Visual C# .NET Book for my Situation

[Keith Russell]

Hi, everyone.


I have done a variety of programming in the past in several
(mostly older) languages. I also worked for a couple of years
about 5 years ago programming in Visual C 6. I have several C++
books that I have studied some (but never used much)and can refer
to when necessary to fill in the gaps in converting to C#.

I would now like to learn to program in C# .NET. I own a copy of
Visual Studio .NET, but it's the 2003 version. I'm finding some
significant differences between its environment and VS .NET.

Can someone tell me which books might be most appropriate for
my situation? I need something that isn't for a rank beginner to
programming or that spends a lot of time on the absolute basics,
but that isn't too advanced, either, and will move me fairly
rapidly through what I need to know.

I would also like to find something that will spend some time on
..NET and the new VS .NET environment. (I have found Wrox's books
to be good introductions to the earlier VS environments while
learning a language; something like this might be good.)
Alternatively, perhaps there is a Web site that will give me the
basics in using the environment if supplemented by a good book on
the language and the .NET framework.

One other question: How significant are the changes in .NET 2.0?
Would one of the newer book editions be appropriate, or would I
be better off to find an earlier edition based on 1.1, based on
my learning environment?

I have been reading good reviews of Liberty's Troelson's,
Petzold's, and Richters books. Would any of them be best for me,
or something else?

Can someone give me a recommendation? Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

Hi Keith,
Welcome to .Net world !

My Advice is to start with Digging in .Netframework; to have an idea about
what is going on behind! I have learnt .Net fraomework from MSDN !

Now, for good C# books, please find below some of them:
- Inside C# by Tom Archer
- Microsoft Visual C# .NET (Core Reference) by Mickey Williams
- C# Programming Language, The (2nd Edition) (Microsoft .NET Development
Series) by Anders Hejlsberg, Scott Wiltamuth, and Peter Golde

Also, find below some interesting C# websites:

- MSDN website
- www.csharpcorner.com
- www.codeproject.com
- www.csharpfriends.com/statics/csharp.aspx

..Net 2.0 extends the .NET 1.1 with new features, improvements to existing
features, and enhancements to the documentation. in the above websites, you
can find a good material that describes the new features, and improvments on
..Net 2.0

I hope this will help you....

Enjoy .Netting !!!


Husam Al-A'araj

 

[Keith Russell]

Thank you, Husam.

My Advice is to start with Digging in .Netframework; to have an idea about
what is going on behind!

Are you referring to a book with this title, or are you just
saying that I should learn by doing?

I have learnt .Net fraomework from MSDN !

That's one approach, but looking at the tutorials, at least those
that came with the 2003 version, they all seem to be on advanced
topics. I need something more basic and structured to start with.

Now, for good C# books, please find below some of them:
- Inside C# by Tom Archer
- Microsoft Visual C# .NET (Core Reference) by Mickey Williams
- C# Programming Language, The (2nd Edition) (Microsoft .NET Development
Series) by Anders Hejlsberg, Scott Wiltamuth, and Peter Golde

Also, find below some interesting C# websites:

- MSDN website
- www.csharpcorner.com
- www.codeproject.com
- www.csharpfriends.com/statics/csharp.aspx

Thanks. I'll look into the books, and I really do appreciate the
links to the Web sites.

.Net 2.0 extends the .NET 1.1 with new features, improvements to existing
features, and enhancements to the documentation. in the above websites, you
can find a good material that describes the new features, and improvments on
.Net 2.0

I guess what I'm wondering is this.

Will the examples in the newer editions of the books still work
with Visual Studio .NET 2003, or will they incorporate too many
new features to be useful in my environment?

I hope this will help you....

It did! Thanks again.

 

[Fabio Lindner]

Keith,

For learning the language you can use the book "C# Precisely" from The MIT
Press. It's a small reference book (about 200 pages) with lots of examples.
Liberty's "Programing C#" it's another book I recomend (the 4th edition is
updated por C# 2005 and .Net 2.0 but maybe you can find an older edition por
1.1).

Anyway I recomend you upgrade your VS to 2005 (you could also try the new
"Orcas" March CTP). You don't want to miss generics and a lot of other
improvements, including a much better IDE, do you ?

HTH

Fabio Lindner

 

[Jordan]

Can someone give me a recommendation? Thanks in advance!

"Essential C# 2.0" by Mark Michaelis (Microsoft .net Development
Series) is an excellent reference style book for the 2.0 framework. I
know you said you have 1.1, but this book is so well written and easy
to navigate, that I would say get it anyway. Most of the stuff
applies to 1.1 as well, and the 2.0 features are usually noted as
"new" in the book.

Each chapter starts with a "Beginner Topics", where it outlines the
fundamentals, and ends with "Advanced Topics", where it details
intricacies, idiosyncrasies and common pitfalls.

Jordan