataContext property in codeproject DataContext in WPF

if you are using another class for view model, then you need to provide data context via a locator

<Window x:Class="Company1.MainWindow"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Company1"   
    Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525"
    DataContext={Binding Path=MainWindowViewModel, StaticResource locator} >

and locator will be a resource in Resources.xaml as

 <MVVM:MainPageViewModelLocator x:Key="locator" />

You can get the locator class and more details about the MVVM pattern in geekchamp Working with a simple ViewModelLocator from MVVM-Light