Programming Microsoft Visual C# 2005: The Base Class Library (Pro-Developer) Review

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Programming Microsoft Visual C# 2005: The Base Class Library (Pro-Developer) ReviewThere are only a few authors who writes about Microsoft technologies whose book you can buy without reading reviews. Francesco Balena is one of them (yes, Jeffrey Richter is another one). Both of these authors write for a particular segment of developers - those who have some programming experience and have tried some things on their own or have read some beginner's book and is ready for the serious stuff. The style is lucid, but no stone is left unturned on the topic being discussed. Both of them (Balena and Richter) also give practical coding advices which we wont find in the usual programming books. The approach is very pragmatic without losing the spirit of good programming idioms. Well, I am diverging. The point is - you dont need to read any reviews to buy a Balena book - rush to the store and get it. They are all gems.
Well, if you are still reading this and have not ordered it yet, it means you are interested in knowing a bit more about the book. This book is almost a C# port of his book Visual Basic 2005 book. The chapters go like this :
1. .NET Framework basic types - Balena speaks about the System.Object type, String types, Numeric types,DateTime type etc.
2. Object Lifetime - Memory management, Garbage collection etc.
3. Interfaces - Usage of common interfaces in .NET like IComparable, IDisposable etc.
4. Generics - Why we need Generics, how to write generic code and some advanced topics like support for Math operators.
5. Arrays and Collections - The different types of arrays, overview of System.Collections namespace as well as Generic collections.
6. Regular Expressions - This is an excellent tutorial of using regular expressions in .NET
7. Files, Directories and Streams - IO in .NET is a bit confusing, this chapter might help to clear things up.
8. Assemblies and Resources - Everything u need to know about assmeblies.
9. Reflection - Working with assemblies, modules, types - retrieving information about assembly at runtime and how to use that information.
10. Custom Attributes - how to create custom attributes, shows some scenarios for using custom attributes.
11. Threads - Thread fundamentals, synchronization, Thread pool etc. This is a very nice tutorial for using Threads in .NET
12. Object serialization - Serialization techniques - both built-in and custom.
13. PInvoke and COM Interop - Nice introduction, shows how to call plain C DLLs, and COM DLLs from .NET and also calling .NET components from COM. For more details get Adam Nathan's book.
Well, that is it... Not fit as your first C# book, but if you know some C#, this is a very good book for anybody.Programming Microsoft Visual C# 2005: The Base Class Library (Pro-Developer) Overview
Get the guidance you need to master the intricacies of the .NET Framework base class library using Visual C#—and learn best practices for developing robust code efficiently. With hands-on programming instruction, expert insights, and practical examples, professional developers learn how to customize classes and solve sophisticated development problems for any kind of application.

Discover how to:

Use generic types defined in the .NET Framework—or author your own—to solve recurring programming problems
Master regular expressions to perform complex text searches and sophisticated input validation
Use iterators, anonymous methods, and asynchronous delegates
Take code reuse to the next level with reflection
Use custom attribute to implement plug-in architectures and n-tier applications
Serialize complex objects to file or database fields
Address versioning issues with large programs and multiple executables
Apply multithreading techniques to help avoid resource-sharing issues
Work with unmanaged code and COM components by using PInvoke and COM Interop

PLUS—Get code samples on the Web


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Professional Visual Studio 2008 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) Review

