Press Release
October 25, 2000
MCSD in a Nutshell Helps Developers Distinguish Themselves From the Pack
Sebastopol, CA--Oddly enough, most MCSD (Microsoft Certified Software
Developer) certification books appear to assume that the reader has no prior
experience with Visual Basic programming. Even stranger, many are written by
people who have not passed-or even taken-those same exams. In contrast, the
latest in the esteemed "In a Nutshell" series,
MCSD in a Nutshell
(O'Reilly, $29.95), by certified MCSD James Foxall, assumes the reader is an
intermediate to advanced programmer who is concerned with learning more about
each of the core technologies that are covered by the exam.
This is more than just an exam prep guide, it is also a great way to expand a
programmer's understanding of the enormous complexities and opportunities
available-even if the person has little or no interest on taking the test.
Programmers tend to be specialists-they tend to do the same kind of programming
over and over. The MCSD exam is targeted at technical generalists-developers
familiar with a broad array of Microsoft technologies and development
approaches that are incorporated into Visual Basic. "Visual Basic is a complex
language, and even the most die-hard VB developer doesn't use all of its
available features," says author James Foxall. "Nevertheless, the exams will
test you on just about every aspect of Visual Basic. It used to be that the VB
exam focused on assessing your programming skills. Those days are gone. Now you
have a set of exams designed primarily to test your knowledge of Microsoft
technologies. To pass the exams, you need to know the technologies and how they
fit together."
Its thorough review of Visual Basic-related development technologies makes this
an excellent tutorial for experienced VB programmers who wish to get up to
speed on Visual Basic technologies with which they work infrequently, if at
all.
Most certification books are really tutorials in disguise.
MCSD in a Nutshell
focuses on the advanced topics about which developers are actually tested on
the exam and is written by an author who has successfully passed the
certification exams. "I think the Visual Basic exams are very important. There
are a LOT of Visual Basic developers (over 3 million), but not all are
competent. Having your certification helps to distinguish you from the pack,"
Foxall says. "In fact, studies show that, on average, developers with their
MCSD certification are paid more than developers that don't have the
certification. Certification is a way to prove to yourself, current and future
employers, and your peers that you really know what you're doing."
"This book is NOT a cram book, and this book doesn't cover any basic material;
if you don't know how to add an ActiveX control to a project, you shouldn't buy
this book," says Foxall. "Then again, you shouldn't be taking the certification
exams either. I'm a professional developer in addition to being an author, and
I wrote this book for professionals. In addition, I am a certified MCSD. This
book is a vast collection of knowledge and experience that I've gained over
many years."
"I found this book to be stunningly excellent. You did something I didn't think
could be done in a Certification book-you covered the material on the exam
perfectly and you also managed to teach the material at the same time...I can
tell you without a doubt that your book will be the textbook I use in my next
boot camp. As an author who is praised for the clear way I present topics, I
can think of no greater praise for this book than to say this is the book I
would have written on Certification if I had been brave enough to attempt
it-you did it, great job!" --John Smiley
In the most recent salary survey by
Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine, almost half
of respondents reported no change in income because of certification, but a
fifth reported significant jumps.
Online Resources:
MCSD in a Nutshell: The
Visual Basic Exams
By James Foxall, MCSD
October 2000
1-56592-752-4, 632 pages, $29.95
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
Return to: O'Reilly Press Room
|
Recent Press Releases
Press Release Archive »
Resources
Press Contacts
Corporate
Sara Winge
800/998-9938 x7109
Media Relations - North America
Sara Peyton
800/998-9938 x7118
Media Relations - Germany
Corina Pahrmann
+49-221-973160-22
Media Relations - Japan
Kenji Watari
+81-3-3356-5227
Media Relations - United Kingdom
Josette Garcia
+44 (0)1252-721284
Media Relations - Conferences
Maureen Jennings
800/998-9938 x7083
|
