REVIEW - C# for Experienced Programmers


Title:

C# for Experienced Programmers

Author:

Harvey M. Deitel, Paul J. Deitel

Publisher:

Prentice Hall Ptr (2003)

Pages:

1382pp

Reviewer:

Paul Thomas

Reviewed:

February 2006

Rating:

★★☆☆☆


Give it a miss

With a title like this, it's not unreasonable to expect that a developer experienced in C++ or Java could learn about the differences fairly quickly and move on to more advanced topics to get a feel for the language. Instead page after tedious page details the "if" keyword or what inheritance is. The pretty diagram inside the back cover recommends novices read their introductory title first. I can't imagine how annoyed I'd be if I had.

To be fair, a Java programmer only really needs an A4 sheet with keyword and class replacement tables. The language was that badly ripped off that it would be hard to pad a thirteen hundred page book like this. This reviewer isn't a Microsoft Hater, but he is a Microsoft sycophant hater. Books like this give you the impression that before the .NET platform, we were all just grubbing around with registers.

There is some useful material contained and it appears to be well researched and checked, the problem is accessing it. Its torturous to read a book like this and the format makes it impossible to simply hunt down the information you need. The over use of bold type reminds me of revising college students that highlight every other sentence in their notes. Like somehow all of it will be remembered better.

My other major problem with this book and many like it is that it cannot separate C# from Visual Studio. This would be fine in a book with a different name but is just misleading here. A more cynical person might think the name was made up purely for product differentiation.


Book cover image courtesy of Open Library.





Your Privacy

By clicking "Accept Non-Essential Cookies" you agree ACCU can store non-essential cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Current Setting: Non-Essential Cookies REJECTED


By clicking "Include Third Party Content" you agree ACCU can forward your IP address to third-party sites (such as YouTube) to enhance the information presented on this site, and that third-party sites may store cookies on your device.

Current Setting: Third Party Content EXCLUDED



Settings can be changed at any time from the Cookie Policy page.