C# 4.0 in a Nutshell: The Definitive Reference [Paperback]

Joseph Albahari (Author), Ben Albahari (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0596800959 | ISBN-13: 978-0596800956 | Edition: Fourth Edition

What people are saying about C# 4.0 in a Nutshell

"C# 4.0 in a Nutshell is one of the few books I keep on my desk as a quick reference. It is a book I recommend." --Scott Guthrie, Corporate Vice President, .NET Developer Platform, Microsoft Corporation

"A must-read for a concise but thorough examination of the parallel programming features in the .NET Framework 4." --Stephen Toub, Parallel Computing Platform Program Manager, Microsoft

"This wonderful book is a great reference for developers of all levels." -- Chris Burrows, C# Compiler Team, Microsoft

When you have questions about how to use C# 4.0 or the .NET CLR, this highly acclaimed bestseller has precisely the answers you need. Uniquely organized around concepts and use cases, this fourth edition includes in-depth coverage of new C# topics such as parallel programming, code contracts, dynamic programming, security, and COM interoperability. You'll also find updated information on LINQ, including examples that work with both LINQ to SQL and Entity Framework. This book has all the essential details to keep you on track with C# 4.0.

• Get up to speed on C# language basics, including syntax, types, and variables
• Explore advanced topics such as unsafe code and preprocessor directives
• Learn C# 4.0 features such as dynamic binding, type parameter variance, and optional and named parameters
• Work with .NET 4's rich set of features for parallel programming, code contracts, and the code security model
• Learn .NET topics, including XML, collections, I/O and networking, memory management, reflection, attributes, security, and native interoperability

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph Albahari is author of C# 3.0 in a Nutshell, LINQ Pocket Reference, and C# 3.0 Pocket Reference. He has been developing large-scale enterprise applications on .NET and other platforms for more than 15 years, and is author of LINQPad - the popular utility for querying databases in LINQ.

Joseph is currently a freelance consultant.

Joseph's Home Page

Ben Albahari is the founder of Take On It. He was a Program Manager at Microsoft for 5 years, where he worked on several projects, including the .NET Compact Framework and ADO.NET.

He was the cofounder of Genamics, a provider of tools for C# and J++ programmers, as well as software for DNA and protein sequence analysis. He is a co-author of C# Essentials, the first C# book from O'Reilly, and of previous editions of C# in a Nutshell.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1060 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Fourth Edition edition (February 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596800959
• ISBN-13: 978-0596800956
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 2.1 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A no nonsense approach to covering the C# 4.0 language February 1, 2010

By T. Anderson TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is great. It's no nonsense approach to covering the C# 4.0 language is like a breath of fresh air. It is clean, to the point, and thorough. It makes finding a topic, and learning it, or getting a refresher, a very fast process.

This new version includes new chapters on parallel programming (including PLINQ), and dynamic programming, and new sections on code contracts and COM interoperability.

The authors have a great writing style which makes the book a very enjoyable read. You can read this cover to cover, or use it as a very handy reference. You won't find any case studies, or made up scenarios, to help the authors describe the technology. They stick to writing about the technology, which is nice.

One of my favorite features of the book is the way the authors do their diagramming. They include a lot of diagrams that give a visual representation of the feature they are describing. The diagrams really help with getting a quick understanding of the overall picture of the topic. The authors also demonstrate with code that is always easy to understand and within the scope of the topic at hand. You don't have 2 pages of code with 3 lines highlighted.

Another part of this book I love is the way the authors deliver the code samples using LINQPad. I own the full auto completion version of LINQPad and it rocks. I have been using it since its first release and it has become my favorite tool when working with databases.

My only complaint about the book is the construction. The gluing job they did is horrible. It has big clumps of glue embedded in the pages which cause the binder to really bend. It will probably fall apart within a month of heavy use. I won't ding the book for that. It is a publisher issue, not an author issue.

All in all I highly recommend this book. It belongs on the shelf of any serious developer.

Review Update-
The editor of C# 4.0 in a Nutshell Book read my blog and suggested I contact O'Reilly Media for a new copy since my binder was a mess.

They made good on the request for a new copy of the C# 4.0 in a Nutshell Book and I received it today with the binder in perfect condition. No glue blobs in between any pages. Hats off to O'Reilly Media!!!!!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you program in C#, you owe it to yourself to have a copy of this book to hand February 9, 2010

By Mitchell Wheat

Format:Paperback

I'd normally put a disclosure at the end of a post, but as I was one of the reviewers for this book, and Joe Albahari gave me a copy, I felt I should mention this up-front.

That said, it doesn't alter my opinion: if you program in C#, you owe it to yourself to have a copy of this book to hand. It will improve your understanding of C# and the .NET framework; it will improve the code you write and I suspect it will pay for itself the first time you pick it up.

This just released fourth edition is expanded upon the previous, and at slightly over 1000 pages I'm not sure how much longer the 'nutshell' tag will be appropriate! (Not the fault of the authors, more the evolution of C# into a mature language with many features). It includes coverage of new topics such as parallel programming, code contracts, dynamic programming, security, and COM interoperability. In all, there are 26 chapters covering the basics right through to the more advanced topics of threading and parallel programming. There is a comprehensive section on LINQ, including examples that work with both LINQ to SQL and Entity Framework.

The code examples and explanations are concise, extremely clear and easy to understand. The code examples from Chapters 2 - 4, 6, 8 - 10 and 24 are freely available as part of LINQPad, a very useful tool written by author Joe Albahari (and downloadable from [...])

I'm a fan of the format O'Reilly use in their books, and in particular it seems like it could have almost been created with this book's authors in mind, as it complements their lucid writing style and aids the flow of the text . Very few books could proclaim on the front cover that they are "The Definitive Reference" and it actually be true. This book does and is. But it's not just a reference. It will benefit newcomers and seasoned developers alike.

The only disappointing thing is the Index. Joe informed me that he knew about this; it seems something went awry during the publishing process, and a less than stellar index was included. Let's hope that future reprints have an updated index. There is of course a searchable electronic version available.

It would be pointless to go into any more detail, as I would no doubt be unable to the book the justice it deserves. A full contents list is available at the O'Reilly link above.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very complete as reference April 17, 2010

By Light Crystal

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is not for learning to program.
Is a very good complement for medium/experienced programmers.

Very complete in all aspects, if you want a reference to have on your desk, but if you want lo learn how to program this is not for you, study another C# book first and then this to master the subject.

4 Stars instead of 5 only for the "design".
Code is in italic style but not very highlighted from the rest of the text, it seems "all a unique block" in some pages. Only few images.
I appreciate the LinqPad and external examples.

Other books have colors in "Visual Studio style", or have at least a light grey background behind code paragraphs.
Hope for colors in next version of this book.