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.NET Forum / .NET Framework / New Users / September 2007Book recommendations
Hi there I'm looking for a good book or a couple of good books for learning C# and the .Net framework. I have a background with C++ programming and I'd say I'm fairly competent, I have also used a bit of managed C++ and little C# but now I need to get a better understanding of both the language and the framework. I like the style of The C++ Programming Language by Stroustrup and would like a book that is fairly to the point. While I'm aware of the fact that there are quite a lot of good material on the net I always like to have a good book, preferably one that can be considered fairly authoritative if possible. Having searched these groups I've seen a few recommending Pro C# 2005 and the .NET 2.0 Platform by Troelsen, and I was wondering if there are any other good ones out there. One good book about C# and one good about .Net would be better than a fairly good about both. PS. Mind the cross-posting when replying  SignatureErik Wikström I'd have to say, I'm self-taught as far as it comes to writing code... I always knew my code stunk, but it ran. I'd recommend: .NET 2.0 Wrox Box: Professional ASP.NET 2.0, Professional C# 2005, Professional .NET 2.0 Generics, and Professional .NET Framework 2.0 (Paperback) Code Complete, Second Edition by Steve McConnell (Paperback - Jun 2004) I recently shared some code w/ a colleague of mine, and his initial response: "I am just getting started on your stuff, but just wanted to comment on the code. It looks like you have learned quite a bit in the last year! The code is well organized and easy to read." This comming from a full-time developer, vs. my part-time hacking. I attribute that to all I read in the above two (er, make that 4 references, eliminating the ASP.NET book). Well worth the investment. > Hi there > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > PS. Mind the cross-posting when replying > .NET 2.0 Wrox Box: Professional ASP.NET 2.0, Professional C# 2005, > Professional .NET 2.0 Generics, and Professional .NET Framework 2.0 > (Paperback) I have "Professional C# 2005". Despite the name, it's surprisingly accessible to a hobbyist with programming experience. > Learning C# 2005 > by Jesse Liberty > http://www.amazon.com/Learning-C-2005-Started-Programming/dp/0596102097/ref=pd_b bs_sr_1/102-0946813-0563331 It looked good in the store, but after getting to know it better I found Liberty's book disappointing. Many of his assertions had me shaking my head. For example, "Intrinsic types can't do much. You can use them to add two numbers together, and they can display their values as strings." Does he realize how much of the world's computing is done with these simple types? (I mean directly, not indirectly via classes.) What he ought to have said is that you can do anything with intrinsic types, but you'll be working harder than necessary. Elsewhere he says structs are so "constrained, and the savings so minimal, that most programmers make little use of them." Does he know that the C# integral and floating point types are all structs? (On the other hand, he did say they can't do much.) In the next chapter, Liberty introduces methods, using a simple Time class. As an aside, he notes that in the real world you probably wouldn't create such a class, since the .NET Framework already has a DateTime type. He doesn't say so, but DateTime is a struct! Instead of dissing structs, he should have used the .NET library for examples of using them appropriately. Having said all that, I've been leafing through the book (for the first time in months) and thinking that there's much to learn here despite the occasional boners. SignaturePaul Hirose <jvcmz89uwf@earINVALIDthlink.net> To reply by email remove INVALID I haven't read the latest version but when I was starting out with C# I thought this was very good. Learning C# 2005 by Jesse Liberty http://www.amazon.com/Learning-C-2005-Started-Programming/dp/0596102097/ref=pd_b bs_sr_1/102-0946813-0563331 and anything by Chris Sells Windows Forms 2.0 Programming by Chris Sells http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Forms-Programming-Microsoft-Development/dp/0321267 966/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-0946813-0563331 Personally I would not recommend Andrew Troelsen. We have a few of his books in the office and just skimming through them I found several things in various books that are flat out wrong. I've posted about it in these groups before when someone reading his book was very confused--you can do a search on my name and his for very specific details. HTH, Sam ------------------------------------------------------------ We're hiring! B-Line Medical is seeking .NET Developers for exciting positions in medical product development in MD/DC. Work with a variety of technologies in a relaxed team environment. See ads on Dice.com. >Hi there > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >PS. Mind the cross-posting when replying That's why they publish 2nd Editions -- because the publishers often hire incompetent reviewers who fail to catch mistakes we all make. Even Sells and Liberty have had mistakes in their books. > I haven't read the latest version but when I was starting out with C# > I thought this was very good. