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[(C# Developer's Headstart )] [Author: Philip Spokas] [Jun-2001]
Learn to quickly build powerful Internet applications with C#--Microsoft's newest innovative programming language--using this up-to-date book.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 3, 2017
I was the technical editor for this book.
June 21, 2021
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Biggest Problem is it's Obsolete
July 25, 2007
At the time this book was written (2001), it was probably a decent book. But, here it is mid-2007 and the book hasn't been updated. It was written specifically to C# 1.0 while the current version is at 2.0 (3.0 (Orcas) is due Real Soon Now). Offhand, because of the version changes, I noted a few minor differences between his output and mine. But, the most significant difference I found was in his discussion of Templates: the author spent a lot of time talking about how C# doesn't support them. With 2.0, however, C# got Generics which can do quite a bit of what Templates do. Since it's not really fair to rate a book on its age, here are some comments about other aspects of the book:
- First, and most importantly, the Preface states: "it is expected that the readers of this book will already be programmers with experience in at least one other language. Given this experience, readers of this book will find that they can quickly grasp the essential characteristics of C# within one chapter and then begin examining some of the more difficult areas of the language." So, as expected, the author doesn't spend a lot of time on the syntax. This is good.
- Given the above, I really would have thought he'd present the syntax in functional areas like: Sequential, Iterative, Conditional, Classes/Structures, etc.. Instead, his syntax chapter seems pretty haphazard. Also, instead of having a separate chapter (Chapter 4) where he compares C# to C++, Java, and VB, I'd have preferred it if he had made these comparisons while discussing the syntax.
- Also, even though he said in the Introduction that he was writing for experienced programmers, he spends time explaining common, object-oriented language features. For instance, inheritance.
- When he gives C# code samples, he doesn't necessarily explain the syntax. As a matter of fact, he USUALLY doesn't explain all the syntax. In many cases, someone with experience in other languages (specifically C++ and Java) can figure things out. But, there are some C# things that aren't obvious from those other languages. Also, he USUALLY doesn't provide expected output for his code samples.
- Similarly, with textual items he also tends to use terms without defining them until later. For instance, he used the term "reflection" several times in the text without defining it for several chapters.
- He does a fairly good job of giving the why and wherefore of C# and its history. But, he assumes a lot of familiarity with .NET and occasionally lapses into near indecipherable acronyms.
- The examples he uses are almost universally trivial and simplistic. They're not much use at all.
Given the above, the best I can rate Michaelis' "C# Developer's Headstart" is an OK 3 stars out of 5. I really would recommend a newer book, though.
The Biggest Problem is it's Obsolete
July 25, 2007
At the time this book was written (2001), it was probably a decent book. But, here it is mid-2007 and the book hasn't been updated. It was written specifically to C# 1.0 while the current version is at 2.0 (3.0 (Orcas) is due Real Soon Now). Offhand, because of the version changes, I noted a few minor differences between his output and mine. But, the most significant difference I found was in his discussion of Templates: the author spent a lot of time talking about how C# doesn't support them. With 2.0, however, C# got Generics which can do quite a bit of what Templates do. Since it's not really fair to rate a book on its age, here are some comments about other aspects of the book:
- First, and most importantly, the Preface states: "it is expected that the readers of this book will already be programmers with experience in at least one other language. Given this experience, readers of this book will find that they can quickly grasp the essential characteristics of C# within one chapter and then begin examining some of the more difficult areas of the language." So, as expected, the author doesn't spend a lot of time on the syntax. This is good.
- Given the above, I really would have thought he'd present the syntax in functional areas like: Sequential, Iterative, Conditional, Classes/Structures, etc.. Instead, his syntax chapter seems pretty haphazard. Also, instead of having a separate chapter (Chapter 4) where he compares C# to C++, Java, and VB, I'd have preferred it if he had made these comparisons while discussing the syntax.
- Also, even though he said in the Introduction that he was writing for experienced programmers, he spends time explaining common, object-oriented language features. For instance, inheritance.
- When he gives C# code samples, he doesn't necessarily explain the syntax. As a matter of fact, he USUALLY doesn't explain all the syntax. In many cases, someone with experience in other languages (specifically C++ and Java) can figure things out. But, there are some C# things that aren't obvious from those other languages. Also, he USUALLY doesn't provide expected output for his code samples.
- Similarly, with textual items he also tends to use terms without defining them until later. For instance, he used the term "reflection" several times in the text without defining it for several chapters.
- He does a fairly good job of giving the why and wherefore of C# and its history. But, he assumes a lot of familiarity with .NET and occasionally lapses into near indecipherable acronyms.
- The examples he uses are almost universally trivial and simplistic. They're not much use at all.
Given the above, the best I can rate Michaelis' "C# Developer's Headstart" is an OK 3 stars out of 5. I really would recommend a newer book, though.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews