.NET Framework Standard Library Annotated Reference, Volume 1: Base Class Library and Extended Numerics Library (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book is the first of a two volume set that will provide .NET developers with a detailed annotated reference to the most common and useful parts of the .NET Framework Class Library. Also included are complete descriptions, methods, and diagrams. While the specs are available online, the annotations from the .NET Framework team have been written for this work, and are available nowhere else. These will be for .NET developers what Patrick Chan's Java Class Library books have been for Java developers. The complete spec is available in seven volumes from Microsoft Press, costing more than $385. We think ours will sell much better because: - We know how to publish specifications. Ours will have the thorough index and navigational tools that developers need. - We have the creators of the technology writing and promoting our book - Rather than cover in print all the arcane seldomly used parts, we are concentrating on the most used pieces of the spec - Ours has detailed annotations, descriptions, and code samples from the .NET Framework team which will be available nowhere else

From the Back Cover

Edited by a Lead Program Manager on Microsoft's .NET Framework team, .NET Framework Standard Library Annotated Reference, Volume 1, is the definitive reference for the .NET Framework base class library. This book/CD set utilizes extensive annotations and code samples from the creators of the technology to move beyond the online documentation and provide .NET developers with a dictionary-style reference to the most-used parts of the Framework. This volume covers a subset of the ISO CLI Standards, including the Base Class Library and the Extended Numerics Library.

In the printed book you will find informative overviews of each namespace covered and an easy-to-follow alphabetic reference of types in the standard, including type-level descriptions, sample code with output, and annotations from the design team and standardization committee. The CD contains nearly 4,000 searchable pages--everything in the book plus member-level descriptions, sample code, and all source code in a buildable format.

With the ECMA and ISO standards as its core, the book and CD include:

• Annotations from key members of the Microsoft design team and the Standardization committee. Comments cover everything from design rationale and history to common problems and shortcomings.
• An overview of each namespace, describing its functionality and the inheritance hierarchy of types it defines.
• Type descriptions. Each type is covered in its own chapter, with a detailed description of how the type is to be used and a quick reference of the C# declaration syntax for all members defined on the type. Also noted: which members are only available in the Microsoft implementation of the .NET Framework, which are not available in the .NET Compact Framework, and which are only available in V1.1 of the .NET Framework.
• Code samples. Types are illustrated by fully compilable code samples with output included.
• Reference tabs and an exhaustive index, which allow readers to quickly and easily navigate the text.
• Reusable source code for more than one thousand samples. All code has been tested with versions 1.0, 1.1, and the 2.0 technical preview of the .NET Framework, and, where appropriate, with the .NET Compact Framework.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; annotated edition edition (March 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321154894
• ISBN-13: 978-0321154897
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #649,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Microsoft .NET Development Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easily Accessible Information, April 13, 2004

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Reference books often are densely packed with information. And this book is no exception. But the utility of any reference book is often a function of how easily you can find a desired subject, and, once there, how understandable is it explained. On both counts, you should find that this book stands well.

The sheer volume of information has been carefully laid out. The various .NET types (classes) are easy to find. For a type, example code is often included, along with the mandatory "official" description of the type. Some of you will appreciate the examples, as these are written to be easy to follow.

If you have programmed in Java, you should be familiar with Sun's "Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition, API Specification", which is an online documentation for Java. This book has much the same flavour. In fact, it has a CD with the entire book's contents. So you can access the CD much like a Java programmer would the above.

One interesting difference, though, is an extra feature present in this book. For many types, there is added commentary by various of the 7 authors. These narratives are more informally phrased than the descriptions or examples. They offer extra insight, increasing the book's utility.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for .NET Developers, December 8, 2004

By	Sean P. Chase "Sean Chase" (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is extremely insightful and interesting. Not only is there great information and example code (both within the book and on CD), you get to read comments from the designers of the BCL object model. Comments from the designers include: how to use, how not to use, what could have been implemented better, and other useful information. I was extremely impressed and the only downside is that now I'm left with wanting more volumes! Hopefully more of these annotated references will become available for .NET Framework classes outside of the BCL.

16 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now that I have it, I can't live without it!, July 22, 2005

By	Steven (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Looking for a handy reference for the .NET Framework classes?

If you are looking for a handy reference style book for the .NET Framework BCL (Base Class Library) then look no further. This book is packed to the brim with information, code samples and other goodies. Of coarse you can find this sort of information on MSDN, but wouldn't it be nice to have a well laid out hard-copy on your desk?

This book comes with a couple of really handy tools. First, you get a pretty handy .NET Framework map, which is a pretty large poster that maps out the BCL nicely. Also, you get a really nice CD which includes a .pdf file with almost 4000 pages (it's like a super-detailed version of the book). That's not it - the CD also has a HUGE library of code samples. The CD alone is worth the price in my opinion.

I am very happy with this purchase, I only wish I would have bought it sooner. I am very much looking forward to the next volume!