Learning C# 3.0 [Paperback]

Jesse Liberty (Author), Brian MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2008

If you're new to C#, this popular book is the ideal way to get started. Completely revised for the latest version of the language, Learning C# 3.0 starts with the fundamentals and takes you through intermediate and advanced C# features -- including generics, interfaces, delegates, lambda expressions, and LINQ. You'll also learn how to build Windows applications and handle data with C#.

No previous programming experience is required -- in fact, if you've never written a line of code in your life, bestselling authors Jesse Liberty and Brian MacDonald will show you how it's done. Each chapter offers a self-contained lesson to help you master key concepts, with plenty of annotated examples, illustrations, and a concise summary.

With this book, you will:

• Learn how to program as you learn C#
• Grasp the principles of object-oriented programming through C#
• Discover how to use the latest features in C# 3.0 and the .NET 3.5 Framework--including LINQ and the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
• Create Windows applications and data-driven applications

You'll also find a unique Test Your Knowledge section in each chapter, with practical exercises and review quizzes, so you can practice new skills and test your understanding. If you're ready to dive into C# and .NET programming, this book is a great way to quickly get up to speed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jesse Liberty is a Microsoft Senior Program Manager where he is responsible for the creation of tutorials, videos and other content to facilitate the learning and use of Silverlight. Even before joining Microsoft, Jesse was well known in the industry in part because of his many bestselling books, including O'Reilly Media's Programming .NET 3.5, Programming C# 3.0, Learning ASP.NET with AJAX and the soon to be published Programming Silverlight.

Brian MacDonald has edited programming and networking books for major publishers on topics ranging from securing Windows servers to PHP web programming to running an eBay business. He also coauthored O'Reilly's Learning C# 2005 and Learning ASP.NET 2.0 with AJAX.

Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 3rd edition (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596521065
• ISBN-13: 978-0596521066
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Silverlight Geek. (Senior Program Manager, Developer Community Liaison; Microsoft.) Helping to build a Silverlight developer community at http://SilverlightGeek.me.

Author of two dozen books on .NET and object-oriented programming including Programming C#, Learning ASP.NET with AJAX, Programming .NET 3.5 and forthcoming Programming Silverlight 4.

Queer Activist since 1971, father since 1989, avid reader since forever, eclectic music and film tastes, amateur photographer, programmer, writer, and loudmouth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good For Experienced Student, February 5, 2009

By 

Allison (Saline, MI, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learning C# 3.0 (Paperback)

I'm a recent Master's graduate, in Computer Science. Programming concepts certainly aren't new to me. I've done C++, VB, Java, JSP, SQL, etc, etc, and figured it was time to pick up C#. I didn't even get this book from Amazon, I picked it up at my local B&N, but I was so pleased with it I had to make a post here.

The Good For Beginners:

He starts off with easy concepts, each chapter is broken up just right. Just when you may start to fidget and wonder how you're going to remember all of it, the chapter will end with a summary, a set of questions, and exercises. And the exercises are done well. If you grasped the concepts you can do them, and they are not too complicated that you may fumble. Plus, the solution is in the back of the book.

The Good For The Experienced:

I may have personally been better off with C# Programming, which is the more advanced book, but I started off with this since it had been a while since I touched a C-styled language. I read through even the introductory chapters, rather than skipping through, and was surprised at what I picked up. I know all of the concepts discussed, but he also includes best practices, as well as very good explanations that make you understand even these simple concepts better.

In my classes, the focus was all on 'This is how you make the code do this', with only one class focused on 'This is how you *should* write your code for readability, updating, some standards, etc'. This really answered a lot of my questions in that department. I feel like a slightly more professional programmer just from paying attention to these bits.

Basically, I liked the format and writing style enough that O'Reilly books, those by Jesse Liberty in particular, are where I look first to learn something new.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Beginning C# Text, January 30, 2009

By 

D. K. Boren (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learning C# 3.0 (Paperback)

This text is a good one for those new to C# and also for those who are familiar with C# but not fluent with it. I have read almost all of Mr. Liberty's books for varied languages at one time or another and he is a good teacher. Like most Authors, the concern with selling books is there. However, Mr. Liberty cares more than selling books. He seems to truely care about teaching people programming concepts. He seems to care if you "get it" while exploring some of the varied theorems, algorithms, and syntax rules. While this text is for novices and structured for newbies to C# and programming in general, it also touches on the more advanced areas of C#. While not exploring some of these areas for long periods of time, the book is good because it at least introduces a person to most concepts. No text is perfect and for a high level language such as C# there is no way possible for a person to include everything into a single text as the C# library is just far too large. However as far as the basic syntax for C# 3.0 this book pretty much covers everything a person needs to know. After a text such as this one a person could delve into a more advanced text in order to get practice at coding. The best way to get proficient in any language is to WRITE CODE WHILE you are learning a book. Practice, practice, and more practice. This book will teach you most of the basics you need to know. The rest is up to you. After this text a person would need to decide if they wanted to delve into web programming, desktop apps, etc. before getting an appropriate text for their chosen area.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars See how sharp you can get, April 27, 2009

By 

Garrett Hughes "GAH" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Learning C# 3.0 (Paperback)

I would highly recommend this text to anyone approaching programming or the .NET programming environment for the first time. Not only does this book prepare you for the rigors of object-oriented programming in C#, but Jesse Liberty and Brian MacDonald also give you a working introduction to the .NET framework.

C# is the language that Bjarne Stroustrup was referring to when he said that there was a language in C++ just waiting to get out. If you get rid all the weird syntax and conventions of C++ and add some really useful programming tools, what you have is C#. The fact that C# is a totally object-oriented languge standing on the shoulders of .NET makes it a logically coherent programming system. Spock probably used it on the Enterprise. Add the Integrated Development Envirionment and you can actually enjoy programming again.

The introduction to .NET in this text is so painless that you won't even feel the needle going in. Once you get that first shot, you'll be hungering for more. Liberty and MacDonald are careful not to let you OD, and provide the necessary and sufficient information to take yourself comfortably to the next level in that most dynamic of programming environments. Oh, and did I mention that the examples in the text are well thought out - and that they actually work! If you are new to programming or new to .NET, this book is for you. Even if you've programmed for years, you might want to read this book - just to witness how writing a book about "how to program" should be done.