Customer Reviews

C# Primer Plus

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As the title suggests, this book focuses almost entirely on the C# language stopping only briefly to explain key elements of the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and by extension the Common Type System (CTS).

Where this book differs from many of the other titles out there is that it doesn't attempt to walk the reader through the .NET Framework at the same time. At the moment there are a number of books on the market that proclaim to teach C# but use it only as a tool to explore the framework.

The target audience for C# Primer Plus is hard to classify; the book provides depth coverage of the C# language constructs and important parts of the CLR, yet this detail is punctuated by practical examples and discussion which should have the programming novice up to speed in no time.

Much of the first two chapters are devoted to explaining introductory programming subjects such as Object-Orientated Programming, the value of design in the development process and conventional computing models. In my opinion, this is still valuable to even the most senior programmer as sometimes we forget the fundamentals of our trade.

What really makes this book stand out is the widespread and strategic use of diagrams to provide visual context. Further, the book provides ample practical examples for all the material it covers. Klaus has an exceptional writing style which sadly only a few percent of the authors out there possess.

In many ways this book reminds me of some of the older C++ books which focused key programming concepts and the core of the language and left discussion of the various libraries for the reference materials.

It would be a real shame to see senior programmers overlook this title because of some of its novice material. It heartily recommend it as usable language reference for the experienced programmer and an educational tool for those just starting out.

C# Primer Plus has earned a place on my bookshelf and I recommend it to those who want a quality language reference with good supporting material. Because of its introductory material it is also ideal as a educational tool.

I spent most of my Christmas holidays immersed in the pages of this superb C# book and was amazed by its clarity and attention to detail. Apart from being well written and well organized I particularly enjoyed the many inventive and well-crafted figures supporting the text.

Keep in mind that if you are looking for a book about Visual Studio, ASP.NET or Windows Forms (or similar .NET stuff) this book is not for you. It dedicates all its one thousand pages fully to C#, relevant core parts of .NET, and important programming techniques. Even though this initially disappointed me a bit, I now appreciate the great depth this apparent deficiency allows Michelsen to engage in when he probes into the C# language.

The book begins by explaining the very basics of computer programming, but because of its rock solid focus on the C# language it manages to span across the entire set of C# features and even provides a thorough and extremely clear treatment of its most advanced features (many of the advanced C# features are treated more extensively in C# Primer Plus than in a lot of the advanced C# books I have sifted through in the book shop)
For example the two meticulously written chapters about inheritance don't just scratch the surface of this subject but made me more excited about programming than I ever thought possible. The case study found here (one of several case studies in the book) about a simple drawing program utilizing inheritance and polymorphism to implement its functionality was a real eye opener for me.

If you are a beginning (C#) programmer and want a complete and clear cut introduction to this exciting new language, without being sidetracked by tons of .NET and Visual Studio stuff, you can't beat this book.

I just finished reading this book. Despite a number of typos, It's an excellent book. The authors explanations and examples are first rate. Important concepts are well emphasized, and often even linked together, as the author builds on and compares concepts in latter chapters using ones found earlier, while emphasizing important concepts.

As it's a beginner book, it does have some significant coverage of very basic concepts, which some programmers may find tedious. And the extent of the coverage doesn't extend much beyond intermediate level. Most advanced topics are either not covered at all, like marshalling, interop, threading, and regular expressions, and others are only briefly touched on, like attributes and XML comments. What's more it doesn't delve deeply into the FCL, as nearly all the examples are Console apps.

So since I need a complete tutorial of C# and .NET, I've had to complement this book with "Programming C#" and Richter's book on applied .NET. Nevertheless, I think this book provides a better tutorial of basic-intermediate C# concepts than you are likely to find anywhere else.

This is an excellent book that takes the reader from inception of programming with C# to the advanced level. The explanations are crystal clear and by the virtue of the fact that the writer does not focus on Windows Form, it does not distract the student learning the fundamentals of the langauge.

I have compared this to the title "beginning C#" by Wrox. Do not bother getting the title beginning C# by Wrox as the flow of the book is not consistent and there are a number of areas where the author does not express him self clearly and fails to convey the message effectively.

I have worked through all the chapters of this great title and I can assure you that when you complete the book and work through all the exercises, you will be able to code effectively using C#. Your second book after this title must be one specialised on windows forms and the .NET framework probably the new titles from MSPress - Programming Windows(r) with C# (Core Reference) by Petzold (currently reading it) and Applied Microsoft .NET Framework Programming by Jeffery Richter.