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Professional Visual Studio 2008 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) ReviewLet me start with a disclaimer: I know Nick Randolph and Dave Gardner personally through my involvement with the Perth .NET user group. They are both very talented and skilled developers and active in their support of the developer community. I tried not to let this fact bias this short review too much!
I reviewed the Visual Studio 2005 predecessor of this book some time ago, and I think the new 2008 is an improvement. It's a big book and not just by its size. It covers a huge amount of material and could probably have been subtitled `everything you wanted to know about Visual Studio 2008 but were afraid to ask'! The Visual Studio 2008 Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a complex beast, and worth getting to know well, if like me, you spend most of your working life in it! You could, of course, still do most of your development in Notepad, but you could also wear a hair shirt...
The primary focus of this book is on the IDE itself, rather than the specific languages that can be used within .NET or indeed the .NET Framework itself. I'm not going to give a chapter by chapter account of what is contained in this book, mainly because it would take a loooooong time, but also because I fear my head might explode! Seriously though, I have read around 75% of it. The writing style is clear and I doubt whether you could make any book about Visual Studio more engaging than they have achieved.
The authors' goals, as stated, were not just updating the Visual Studio 2005 version of this book or simply to explain how to use Visual Studio, but also to create a set of productivity best practices and recommendations on how to use Visual Studio features in an effective way. I think they have achieved that goal.
One of the first Amazon reviews was not favourable, but that reviewer was looking for a book that would teach C# and an introduction to the .NET framework. As Dave mentioned in his response to that reviewer, although both authors do have a bias towards Visual Basic, approximately 40% of the code samples are written in C#. There is also a chapter that provides coverage of F# (http://mitch-wheat.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-net-f-ctp-release.html)
It is probably not the sort of book you would read cover to cover, but rather delve into specific chapters to gain insight into particular features. It's great for quickly finding out what features are available. The first day it was on my desk at work, I used it to quickly find a debugging gem that might have otherwise remained undiscovered.
Kudos goes to Nick and Dave for producing a great resource for developers.
There is a companion website and blog here: http://www.professionalvisualstudio.com/
Professional Visual Studio 2008 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) OverviewProfessional Visual Studio 2008
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 is the latest version in the ongoing evolution of the Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and this resource examines the diverse facets of the IDE—from common tasks to intricate functions to the powerful tools that accompany the main code editing and design windows. Written by a unique author duo and offering an in-depth look at the powerful and fascinating features and techniques of the IDE, this book explores each aspect of the development life cycle from the perspective of how Visual Studio 2008 can make your life easier.
Each chapter is packed with examples that illustrate uses for various tools, commands, and shortcuts of Visual Studio 2008. You will gradually learn to identify where a feature is used, conclude how you can use it to its fullest potential, and then seamlessly apply that feature to help solve real-world problems.
What you will learn from this book

How to create project templates and wizards

Methods for using IntelliSense, code refactoring, class modeling, and unit testing

Tips for using DataSets, LINQ, and Synchronization Services for working with data

How to build web applications using ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, and ASP.NET MVC

Ideas for building Office and Mobile applications, WPF, WCF, and WF projects

Ways to effectively analyze and identify bugs using the advanced debugging features

How to automate repetitive tasks using the Visual Studio 2008 add-ins and macros

Suggestions for using Visual Studio Team System components coupled with Team Foundation Server

Techniques for building more secure applications

Who this book is forThis book is for programmers who want to become proficient with the latest version of Visual Studio and are interested in the advanced capabilities of the IDE.
Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

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Beginning Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 (Wrox Beginning Guides) Review

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Beginning Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 (Wrox Beginning Guides) ReviewI have to say, overall I'm very disappointed in this book. Here are the main problems that I see:
1. It does not explain a lot of important concepts, instead it just tells you to do something this way, and that's that. At times, I felt like I was just typing the program in, letting it run, and on to the next program.
2. It's one of those books that uses a lot of concepts from later chapters in the early chapters, creating a total confusion at times. For example, classes aren't explained until chapter 11, but several concepts are used in chapter prior to that, without much of an explanation.
3. The book is written from the perspective of: let's build Windows Forms (and WPF at the same time!) program, then explain the controls a bit, then move on. As such, you don't get a good programming foundation at first. I actually liked this approach in the beginning, which is why I picked the book up. Unfortunately it became difficult to understand "why" things are happening, and what's behind the scenes.
4. The style of writing could not be more dry and boring. Would it hurt to throw one or two lighter comments here or there, etc?
5. And finally, almost complete lack of exercises. Each chapter has one or two, really basic ones, that most of the time are just rehashes of the same program in the chapter. I like books that give multiple exercises of varying difficulty, to spend some time on the subject.
All in all, this book could've been so much better. I have now found a used copy of the Visual Basic 2008 How to Program by Dietel and Dietel (new is crazy expensive), and while not perfect, is a much better book to learn from.Beginning Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 (Wrox Beginning Guides) Overview

