Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition (Windows.Net) | Andrew Troelsen

Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition (Windows.Net) | Andrew Troelsen | THE new .NET desk reference

books:

Pro C

	Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition (Windows.Net) Andrew Troelsen Apress, 2007 - 1370 pages average customer review:based on 35 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Best book ever on C#; not so good with the .NET 3.5 platform

I've read chapters 1-13 in their entirety read part of 14 and 15 and skimmed the ASP.NET chapters. It may be a while until I look through the rest of what's in this huge book, so I may as well review it now.

This book is really two books in one. The first part, Chapters 1-14, cover C# the language. The rest of the book covers stuff about the .NET platform.

The first 13 chapters of this book are nothing short of outstanding. I have many years of experience working with C#, but I haven't done any C# programming at all for the last year, so I felt that I needed to refresh my knowledge of the language, as well as learn about what has been added since version 1.0 This book was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Not only did I relearn everything about C# that I had forgotten, I learned a lot more than I ever knew. I feel like I know C# better now than I ever did before.

The author of this book doesn't just explain the language, he also explains what's going on behind the scenes in the CIL, so you really get a full understanding of exactly what's happening when your C# code is compiled.

Delegates are the part of C# that I always found the hardest to understand. This book explains delegates better than anything else I've read, I feel like I finally understand them.

The author of this book also avoids the two things I hate most about certain other computer books: (1) He never uses unprofessional nerd-language like "Wow, this technique is really cool!" Yes, some computer books have sentences like that and I think its demeaning to the programming profession. I don't recall reading through any bad grammar--the author is a very good writer. (2) The code samples are short and to the point. There's nothing I hate more than unnecessarily long code samples (except for the nerd-speak).

But is this book all perfect? Not really. I wish the author just cut it off at chapter 14 (which introduces LINQ but really doesn't go into enough detail for one to understand it) and sold the book for half the price. This book is too big and too expensive.

For example, the ASP.NET chapters don't seem very useful. ASP.NET is a huge topic, way too big to be covered in three chapters. I think the three chapters here would be too confusing for an ASP.NET beginner, and not comprehensive enough at all for the professional ASP.NET programmer.

Despite my annoyances at the books size and coverage of material that's unnecessary, I'm so happy about the quality of the first 13 chapters that I give it 5 stars.

for more information click here

THE new .NET desk reference

I found this book while searching around for one that covered new features of .NET 3.5. I have been working with .NET since before the official release of version 1.0, but got behind after 3.0 came out. I floundered about buying this for several months, debating spending the money on hundreds of pages of material that I already knew just to get a few nuggets that I wanted. The table of contents showed that it did cover the topics I was after in 30 ~ 50 page blocks. When I finally bought it, I discovered that I couldn't be more pleased. I skimmed through the parts that I was already familiar with, and even then learned some things. In fact, I came across a new feature of ADO.NET that directly answered an issue that I was having right at that moment. The sections on material that I was less familiar with were very easy to read and great for getting a workable understanding of the technology and how to begin using it.

I highly recommend this book both for a developer who is new to .NET and as a great reference to seasoned .NET developers. For the n00b, this is a thorough reference that leaves no stone unturned. For the old timers, it is a good, concise reference for the new stuff and a valuable "mental reboot" so you don't get stuck in that rut of writing .NET 1.1 code using a .NET 3.5 compiler. Mr. Troelson is thorough, detail oriented and very readable. This book has earned the right to retire several older, well worn references on my desk.

for more information click here

Professional, Credible, Insightful...

If you have tinkered with C# at all this book is going to take you to levels, that in retrospect, will leave you wondering how you have grown so much. I have read approximately 150 pages of the 1000 plus document and already understand to a great degree the logic and structure behind the .Net Framework.

This book points out very early the fact that C# is directly related to the .Net Framework on an intimate level that will profoundly influence your understanding of and approach to developing systems in the .Net vein with C#. This document will enliven your strategy and empower your ability to leverage technology from a number of different angles within the scope of the .Net Framework as it pertains to C#.

Some really excellent points that are touched upon include: specialized tools for decompiling .Net assemblies, tools for the optimizatiofn of your code and systems, tools that enable you to effectively document your code, some simple examples along with a little tutorial involving the Mono Framework (a.k.a - Linux .Net), and reviews as well as setup instructions for various .Net development tools like Sharp Develop (a free open source C# development IDE that can even be run from a USB Flash Drive).

This book is a defacto tool for anyone wishing to become competent and proficient with C# and .Net cohesively. I actually look forward to reading again and "Pro C# 2008 and the .Net 3.5 Platform" is a hard one to put down. It seems as though that every time I re-read the the material I am seeing something new or finding inspiration to explore topics in a different way. This is probably why I haven't made it past page 150 and that is incredible as in that short a time span I've come to understand and question so much.

This document is truly magnificent. The author is a Microsoft .Net MVP programmer and makes educational software products for children and adolescents. Troelson's expertise hits the mark relentlessly with a delivery that I have yet to find an equal. He cashes in on his own experiences with a damn the torpedos approach and gets you to the town hall ahead of schedule. This man is a master craftsman and should not be overlooked or underestimated and Apress does a fantastic job of showcasing his wisdom with a nicely layed out and sturdy bound hardcover that is still worth the [..], here it's [..] roughly, that I paid for my copy.

If you design or program in C# and you feel that you can take or leave this book do yourself a big favor and check out a few preview chapters of it at the Apress site and see for yourself. Otherwise I would have to merely look on and wish you the best.

for more information click here

The Best C# Book, Then Period .

Any serious C# Developer out there gotta have that profound, well structured textbook. I would like to thank the author for his continuing effort to not only sharpen every new version, but also his clear and simple way of explaining the subject. I've already got the Pro C# 2008 and THE .NET 3.5 Platform. What are you waiting for? Go order a copy at the amazon web site and let the fun begin.

Really good book to learn C# 3.5, but ...

Few reasons why this book was not given 5*****

1. Size of the book. I believe it doesn't need to be this big

2. Order of the chapters is bit distracting. For ex. Linq is introduced in CH14 and no further discussion until CH24

3. Some of the examples are copy and paste from several versions of the same program with minor modifications. So there are slight incompatibilities. Not show stoppers though

4. Real hard topics (Understanding Object lifetime, Behind the scenes of Linq etc.) are more like touch and go type

More or less this is a great book for a bit experienced programmer (C++/Java/C# 2.0). Not for new comers, I guess.

for more information click here

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

products you might be interested in