Customer Reviews

C# 3.0 in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought a copy of this book earlier in the week, and have been extremely impressed with it. It is one of the few books I keep on my desk as a quick reference.

What I like about the book is that it packs a lot of content, yet is structured in a way that is easy to read and lookup. Previous Nutshell series books I've used were more of an API reference (and contributed little over what you can lookup online in MSDN). This book doesn't focus on API listings (although it does include some tables of them), instead it quickly explains the relevant concepts in each chapter and provides real world code snippets showing how to use them.

Although called C# 3.0 in a Nutshell, the book covers much more than just C# as a language. The last 600 pages covers much of the core .NET Framework Base Class library - and has good chapters and samples on LINQ, XML, Streams, Regular Expressions, Threading, Collections, Serialization, etc. There is enough on each subject to be useful, while still being a quick read and easy to quickly look things up.

All in all, a book I recommend.

This book is for those who may have no prior knowledge of C#, but some general programming experience is necessary. If you're already familiar with C# 2.0, you'll find more than a hundred pages dedicated to LINQ and other new C# 3.0 features. In addition, many other chapters are designed to add to your existing knowledge of C# and the core Framework. If you're looking for a book that skims every NET Framework technology, this is not for you.

The first three chapters after the introduction are solely about C#. This section starts with syntax, types, and variables. It concludes with advanced topics such as unsafe code and preprocessor directives. Sections that apply only to C# 3.0 are clearly marked as such. If you're new to the language, you should read these chapters sequentially, with the exception of Chapter 4, whose sections can be read in any order. The remaining chapters cover the core NET Framework, which includes such topics as collections, LINQ, XML, streams, networking, reflection, security, threading, application domains, working with native DLLs, and diagnostics. You can read most of these chapters randomly, except for Chapter 6, Chapter 7, and Chapter 13, which lay a foundation for subsequent topics. The three chapters on LINQ are also best read in sequence.

The examples in this book require a C# 3.0 (or 2.0) compiler in conjunction with the Microsoft NET Framework 3.5 (or 3.0/2.0). You will also require Microsoft's NET documentation. The easiest way to get all three along with an integrated development environment is to install Microsoft Visual Studio. Any edition is suitable for what's taught in this book, including Visual Studio Express, which is currently a free download. Visual Studio also includes an express edition of SQL Server, required to run the LINQ to SQL examples, and IntelliSense, which pops up type member listings as you type.

Another option, if you don't mind using a plain-text editor and building at the command line, is to download the NET Framework SDK. This includes the compiler, NET documentation, and additional command-line tools. The lightest option is to download and install just the Microsoft NET Framework Runtime. This includes the command-line compiler; however, it doesn't include other command-line tools or any documentation. The table of contents, not currently shown as part of the product description, is shown next.

Chapter 1. Introducing C# and the NET Framework
Chapter 2. C# Language Basics
Chapter 3. Creating Types in C#
Chapter 4. Advanced C#
Chapter 5. Framework Overview
Chapter 6. Framework Fundamentals
Chapter 7. Collections
Chapter 8. LINQ Queries
Chapter 9. LINQ Operators
Chapter 10. LINQ to XML
Chapter 11. Other XML Technologies
Chapter 12. Disposal and Garbage Collection
Chapter 13. Streams and I/O
Chapter 14. Networking
Chapter 15. Serialization
Chapter 16. Assemblies
Chapter 17. Reflection and Metadata
Chapter 18. Security
Chapter 19. Threading
Chapter 20. Asynchronous Methods
Chapter 21. Application Domains
Chapter 22. Integrating with Native DLLs
Chapter 23. Diagnostics
Chapter 24. Regular Expressions
Appendix A. C# Keywords
Appendix B. Namespace-to-Assembly Reference

Own both this book and C# 3.0 Pocket Reference by the same authors. Pocket Reference is a great little book, it is short on detail and in depth information on the subject. In the Pocket Reference that is fine, but for more detail and in depth information C# 3.0 in a Nutshell is a good quality book. It is not one of the books that I have read cover to cover, but C# in a Nutshell is one of the first books I pull off the book shelf when I need to look up a concept. As stated in the title, it is a reference book and does that job very well. If the reader has a background in programming and just needs a reference book on C# concepts this is a solid book.

As one reviewer stated the book does have excess material which is not directly related to C#. That doesn't mean the information isn't important or valuable to anyone writing C# code.

If you want a quick overview of a concept and a peak at a code example, the Pocket Reference will do. If on the other hand you want a better understanding of the concept, choose C# In a Nutshell.