Beginning Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 is designed to teach you how to write useful programs in Visual Basic 2008 as quickly and easily as possible.
There are two kinds of beginners for whom this book is ideal:

You're a beginner to programming and you've chosen Visual Basic 2008 as the place to start. That's a great choice! Visual Basic 2008 is not only easy to learn, it's also fun to use and very powerful.

You can program in another language but you're a beginner to .NET programming. Again, you've made a great choice! Whether you've come from Fortran or Visual Basic 6, you'll find that this book quickly gets you up to speed on what you need to know to get the most from Visual Basic 2008.

Visual Basic 2008 offers a great deal of functionality in both tools and language. No one book could ever cover Visual Basic 2008 in its entirety—you would need a library of books. What this book aims to do is to get you started as quickly and easily as possible. It shows you the roadmap, so to speak, of what there is and where to go. Once we've taught you the basics of creating working applications (creating the windows and controls, how your code should handle unexpected events, what object-oriented programming is, how to use it in your applications, and so on), we'll show you some of the areas you might want to try your hand at next. To this end, the book is organized as follows:

Chapters 1 through 9 provide an introduction to Visual Studio 2008 and Windows programming.

Chapter 6 provides an introduction to XAML and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) programming.

Chapter 10 provides an introduction to application debugging and error handling.

Chapters 11 through 13 provide an introduction to object-oriented programming and building objects.

Chapter 14 provides an introduction to creating Windows Forms user controls.

Chapter 15 provides an introduction to graphics in Windows applications.

Chapters 16 and 17 provide an introduction to programming with databases and covers Access, SQL Server, ADO.NET and LINQ.

Chapters 18 and 19 provide an introduction to ASP.NET and show you how to write applications for the Web.

Chapter 20 provides a brief introduction to XML, a powerful tool for integrating your applications—regardless of the language they were written in.

Chapter 21 introduces you to web services and the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF).

Chapter 22 introduces you to sequential workflows using the Windows Workflow Foundation (WF).

Chapter 23 introduces you to building applications for mobile devices using the Compact Framework classes.

Chapter 24 introduces you to deploying applications using ClickOnce technology.

Chapter 25 provides some insight on where to go next in your journey to learn about VisualBasic 2008.

Appendix A provides the answers to chapter exercises.

Appendix B introduces the Microsoft Solution Framework.

Appendix C provides some background on security.

Appendix D provides insight into Windows CardSpace.

Appendix E compares the differences between the latest versions of the .NET Framework.



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Pro VB 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform (Expert's Voice) Review

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Pro VB 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform (Expert's Voice) ReviewI, for one, miss the days of large reference manuals as opposed to help files and Google searches. For me this book is a throwback in terms of its completeness and scope. If you program in VB.net I feel this is a must-have reference. I've given it to 2 of my developer friends already and plan to give it again. Do yourself and your career a favor. God bless.Pro VB 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform (Expert's Voice) Overview.NET 3.5 is Microsoft's largest development software launch since .NET 2.0 and (unlike .NET 3.0) completely replaces all previous .NET versions. A new version of Visual Studio - Visual Studio ‘Orcas' is being created for the new Framework together with new versions of both the Visual Basic and C# languages. This book deals with this new Visual Basic language.The book provides developers with a complete treatise on the new technology- explaining the importance of all the new features (lambda expressions, LINQ, ASP.NET AJAX, WPF everywhere).and how they integrate into the framework of the previous .NET versions. It is a comprehensively revised and updated version of author's award winning previous titles.