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] >> >>PS. Mind the cross-posting when replying > That's why they publish 2nd Editions -- because the publishers often hire > incompetent reviewers who fail to catch mistakes we all make. Even Sells > and Liberty have had mistakes in their books. Actually, it's more a case of publishers trying to maximize profit by trying to get perfectly competent reviewers to work on the cheap, IME. I'm frequently asked to review college texts for technical accuracy at what ends up being little more than minimum wage, given the time it *should take*. Publishers are going through the motions and expecting an "acceptable number of errors" because they know reviews are not thorough. Further, coming out with "new" editions (or edition churning as we call it in eduworld), is another way to increase revenue by pressuring professors and bookstores to adopt the "new" edition. It's all about the $$ :) >"clintonG" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message >Actually, it's more a case of publishers trying to maximize profit by trying [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >in eduworld), is another way to increase revenue by pressuring professors >and bookstores to adopt the "new" edition. It's all about the $$ :) Same trend... I'm sure every publisher is different, but a few I've workd with have pretty much done away with formal technical reviewers/editors and instead are going with "beta readers". Sometimes beta readers are paid a little bit but mostly they're volunteers. So instead of haing one or two technical editors responsible for reading the whole book and making sure it's all technically accurate, you get 10-15 beta readers that read as much as they want to and point out what they see. There's a big difference between a beta reader who just reads and provides feedback and a tech editor who is specifically tasked with verifying everything and testing every code sample. I've served as both a tech editor and a beta reader and am not hapy with this recent change. Hopefully this is confined to just some publishers. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------ We're hiring! B-Line Medical is seeking .NET Developers for exciting positions in medical product development in MD/DC. Work with a variety of technologies in a relaxed team environment. See ads on Dice.com. Andrew Troelsen C# and the .NET Platform http://apress.com/ > Hi there > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > PS. Mind the cross-posting when replying > Hi there > > I'm looking for a good book or a couple of good books for learning C# > and the .Net framework. I have a background with C++ programming and I'd > say I'm fairly competent, I have followed some of your posts in comp.lang.c++. If the expertise you demonstrated is anything to go by then to achieve something similar in C# please consider: CLR via C# by Jeffrey Richter Professional .NET Framework 2.0 by Joe Duffy Those two books should get you super acquainted with the .NET framework. The Jesse Liberty book should be able to fill in the C# gap. If it were available you could go for Jon Skeet's "C# in Depth" but I don't think its out yet (Jon: if you are reading this any estimate when the book might be published?) > If it were available you could go for Jon Skeet's "C# in Depth" but I > don't think its out yet (Jon: if you are reading this any estimate > when the book might be published?) Ooh, my first plug on the newsgroup :) The web site reckons April 2008. I'd *like* it to be a month or two earlier than that, but these things take time... In fact, I don't C# in Depth isn't really appropriate for learning C# from scratch - although if the OP is smart, it would probably be fine after reading a few tutorials on C# 1 or a short C# 1 book. SignatureJon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com> http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet If replying to the group, please do not mail me too > Hi there > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > -- > Erik Wikström I'm a big fan of the help that comes with whatever version of visual studio you're using. From my version of visual studio (vs.net2003) the following sections may be helpful: - "Visual C# Language - C# Language Tour " - as a C++ person you may find the "Comparison Between C++ and C#" helpful - "Visual C# Language - C# Programmer's reference" - ".NET Framework - Programming with the .NET Framework" - I think this comes w/ the SDK - excellent, well-organized introduction to many parts of the framework with plenty of C# code samples. - ".NET Framework - Reference - Class Library" - The API. Loaded with explanations and relevant samples. I usually install the help locally because articles I've found helpful occasionally disappear (or move) from MSDN online. Plus local help tends to load faster than over the web. One last one thing I've found extremely helpful is the Help on Help that's included in the help (from the help menu). "Search Syntax and Guidelines" is a real gem. As for books and blogs, others have covered these so I'll defer to them :) Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. There are no hidden fees and no obligation. Simply choose a title, complete the application form and submit it. Read more ...
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