Customer Reviews

Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition Programming for the Absolute Beginner

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Although the book is readable and avoids the geekspeak often found in programming books, there are too many glaring errors in this first edition. If you precisely follow the instructions, even the universal "Hello World" program does not work. True , you only have to change a tab index number to zero but nothing of this is mentioned and an "absolute beginner" will find this frustrating. There are multiple other errors and omissions that lead one to believe that there was a rush to get this book out there first. I would suggest waiting for the second edition or purchasing a book that has been proofread more closely.

This is a great book. Just perfect for a beginner. I knew nothing about programming. After reading the first chapter I was able to create a Picture Viewer in Visual C# Express. At the end of every chapter you build a cool application or game. You not only learn how to use Visual C# Express but also C# the language. Highly recommended for the "Absolute Beginner".

I read this book sometime ago and its an ok reference for beginners. It was easy to read and easy to understand (maybe because I have some solid understanding in programing but I doubt a complete beginner will understand everything).

Good examples (step by step), good tips...point to the right direction... my interest was kept the whole time

I've been struggling to learn to program for 6 months. I have purchased many books and failed to understand much. C# Express was a free IDE, so I downloaded it and purchased this book. This has been the first book to actually explain the basic of programming, the C# syntax (see I even know what syntax is... ), and designing forms. Each chapter begins with a description of a project, you then learn all the skills needed to complete the project and finally get to build the project with step by step instructions and source code listings. This book has also made me feel confident to take C# to the next level as I can finally jump into all those other books I purchased without feeling lost. C# Express for the Absolute Beginner is a well crafted book with a lot of insight for the beginner. It is sure to annoy an experienced programmer, but hey there are lots of books for intermediate/advanced users. I'm glad the author wrote this book - lots of beginners will appreciate it.

While at a first glance or when starting to work through this book it seems great. That feeling soon disappears. There are just too many errors that leave the "absolute beginner" totally not knowing where to go next. Once a person has started working the examples and found several instructional errors, confidence is lost and so when things don't work as they are supposed to, you don't know if it is your error (typing, careless reading etc.) or if it is the @#@### book.

Additionally, in some of the more complex examples (like databases) there are several lines of detailed instruction that are missing - if it is to be addressed to the "absolute beginner"

Although I have done quite a bit of programming a number of years ago, I thought I would best off starting as an absolute beginner. If this book were accurate and more carefully attuned to the "absolute beginner" it would be great BUT it is not! It still has some good stuff in it but what a shame that it will demoralize far more beginners than it will help - in my opinion.

Correct it - add to it - test it on real absolute beginners and then modify it so 9 out of 10 of them can follow it and you will have a very good book, but in it's current format it is GARBAGE.

I am currently a student in a C# programming class. Students were required to purchase this book as the textbook for the class. I am only in the second week of the class and the instructor has had to give us copious amounts of supporting material to help us understand how to use C# because this "textbook" is lacking. You would think, and it makes sense to do so, that the author would start with the basics, such as defining terms that are not layman's terms, or using diagrams to show the reader where to look to find all of the things she is talking about (instead of images of screenshots with no arrows anywhere to guide your eyes). I am already frustrated with having to use this book and it is making me worry about my grade. How can the reader create a program on his/her own if he/she does not know HOW to use the tools. The author basically tells you: "Put this here...type that...press the play button." The user is supposed to understand the fundamentals from that?!

As an experienced C programmer, I was very disappointed in the lack of attention to detail that the programming examples display. The amount of errors are abundant (out of bounds indexes, case sensitivity, spelling, etc) and MANY of the examples will not compile as written in the book. This book was used in an introductory C# class and I've spent more time debugging the books errors then I could have produced as a complete programming novice. I would pursue an alternative guide to programming in C# if your thinking of purchasing this book, it was definitely rushed for publication with little to no proofreading or editing in my opinion. Details matter in an absolute beginner book.

Someone please take this book off the shelves. I have never seen a published book with soo many mistakes. It's almost every other page there is some programming error that could cause a beginner (such as myself) to want to throw their computer out the window, until you snap to your senses and realize it's the book.
Look on the bright side at least it makes a good paper weight, booster seat, and you can use the paper for paper airplanes and fires, but it doesn't make a good programming book for beginners.

This book is ridiculous for a beginner. There are so many errors the poor beginner will be scratching their head more than learning.

Not a good book for c# beginer! I wish i can give negative star. Anisha, thank god amzon has 1 star as minimum rating..