C# Primer: A Practical Approach [Paperback]

Stanley B. Lippman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201729555 | ISBN-13: 978-0201729559 | Publication Date: December 20, 2001 | Edition: 1

Developers have long sought a language that combined the simplicity of Visual Basic with the power and flexibility of C++. For them, Microsoft has created C# -- systematically incorporating features intended to simplify the development of next-generation components and services. Now, one of the world's leading C++ experts and authors presents a start-to-finish, practical introduction developers need to leverage their existing skills with Microsoft's breakthrough new language. Stanley B. Lippman -- who was on the ground floor of the worldwide C++ revolution -- focuses on C# as a tool for building sophisticated COM+ components and Web services. Using extensive program examples, Lippman walks step-by-step through the fundamentals of C# syntax, classes, and object-oriented programming; inheritance, interfaces, delegates, events, attributes, reflection, exception handling, namespaces, assemblies, and more. The book concludes with a detailed chapter on interoperability between C# and legacy code. Appendices include a concise C# handbook and a quick tour of the new Visual Studio.NET development environment. For all intermediate programmers and developers who want to leverage their C, C++, or Java skills with Microsoft's new C#.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Using his famous primer format, best-selling author Stan Lippman now brings you an indispensable guide to C#. C# PRIMER is a comprehensive, example-driven introduction to this new object-oriented programming language.

C# is a cornerstone of Microsoft's new .NET platform. Inheriting many features from both Java™ and C++, C# is destined to become the high-level programming language of choice for building high-performance Windows® and Web applications and components--from XML-based Web services to middle-tier business objects and system-level applications.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Coverage of fundamentals, such as namespaces, exception handling, and the unified type system
• Detailed explanations and examples of both class and interface inheritance, including a discussion of when each is appropriate
• A wide-ranging tour of the .NET class library, including an introduction to ADO.NET, establishing database connections, regular expressions, threading, sockets programming, XML programming using the firehose and DOM parser models, XSLT, and XPATH
• Detailed discussion of ASP.NET Web Form Designer, walking through the page life cycle and caching, and providing a large number of examples
• Introduction to .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR)

Adding C# to your toolbox will not only improve your Web-based programming ability, it will increase your productivity. C# PRIMER provides a solid foundation to build upon and a refreshingly unbiased voice on Microsoft's vehicle to effective and efficient Web-based programming.

0201729555B07102002

About the Author

Stanley B. Lippman is Architect with the Visual C++ development team at Microsoft. Previously, he served as a Distinguished Consultant at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL). Stan spent more than twelve years at Bell Laboratories, where he worked with Bjarne Stroustrup on the original C++ implementation and the Foundation research project. After Bell Laboratories, Stan worked at Disney Feature Animation, originally as principal software engineer, then as software technical director on Fantasia 2000.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (December 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201729555
• ISBN-13: 978-0201729559
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting dichotomy, March 5, 2002

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This review is from: C# Primer: A Practical Approach (Paperback)

I expected very little from this book. The cover has very little shelf presence and is, frankly, quite ugly, IMHO. I guess you should never judge a book by its cover.

First the bad. If you come into this book expecting a real primer, from the dictionary definition of the word, you will be disappointed. While this book does cover the basics, the methodology is almost too strange to help someone first learning the language. If you want to learn C# from scratch, I think there are better books.

Having said that, there is a lot to love in this tome. Lippman has a strong grasp of what true programming is about and starts from the very beginning. While most of the revelations are hidden gems, the content is absolutely astounding, if you actually dig for the diamonds.

Want an example? Where else will you find an example as deep as this:

string usage = @"this is a verbatim string
the carriage return will be included in the string"

The style is a lot different than other books on the market, which may lead some to shoot this book down. I had the same reaction in the first couple of pages, but quickly changed my mind as I found more and more info that you cannot find anywhere else. As someone who purchases a lot of books (I consider programming a career, not a job), I appreciate every little nugget I get from each book, as, I hope, you do too.

Lippman's idea is to show a program and then run through different iterations, showing you a bit more with each turn. This is contrary to the typical, explain first and then show code, methodology, so it will most likely have you off guard at first. But, if you give it a go, the system works.

I think this book is best for people who have programmed before, which the author states in the preface, and most likely for those who have read other C# books prior to this one. If you do not have any programming experience, there are plenty of books to start with, like C# .NET Step By Step.

One last note, there are some repeat items in the book, along with some typos. It should also be mentioned that the book was written against a version of C# prior to release code, although I do not see that as a major drawback throughout most of the book. This is the primary reason for not giving this book the highest nod, as I am in absolute awe of the little nuggets of info I have received.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Major disappointment, January 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: C# Primer: A Practical Approach (Paperback)

I had high hopes for this book, given that it was written by an experienced author and published by DevelopMentor. If you're expecting something up to the usual DevelopMentor standards (see books by Don Box, Tim Ewald, Keith Brown, etc.), however, you will be sadly disappointed.

The book reads like a first draft, full of errors, repetition, typos, and garbled prose. The author belabors the easy stuff and glosses over the nitty gritty. Some of the examples don't even compile.

A slap dash effort, not completely worthless, but you can do better -- e.g., see A Programmer's Introduction to C# (Second Edition), by Eric Gunnerson.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good C# introduction for experienced programmers, July 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: C# Primer: A Practical Approach (Paperback)

Lippman's C# Primer assumes that the reader knows C++ or Java. It does not cover basic language constructs so it is not a good choice as a first C# book for people that have not programmed before. The first four chapters include many good insights into the C# language from a professional programmer's point of view. These are hard to find in other texts and make this book worthwhile. A future edition should concentrate on including more language insights and less on WinForms or ASP.NET specifics that are covered better on other texts. Probably some basics should be included to expand its appeal to new programmers.

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