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Book Description
A Learner's Guide to Real-World Programming with Visual C# and .NET
Product Description
You want to learn C# programming, but you're not sure you want to suffer through another tedious technical book. You're in luck: Head First C# introduces this language in a fun, visual way. You'll quickly learn everything from creating your first program to learning sophisticated coding skills with C# 4.0, Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4, while avoiding common errors that frustrate many students.
The second edition offers several hands-on labs along the way to help you build and test programs using skills you've learned up to that point. In the final lab, you'll put everything together. From objects to garbage collection and from exceptions to interactions, you'll learn C# in a way that engages and entertains your brain. Here are a few of the topics you'll learn:
- Start by building a useful application with pre-built components in Visual Studio 2010
- Discover how objects work, using real-world examples
- Store numbers, text, and other basic data types using primitives
- Save complex data in files and databases with great C# tools
- Build intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces by following simple rules
- Design your code to catch exceptions -- things you don't expect
- Develop good programming habits, such as refactoring code and applying unit tests
- Learn how web services put your programs in touch with the rest of the world
- Make it easy for other people to install your software
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read enough books on programming to know what to expect before I even open the cover: intro, jargon definitions, syntax definitions (that gets you about 50% through the book), n-chapters with explanations/examples of major features, a chapter with stuff that didn't fit anywhere else, The End. A bit like learning to speak a foreign language by reading the dictionary and then reading a book on grammar: dry and completely backwards.
Head First C# takes a much more effective approach. From the start you are using what you learn and building upon that base with successive lessons. New concepts are introduced and explained when you have the necessary context to understand them. Examples are not snippets of code in isolation. And praise the heavens, none involve the worn-out Employer/Employee, Customer/Order/Address class cliches. The final project is a Space Invaders clone... code you might actually enjoy writing. What a novel idea.
If I had any complaint it's that the visual style is a bit busy. Mostly because I'm used to reading reference manuals, but I guess the style is what "kids" like these days. I certainly would have preferred a book like this when I was new to the programming game. The lighthearted approach of the does not sacrifice a depth of understanding. Buy this book and a C# reference manual. Learn with this one, and look up the fine points in the other.
Head First C# takes a much more effective approach. From the start you are using what you learn and building upon that base with successive lessons. New concepts are introduced and explained when you have the necessary context to understand them. Examples are not snippets of code in isolation. And praise the heavens, none involve the worn-out Employer/Employee, Customer/Order/Address class cliches. The final project is a Space Invaders clone... code you might actually enjoy writing. What a novel idea.
If I had any complaint it's that the visual style is a bit busy. Mostly because I'm used to reading reference manuals, but I guess the style is what "kids" like these days. I certainly would have preferred a book like this when I was new to the programming game. The lighthearted approach of the does not sacrifice a depth of understanding. Buy this book and a C# reference manual. Learn with this one, and look up the fine points in the other.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I needed a quick introduction to C# to help me to build an ASP.Net web application. I really needed to understand the coding that was given to me so that I could make some modifications, and this excellent book did the trick. It appears light-hearted on the surface, but actually makes some serious inroads into the language, and the information really sticks.I feel confident with C# now and have gained more insight into programming in general. The application that I was working on was a success, and I owe it all to this excellent book. If you are looking for an intro into programming with C# then I cannot imagine a better place to begin than with this book.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having just completed the first section of the book, I would like to update my comments.
I say completed rather than "finished reading" because this book really is a series of very hands-on mini tutorials that build upon each other to give the complete novice first a solid, lasting and applicable grounding in programming concepts, increasing in complexity (though only at a rate which the book has ensured that ANY reader can follow) until finally the novice has become a confident, self-reliant C# programmer able to apply his/her skill to any programming assignment.
Not a reference book by any means, rather a VERY cheap course where the coach is personal, black on white on paper and has to be read at your own speed of understanding and assimilation rather than bearded, sweaty, overpaid and having to be listened to. The order of teaching is precise, giving you what you need at the right time rather than resorting to the all too familiar "but we will cover that later, in chapter 724" and the pace is pitch perfect leaving no-one behind, bringing the reader's attention back to things covered in previous chapters so that he/she is sure to have committed the processes but also the jargon to memory with regular revision activities such as crosswords and puzzles.
This is the first book on C# that I have found that doesn't explain jargon with more jargon. Instead, it gives you similes, comparisons, metaphors from common human experience which help the reader understand how various elements of the programming language work.
One third of the way through it I have already learned more than my £3000 course with a well marketed IT training body *cough-skillstrain-don't-do-it-to-yourself-cough* has been able to teach me in a quarter of the time .
Five star with no hesitation.
I say completed rather than "finished reading" because this book really is a series of very hands-on mini tutorials that build upon each other to give the complete novice first a solid, lasting and applicable grounding in programming concepts, increasing in complexity (though only at a rate which the book has ensured that ANY reader can follow) until finally the novice has become a confident, self-reliant C# programmer able to apply his/her skill to any programming assignment.
Not a reference book by any means, rather a VERY cheap course where the coach is personal, black on white on paper and has to be read at your own speed of understanding and assimilation rather than bearded, sweaty, overpaid and having to be listened to. The order of teaching is precise, giving you what you need at the right time rather than resorting to the all too familiar "but we will cover that later, in chapter 724" and the pace is pitch perfect leaving no-one behind, bringing the reader's attention back to things covered in previous chapters so that he/she is sure to have committed the processes but also the jargon to memory with regular revision activities such as crosswords and puzzles.
This is the first book on C# that I have found that doesn't explain jargon with more jargon. Instead, it gives you similes, comparisons, metaphors from common human experience which help the reader understand how various elements of the programming language work.
One third of the way through it I have already learned more than my £3000 course with a well marketed IT training body *cough-skillstrain-don't-do-it-to-yourself-cough* has been able to teach me in a quarter of the time .
Five star with no hesitation.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not quite the revelation I'd hoped for
Maybe I'm not clever enough to get it but I didn't find this book to be all that suitable for a neophyte programmer. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Splossy
Why wasn't this the first book i bought?
All the above reviews are true - i bought this book after reading these reviews.
Been a 80's Basic programmer, and a 90's PASCAL i wanted to get into the 21st century by... Read more
Been a 80's Basic programmer, and a 90's PASCAL i wanted to get into the 21st century by... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Peter Sluth
Easy, fun book
As an experienced developer it seemed that this book wasn't for me, and true it does cover some old ground. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Lee
Excellent
This is an excellent book. Andrew teaches every complex concept with real world examples and provides exercises for your brain so as to teach you everything in a simple way. Read more
Published 11 months ago by prabakar
Exelent book
It's really wonderful book. I'm from those types who only can learn something when someone pointing with finger to the screen or standing behind and explaining step by step. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Robert
Fantastic help so far
I have been studying computers for 2yrs with a well known company Computeach, and just started C#.The first thing I do is go to the forum and see what other students recommend. Read more
Published 14 months ago by lgorrie
Excellent, but is not just C# is oo programming too
It is an excellent book, but is not C# only, It is about OOP and a complete guide for using Visual Studio too, and it's a little difficult to get the C# explanations only.
Published 14 months ago by Max Aldunate
Absolute buy
I have spent alot of money on books, courses ect and these series of books are by far the most effective. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Johnno
NOW I GET IT...
I have to say I've read about 40 different books on many programming languages and technologies over the years, and this is the first book I've actually raved about to others. Read more
Published 18 months ago by R. Smith
Not that good even for beginners.
I've been coding in Java (amongst other languages) for the last 10 years and have extensive knowledge of coding and OO but even so I bought this book because I have a lot of... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Coding Monkey
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