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This
book is ideal for intermediate programmers developing web applications with
Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET. It works best as a reference for those simply
looking for ways to "make stuff work" who don't need the
hand-holding of step-by-step instructions, but aren't ready for simple,
austere object definitions. Using an appropriate number of examples in both
C# and VB.NET, the authors have successfully put together a book that has
helped my shop overcome several hurdles in the month we've been using it.
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In
the new .NET paradigm, ASP exists only as a descriptive name applied to collections
of objects that "make stuff work" on the web. Powered by C#,
VB.NET, or almost any language you chose,
the .NET framework Intermediate Language and Just-In-Time compilation
has made an understanding of how "classic" Active Server Pages work
obsolete.
However, the name ASP seems to be maintained to provide
familiarity to those of us making the transition from ASP 3.0 to
"any-web-application-built-with-.NET." This book fulfils that
calling by giving the right mix of definitions, examples, and background
information without using excess
space or time.
The majority of the chapters cover most of the collections of
objects (namespaces) that give an application functionality on the web.
Without question, we used these sections the most. For those of us making the
transition to C# at the same time we're getting used to .NET web development,
these chapters were a life-saver. They gave all the answers we couldn't find
in any C# reference manual tailored specifically for the types of web
applications we were creating. Since we adopted .NET a few months ago, for
the first time we were able to concetrate on functionality instead of C# as a
frustrating language. I'm not sure how VB 6.0 programmers will look at it,
but they seem to be getting the better reference books in the marketplace so
far, so it was a relief to find every example done in both C# and VB.NET.
While this book would be key for beginning .NET developers
ready for more robust applications or
intermediate programmers moving from another language, I suspect that
advanced programmers will be disappointed. For example, XML and Mobile
Devices get chapters, but they don't conatain enough information for real
development. You would need to have a much better background in either
subject to actually develop. However, if you had that background, these
sections wouldn't tell you anything you didn't already know.
The strength of this book is not as a "front-to-back"
read, but as the dog-eared, coffee-stained reference that allows an
intermediate level programmer to produce web applications that work--and work
well. While not an expert, I've used ASP.NET Programmer's Reference to give
myself a solid base of knowledge. By the time I master the material, I'll be
well-prepared to tackle some of the more obscure .NET namespaces and cutting
edge web technologies.
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