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Visual Basic 2008 Programmer's Reference (Programmer to Programmer) Review

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Visual Basic 2008 Programmer's Reference (Programmer to Programmer) ReviewYou might initially think that this is going to be one of those big books with a few examples and a lot of fluff; well, you'd be wrong. This is a big book because it's absolutely packed with really useful examples. Rod takes you through just about every feature of Visual Basic 2008 and he does it with examples. These aren't just the usual academic sort of examples either; you'll be able to use many of them as a source of code for your own applications.
Of course, there are also books on the market that do have good examples, but the explanations stink. Rod takes time to thoroughly explain the examples and the explanations are clear, so you won't have any trouble understanding them. In short, this book has the best of everything.
You probably won't need another book for common business programming needs. That said, some specialty items are missing. You won't find a lot about PInvoke in this book, but then again, most people don't need PInvoke for their business applications. The LINQ coverage is also a tad light, but this technology is only now taking off, so Rod is right in keeping the various coverages in perspective. Overall, this is the book to get if you want to know how to work with Visual Basic!Visual Basic 2008 Programmer's Reference (Programmer to Programmer) OverviewProviding programmers and developers of all skill levels with a comprehensive tutorial and reference to Visual Basic (VB) 2008, Microsoft MVP Rod Stephens presents a broad, solid understanding of essential topics on the latest version of VB. He explains the forms, controls, and other objects that VB furnishes for building applications in a modern windows environment. Plus, he examines the powerful development environment that makes VB such a productive language, and he delves into the VB language itself to show you how to use it to perform an array of important development tasks.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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Professional Microsoft SharePoint 2007 Workflow Programming Review

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Professional Microsoft SharePoint 2007 Workflow Programming ReviewI was looking for a book that satisfied 4 criteria: 1. Must be SharePoint 2007. 2. Must have a large section about custom workflows. 3. Must be written with Visual Studio 2008 in mind. 4. Must be able to answer the questions I needed answer to.
Had I found this book when I was just starting off with custom workflows, I would have been elated! The author has some really good bits of information and he did indeed answer the questions I needed answers to.
The downside of this book is that it is filled with lots of "fluff". Code snippets were repeated over and over and sections of text seemed to be cut from one section of the book and pasted into another.
He also goes into detail about how the Windows workflow API would be coded when, in Visual Studio with SharePoint extensions, you just drag and drop a control and it writes the required code for you. I'm sure there are those who want to know every detail about how the controls work, but I am not one of those. Interestingly, he delved deeply into the API, but skipped over setting up the environment (VS2008). It would have been nice to see how he structured the projects in VS 2008 since the layout is completely different from VS 2005.
Of the almost 600 pages, probably 250 of those were useful. I would recommend this book to those working with custom workflows, especially to those just starting off with them. Just skip a few pages now and again and you will be happy.Professional Microsoft SharePoint 2007 Workflow Programming OverviewMicrosoft Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 provide you with a rich framework for collaborative applications. Packed with practical, real-world examples, this book offers you clear instructions for implementing workflow, custom activities, and conditions into SharePoint applications. You'll discover how to deploy workflow template files and features, program SharePoint external data exchange, send WCF messages from a SharePoint workflow, and develop custom Office SharePoint Designer 2007 actions and conditions.

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Coding Faster: Getting More Productive with Microsoft Visual Studio: Covers Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, 2008, and 2010 (Developer) Review

