C# in a Nutshell

By Peter Drayton, Ben Albahari, Ted Neward
March 2002
Pages: 856
ISBN 10: 0-596-00181-9 | ISBN 13: 9780596001810
(4) (Average of 6 Customer Reviews)

This book has been updated—the edition you're requesting is OUT OF PRINT. Please visit the catalog page of the latest edition.

The latest edition is also available on Safari Books Online.

Book description

C# in a Nutshell aims to become the de-facto standard for this young programming language. A reference to be used daily, this book also includes essential background information to become productive quickly. Not a "how-to" book or a rehash of Microsoft's documentation, this book goes to the source of the language and APIs to present content in a way that professional programmers will value above all other books.
Full Description

C# in a Nutshell provides everything programmers need to know about the C# language in one concise and accessible volume. Designed as a primary reference for daily use, it also includes all the essential background information to become productive quickly. Not a "how-to" book or a rehash of Microsoft's documentation, this book goes to the source of the C# language and the APIs of the .NET Framework to present the content in a way that professional programmers will value above all other books. Brief introductions to the language and .NET runtime provide the needed preparation for programming with the C# language, whose keywords and syntax are then detailed in subsequent chapters. Next, C# in a Nutshell presents key namespaces and types of the .NET Framework base class library which provides much of the functionality and power of the language. Using C# examples, the .NET Framework covers each core area, including:

Strings
Collections
XML
Networking
Input/Output
Serialization
Assemblies
Reflection
Custom Attributes
Memory Management
Threading
Integrating with Native DLLs
Integrating with COM Components
Diagnostics

Determined to provide even more value, C# in a Nutshell moves into a comprehensive language reference, plus syntax, XML documentation tags, naming and coding conventions, and the various C# development tools--the kind of reference material programmers will use every day. Next, an extensive and quick reference to the API is presented, featuring the System namespace. Particularly useful are the many figures and tables that present the main features of the namespace. For those looking create alternatives to Microsoft's implementation of the C# Programming Language and the Common Language Infrastructure as submitted to ECMA (an international standards organization), each element included in the ECMA submission is clearly labeled. Finally, the entire reference is based on Version 1 of the .NET Framework and generated by tools written in the C# language itself. Every once in a while, a book becomes the de-facto standard for a technology, operating system, or programming language--which is exactly what C# in a Nutshell aims to do in a single straightforward and easy to use volume.

Post-purchase benefits:

Browse within this book

| Table of Contents | Index | Sample Chapter | Colophon

Book details

First Edition: March 2002
ISBN: 0-596-00181-9
Pages: 856
Average Customer Reviews: (4) (Based on 6 Reviews)

Featured customer reviews

This book rocks, May 24 2009

Rating:

Submitted by Aaron [Respond | View]

Actually during the first times before buying this book I was kinda skeptical about this book because when ever I bought a book about C#, I couldn't find what I am looking for, the real C# and its core syntax. They were just talking about this and that but not the C# itself so I couldn't make my decision for that book that much easily. But after buying that I was like "Yeah, that's the book I've looking for for a long time". The author is talking about the real C#, the syntax and the way how C# works and how one can write code better.

Thanks to the author of this book. It's really something.

Great Book, June 21 2006

Rating:

Submitted by abdelmotalep [Respond | View]

this book is Very Good .
I told my friends about this book.
All my friend buys this book.

C# in a Nutshell Review, May 02 2003

Rating:

Submitted by Mark Tucker (AZDNUG.com) [Respond | View]

This book can act as both an intro to C# and as a quick reference. I particularly like the namespace to assembly mapping (Appendix E) and the Quick Reference (Part IV).

Read all reviews

C# in a Nutshell Review, November 28 2002

Rating:

Submitted by Mark [Respond | View]

The book is a welcomed compliment while programming in .Net. It offers simple examples for items you may forget or have forgotten.

It also offers the opportunity to glance at classes you may not have seen nor taken advantage of.

I would recommend this book to anyone already familiar with .Net, and as a compliment to any other "learning .Net" book for someone who may be new to .NET.

C# in a Nutshell Review, May 02 2002

Rating:

Submitted by Miles Whitener [Respond | View]

The first reviewer does not appear to have suffered through the early .NET books. This book is even better than the authors' prior works. Buy C# in a Nutshell if you already have all the other books and if you already know your stuff. You will be DELIGHTED. This is the best Nutshell book yet!

C# in a Nutshell Review, April 25 2002

Rating:

Submitted by Ben Hutchison [Respond | View]

Applying Oreilly's Nutshell format to C# & .Net was always going to be powerful. This huge, dense book is packed with information and is similar in format to the recent editions of Java Nutshell.

However, I think it is not quite as clearly written as Java Nutshell; particularly the language & features explanation section felt a bit rushed and abbreviated.

My main complaint is that it is incomplete, without being upfront about it. Many of the .Net libraries are skipped, and nowhere is there a clear statement of which are omitted and why. Remoting, Security and UI classes are not covered, and I would guess some companion volumes are anticipated.

Not a complete reference, but a good effort at this early stage of C#.

Media reviews

"'C# in a Nutshell' is the most complete reference manual of the C# language and the .NET framework that I have come across...If you have anything to do with the C# language or the .NET framework, I highly recommend adding this book to your library."
----Salt Lake ColdFusion User's Group, April 2003

"The quick reference section on the Framework classes, which takes up the majority of the book, is a guide that many developers will turn to over and over. So this is a book that belongs on many desktops, right by the computer. No matter what language you choose for .NET, you're likely to find this book useful."
--Craig Utley, Builder.com, July 2002

"Java. Perl. VB. Whatever the language, developers have come to rely on O'Reilly's In a Nutshell guides for concise, expert tutorials combined with fast-access, reliable reference information. A programming language hasn't really come of age until there's an In a Nutshell for it--and there's now an excellent one for Microsoft's C# ...Put simply, 'C# in a Nutshell' is authoritative."
--Bill Camarda, Barnes & Noble.com

"a 'fast-packed, no-fluff' introduction to both elementary and arcane features of C# and .NET-Serious C# programmers will find this to be an invaluable handy reference."
--PC Plus, November 2002

"'C# In A Nutshell' is the most complete reference manual of the C# language and the .NET framework that I have come across."
--Salt Lake City ColdFusion User Group, June 2002

Hide extended reviews