Microsoft Windows remains the dominant development platform in most environments, and C# is the language of choice for Microsoft and developers using this platform. It is comparable to Java in functionality so if you are not using Java in the enterprise then you are probably using C#.
C# alone is a complex, complete language and it is presented well in this large tome. Language coverage is by example and organized by functionality that is typical of books that cover a programming language. It makes a good reference manual although it is not a more formal presentation.
At 1782 pages, it packs in much more than just language coverage. The bulk of it covers Microsoft’s .NET framework including everything from ASP.NET and AJAX support to LINQ data manipulation. Coverage of .NET is not exhaustive because it is an ever-changing platform and new interfaces are always being added and existing ones are being refined but coverage of critical .NET interfaces most applications will be found here.
Coverage of the .NET framework obviously includes examples written in C#. This facilitates cut-and-paste programming and definitely provides enough insight into the use of major portions the interfaces covered in the book.
It is possible to read this cover to cover but be prepared for a long read. More likely, C# novices will make it through the start of the book to get enough understanding of C# and Visual Studio to get started. Those familiar with C# will move onto the rest of the book using individual chapters as specific functionality is needed within an application.
If you are programming with C# then this book should always be nearby. There is simply too much to know about the environment and most of it is in the book. Don’t program at home, or work, without it.