I have given it four stars because a)There are a number of typos which have been corrected by an errata available at the publishers site. b)There are certain aspects of coding the author has not taken into account such as multi-threading etc.

Overall a well thought, cut and presented book on C#"

If you want to learn .NET, the very first step is to learn a .NET language. C# is probably the best one to choose. Some .NET programming books offer an overview of C#, which is never sufficient for learning the language in earnest.

This book covers C# the core language, using clear explanations and to the point examples. It's an easy read. Actually even includes an overview on object oriented programming, though there are much better books out there for learning that. I think the best is an oldie by Robert Lafore, "Object Oriented Programming in Turbo C++", which is also probably the best book ever written on core C++.

This book also primes you on the fundamentals of the .NET architecture, though not much more than that. If you need
a deeper understanding of .NET architecture and familiarity with it's class library, then you need other books besides this one. The focus on C# Primer Plus is squarely on the core language, as all the examples use the Console class. In some respects that's a good thing, though I would've preferred more exposure to the class library. So the "Plus" in the title is
somewhat misleading.

There is no companion CD. If you want to run the examples, and tinker with them, then you better type it in yourself, which is just as well since it helps you learn the language.

My main legitimate gripe with this book are the cheap diagrams. Mostly, the author just uses arrows pointing code snippets to explanations, no highlighting or shading, no images, and rarely even borders. Eventhough it's an excellent book, it would've been great with better diagrams and figures.

It's an excellent first choice for a .NET book. You then need to follow it up either with one that includes a rigorous explanation of .NET fundamentals, or with a "Programming" book on Windows or ASP.NET. So you are going to need at least 2-3 books to learn .NET. This one is a good logical choice for the first.

This is one of three books that I purchased in order to learn C# and learn it fast. The other two are Robert Oberg's "Introduction to .Net Programming using C#" and Jesse Liberty's "Learn C#". This book really surprised me with how good it is. I think this is Klaus Michelsen's first book (I may be wrong) but this is an excellent book and it concentrates on the C# language. I am not one of those people who give 5-stars just because several other people gave it 5-stars. If you only buy 1 book to learn C#, I would highly recommend this book. As a book geared toward learning C#, you should follow up with a more advanced book on C#.

If you are new to programming, or new to Object-Oriented Programming like me(COBOL programmer) and want to start with C#(great choice!) then this is best book out so far. I also have C# for Dummies, Beginning C#, and Programming C# and none of them are as good for beginners as this book. Trust me, I tried out all these titles on two of my co-workers who are OOP beginners too and they all liked C# Primer Plus the best. Now all three of us are using it in a group study and enjoying it. One warning, extra .net stuff is not covered, like windows forms, asp.net, web services. This book focuses purely on the C# language and writing OOP code. That's the beauty of it, it doesn't rush past the core C# langugage just to get you to the other flashy .net framework classes. Heck, you can learn all the extra .net framework classes later, get the C# language down first!! I give it 4 stars because of annoying errors and typos.

One thing I love about this book is the simplification of complex facts by comparing them to REAL world things. The elevator example that runs through the book is so good that I picked up C# concepts in a minute. His treatment of "Abstraction" for example, was much easier than other authors' (for example, Deitel's) treatment.

Cons:
I printed out a huge list (19 pages) of errata. Make sure you visit the website and download that list. Though many, I still give him *****. Most of it are minor mistakes.

Ignore most of those mistakes and focus on the content and SUBJECT MATTER of the book. It is about one of the best books you will find.

Make sure you read this book before going on to read books like "Programming C#" by my favorite boy Jesse Liberty. That book is the "Bible". Trust me! I actually read the books interchangeably....When Jesse assumes that I know and does not give the "idiot's explanations" that I expect, I rush to Klaus and then AHA!!

Speaking as someone who is new both to programming and C#, I can honestly say this book is "the one" that is finally making all those lightbulbs go off in my head. Using real-life examples and throwing in a little humor for good measure, the author manages to make sense out of the "language" of programming. He gently guides you toward a greater understanding of how a program is constructed, how both the programmer and the computer think about the program that is constructed, and why it all works out in the end. He seems to presuppose the questions a novice like me will come up with and then offers clear and insightful answers. I am very pleased with the book and hope to see more titles from Michelsen.

I reviewed atleast 10 books on c# and own several books. But the book that takes the cake is C# Primer Plus. I have programmed in VB for over 7 years. My OO understanding was on shakey ground. This book provides a solid understanding of the fundamentals. The author has done an exhaustively excellent job in clearly explaining the concepts with clear examples. Anybody who is beginner to intermediate can immensly benefit.