I recommend it for people who have already been programming in C# for a while and finally want to get all their facts straight. Also highly recommended for beginners to C#. This is however, not a programming tutorial.

C# 3.0 in a Nutshell is an excellent manual and reference book if you are an experienced developer looking to learn the latest version of the C# language.
This book can be separated in three parts. The first part is the C# language syntax which is covered extensevily with a lot of short and medium sized examples you can write in 10-15 minutes to see and test all the important language concepts.
The second part is LINQ. The book will first introduce you to LINQ by using Extension methods on general collections, and then it will show you the syntax followed by an extensive reference to all possible LINQ statements.
The third part is reserved to common programming operations in the .NET framework (IO, Networking, Threading etc. )
In short , if you are an experienced programmer and this is not your first object oriented programming language this book will teach you everything you need to know to be a productive C# developer.
What it will not teach you is a specific .NET framework (Win.Forms, ASP.NET or WPF).

This book is a really great combination between a tutorial and a reference book. What I like the most about it is that it not only explains you how to use the different elements of the C# language and the .NET Framework core namespaces, but it also explains to you how they work in the inside. This gives you a notable insight when you try to understand a strange side-effect in your code.

All explanations are made very clearly and it is very easy to read. The different chapters of the book are arranged by topic, so it is easy to use it as a reference when you can't exactly remember something. It can also be read from cover to cover.

It is, however, not recommended for beginners (as it is stated in the introduction); if you are looking for a programming tutorial this book is not a very good idea.

This is a great reference book. It's very clear about the details of C# and its various nuisances. The only complaint is that there is a lot of excess material which is C# related, but not directly C#. The first 150 pages or so are the meat, and the last 550 are all potatoes i.e., filler. If you're interested in JUST C#, this is overkill. If you're interested in C#, Linq, and .NET, then this is just right.

I bought both this book and the APress .NET 3.5 Framework book using C#. I found the O'Reilly book a breath of fresh air. The book is much lighter than my other C# books, they also take the time to explain concepts because their goal is to explain the language and none of the peripheries like WWF, WCF, WPF, ASP.NET, etc...so what you get is a compact book, that's chock full of information and examples. It gets straight to the point and its approach is methodical and detailed. I especially enjoyed Chapter 19 (Multi-threading) as most books cover threading but many approach the subject with the pre-supposition that the author is aware of developing threaded apps in C#. The authors pulled strings and suggested tips for building asynchronous and threaded applications with examples. This book sits around my desk or in my bag, it's a fantastic reference book - a must have if you're a serious C# developer.

C# 3.0 in a Nutshell is just about perfect. It describes the language and the relevant .NET libraries in a clear, concise way, with meaningful examples and a much appreciated lack of author interference. C# is the star of this show, and the authors stay out of its way. This book has one purpose - to document C# 3.0. No more, no less. So, don't come into this book looking for clever anecdotes or immature silliness that often pervades other titles.

The book can be read from chapter-to-chapter, or used as a desktop reference. It's the perfect supplement for those already learning other Microsoft technologies, such as ASP.NET. This book will fill in the gaps that resources on those other technologies neglect to explore.

Take note that this book is NOT meant for beginners. If you don't know what a variable is, or a control loop, then you should seek a more rudimentary text before diving into this. This book won't teach you how to program - instead it documents one of many available programming languages available for use. Keep those caveats in mind when deciding whether or not to make a purchase.

There's not much else to say. C# 3.0 is a text that has a specific job to do, and it does it well. It's a must have for anyone wanting to learn the language, those who need a language-specific supplement for their other related avenues of learning, or a trusty desktop reference for the language. Highly recommended.

I purchased this book because I use LinqPad which was written by one of the authors and the LINQ Quick Reference which is bascially a rewrite of the LINQ-related chapters of this book.

For a reference for people familiar with C# fundamentals it's top notch. If you want to start from scratch on a topic, even ones new to C# 3.0 e.g. automatic properties, anonymous variables or even LINQ, you are better off purchasing a book that will walk you through it more. But like every O'Reilly "In A Nutshell" book I have owned, as one book to keep on your desk to look up the details of a feature or concept this is a compact and complete as it gets and includes much better examples than the MSDN docs. Just don't confuse it with a "Learn C#" book.

If you are looking for a book for learning LINQ, I heartily reccomend "Essential LINQ: by Charlie Calvert" as it covers LINQ and the new features in C# 3.0 that make LINQ possible. I have been previewing the prerelease version and it was the first LINQ book that was able to cram this through my thick skull.