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Coding Faster: Getting More Productive with Microsoft Visual Studio: Covers Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, 2008, and 2010 (Developer) ReviewI had a few second thoughts about buying this book knowing that all the content was available on line. After thinking about it for a while I decided to get it. In order to see what is available on line I need to search for it and not knowing what to search for won't get me to the content anytime soon.
Although I believe this book will definitely get the beginner up to speed quickly, advanced users will not benefit as much. I was the subject matter expert for the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Learning Snacks so I had to learn the IDE extensively. I therefore did not learn very much from the material. I can say however, that this book's material is perfect for those who don't have the time to play with VS to learn all the little productivity tips this book offers.
The book has a 254 page appendix available for download. Although this is great additional material, I would have preferred it be included in the book. I found the little key at the beginning of each tip a waste of paper and would have rather seen this content included.
I really feel that beginners should definitely read this book, mid-level developers will learn plenty of new things, but those who live and breathe Visual Studio won't learn as much.
The content covers everything I can think of that a developer should know who makes their living in Visual Studio.Coding Faster: Getting More Productive with Microsoft Visual Studio: Covers Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, 2008, and 2010 (Developer) Overview
Expert advice to help you work smarter and increase your productivity with Visual Studio.

Take a detailed look into Visual Studio—and learn practical techniques to help you work more efficiently. This fully revised and expanded version of Visual Studio Tips: 251 Ways to Improve Your Productivity includes a comprehensive collection of tips and shortcuts for working with the code editor, visual designers, searches, debugger, and other features in Visual Studio 2005, 2008, and 2010. You'll gain valuable insights for using this IDE—no matter what your experience level.

Discover how to:

Change development settings and keyboard mappings to optimize your efficiency
Save time initiating a new project by creating custom templates
Uncover secrets for working with the toolbox, commands, and window layouts
Work with files in more practical ways, such as using the File Tab Channel
Use the Editor more effectively with tips on selecting and manipulating code
Apply techniques to help reduce the time you spend debugging code
Create Visual Studio extensions to increase your development productivity


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Programming Visual Basic 2008: Build .NET 3.5 Applications with Microsoft's RAD Tool for Business Review

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Programming Visual Basic 2008: Build .NET 3.5 Applications with Microsoft's RAD Tool for Business ReviewThis would be a great book, but for two things . . . 1. The worst was, I got to page 332, then realized that the next page was 359! I want my missing 27 pages! 2. The author's attempts at humor are just plain lame, because they distract from the content. You are in the middle of reading a sentence, and within that content, he throws in some off-the-wall comment . . . it was irritating, when you are trying to follow the flow of information. That said, there is some pretty good information in the book, otherwise, I would have considered it trash.Programming Visual Basic 2008: Build .NET 3.5 Applications with Microsoft's RAD Tool for Business Overview
Ever since Visual Basic was merged into .NET, it's become the core language for creating business applications with Windows. The latest version, VB 2008, is even more useful -- and provides even more incentive for migrating from VB 6. All it lacks is a good book on how to harness its power. Programming Visual Basic 2008 fills the void. Written in a lively and engaging style by a developer who's grown up with Visual Basic, including both VB 6 and VB .NET, this hands-on guide addresses the core topics of the new VB, from basic to complex, with plenty of code examples.Programming Visual Basic 2008 also examines .NET programming from the application level with a chapter-by-chapter plan for developing, documenting, and deploying a full data-driven application. You learn, step-by-step, how to build and deploy a library management system, complete with patron, inventory, and barcode support. The book's broad range of topics include:

VB language and its syntax
An overview of the .NET Framework
Object-oriented development in VB and .NET
Generic objects, collections, and nullable types
Design and management of software projects
Integrating desktop features with Windows Forms
Database design with SQL Server 2008
Database interface design with ADO.NET
The new LINQ feature, and how to use it within VB and .NET
Embedding XML within application source code
Encryption and authentication in .NET
Interacting with data stored in files and directories
Web development using ASP.NET
Deploying an application to a user's workstation
And much more

Programming Visual Basic 2008 is ideal for VB 6 programmers who are ready to move to .NET, as well as VB.NET programmers who wish to improve their project-focused software development skills. Programming novices and developers coming from other languages will find the book valuable because of its language instruction and project design knowledge. Once you finish the book, you will have a firm grasp of VB 2008's core concepts and language elements, and understand how to build VB projects as they were intended -- as complete, cohesive solutions.


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