Introducing Microsoft® LINQ (Paperback)

by Paolo Pialorsi (Author), Marco Russo (Author)
Key Phrases: language features, deferred query evaluation, object initializer syntax, Visual Basic, Introducing Microsoft, Syntax Fundamentals (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Get a head start on using the Microsoft Language Integrated Query (LINQ) Project with advance insights from two experienced developers. Data-rich applications can be difficult to create because of the tremendous differences between query languages used to access data and programming languages commonly used to write applications. This practical guide introduces LINQ, a set of extensions to the Microsoft Visual C#® and Microsoft Visual Basic® programming languages. Instead of traversing different language syntaxes required for accessing data from relational and hierarchical data sources, developers will learn how to write queries natively in C# or Visual Basic. Written by two experienced developers with strong ties to Microsoft's developer teams, this book introduces the LINQ architecture and classes, describes the new language features in both C# and Visual Basic, and provides code samples in both languages.

From the Publisher
Key Book Benefits:

-Delivers one of the first inside looks at LINQ--from experienced developers who have worked with the technology from the start

-Covers architecture, syntax, and classes so that developers can see how to integrate LINQ into their toolkits

-Provides code samples in C# and Visual Basic

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (May 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735623910
• ISBN-13: 978-0735623910
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #550,356 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Decent, but not great, June 11, 2007

By	Paul Vencill "Ajax Developer" (Gaithersburg, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I learned a few things from the book, but overall it left me wanting more. The price matches a much bigger book, so I would've expected it to be full of good stuff, but in fact it was almost cursory on most topics. I realize it's an "Introducing" book, but for the price I would've wanted a somewhat deeper introduction.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book although a little light, September 15, 2007

By	William G. Ryan "Uber Book Nerd" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I feel a little bad rating this a 4 since it's a Beta book. It's really hard writing on betas b/c material changes so frequently.

I liked the book a lot and thought it covered the topics of LINQ and EF pretty well. I think though, it was a bit too heavy into language features of C# 3.0 and VB 9.0. Yes, it's necessary to cover many of these in the context of LINQ but I think proportion wise, it was a bit too much there and a little light in other areas (for instance, unless I totally missed it, i didn't see anything about parallell LINQ). The coverage of EF was good, but I would love to have seen about 50 more pages.

Although it's small the content is right to the point however. They do a good job of discussing LINQ and EF and even showing some more advanced areas and I will say that if you read this book and understand it, you can get just about anywhere you want to be with LINQ. You can read it quickly and be up and running very quickly and that's the strength.

In all honesty, I should probably have given it a 5. My personal opinion is that it's not quite a 5 but definitely higher than a 4. If it were 10.00 cheaper, I probably would have went for the 5 - but it's not a cheap book for the size of it.

The authors did a great job in many areas and considering it's a beta release, they did a superb job.

2.0 out of 5 stars not for beginners, June 18, 2008

By	CP (ROSEDALE, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I give this book two stars because it is not what I (a beginner) wanted to use. I cannot say how good a book it is for the audience it is written for.
This book is designed for experienced programmers who know C# code. It surveys the use of advanced programming techniques using LINQ.
The authors explain on page 51 "the ability to read C# code is also important for reading the rest of this book (because LINQ examples are written in C#) and for understanding differences between C# 3.0 and Visual Basic 9.0.
This is not a how to book with introductory examples. It is not for beginners.