Wowser!
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Probably because they're both excellent writers, rarities in the technical book genre.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I just finished "reading" Charles Petzold's free book, .NET Book Zero [^]. Over the years I've spent many thou$ands on programming books, including several on C#, but this one takes the cake. Clear, readable, concepts all others assume the reader knows explained in detail... it just doesn't get any better for a C# newbie like me. Future authors - download it, read it, and take notes on presentation style. And by "reading" I don't mean detailed study, but semi-entranced skimming, skipping over bits I already know, focusing on parts that are new concepts or shaky in my understanding. The detailed bit will happen later when I need something I probably shouldn't have skimmed.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Petzold has always been an outstanding writer. That's why his book on Windows programming -- one of the first -- sold gadzillions. He earned it. And he is a REALLY nice guy.
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I just finished "reading" Charles Petzold's free book, .NET Book Zero [^]. Over the years I've spent many thou$ands on programming books, including several on C#, but this one takes the cake. Clear, readable, concepts all others assume the reader knows explained in detail... it just doesn't get any better for a C# newbie like me. Future authors - download it, read it, and take notes on presentation style. And by "reading" I don't mean detailed study, but semi-entranced skimming, skipping over bits I already know, focusing on parts that are new concepts or shaky in my understanding. The detailed bit will happen later when I need something I probably shouldn't have skimmed.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Just wanted to say thanks man. Never knew about this guy, however I took a look at the Net Book Zero and it looks like exactly what I needed. I have a friend who looks to get into programming, and this by far is the best beginners book for someone who knows nothing about programming. Someone else also mentioned "Code" book that he wrote, I'll be picking that one for myself as well. Makes me wonder why do colleges always pick some shitty book to use? This is what should be used for programming 101.
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Petzold has always produced well written books in my opinion. The best book he's written so far (in my opinion of course) is Code - a book I recommend to anyone who wants to learn about (or refresh your memory!) how computers work on a fundamental level.
I knew I recognized that name from somewhere. _Code_ FTW!
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Just wanted to say thanks man. Never knew about this guy, however I took a look at the Net Book Zero and it looks like exactly what I needed. I have a friend who looks to get into programming, and this by far is the best beginners book for someone who knows nothing about programming. Someone else also mentioned "Code" book that he wrote, I'll be picking that one for myself as well. Makes me wonder why do colleges always pick some shitty book to use? This is what should be used for programming 101.
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Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
Petzold has always produced well written books in my opinion.
I agree.
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
The best book he's written so far (in my opinion of course) is Code - a book I recommend to anyone who wants to learn about (or refresh your memory!) how computers work on a fundamental level.
I'll have to look for that one. Sounds like a book I should suggest to my CSCI students as well.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
id highly recommend this as well. Full Name : Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software. ISBN: [^] It's 12$ !! I would double recommend the .net book just because it's by Petzold, the man is a genius when it comes to conveying complex ideas in simple to follow patterns.
DrewG, MCSD .Net
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Roger Wright wrote:
a C# newbie like me
There's someone else here at CP who's a "C# newbie"? :omg: I'm not alone anymore ... sniff ...
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Just wanted to say thanks man. Never knew about this guy, however I took a look at the Net Book Zero and it looks like exactly what I needed. I have a friend who looks to get into programming, and this by far is the best beginners book for someone who knows nothing about programming. Someone else also mentioned "Code" book that he wrote, I'll be picking that one for myself as well. Makes me wonder why do colleges always pick some shitty book to use? This is what should be used for programming 101.
JazzJackRabbit wrote:
This is what should be used for programming 101.
I agree, especially for a first course. As a C# text for continued study I think I'd pick one of his more advanced books, but this is an excellent introduction. Many school books are good introductions to the concepts, but rarely do you see one that uses a real language to illustrate the concepts. Most rely on pseudocode, or languages loved only by academics and never used in the real world. Besides, considering what publishers are charging school kids for textbooks these days, something free would be extremely helpful. Something so superior to anything else on the subject that is also free - Wow! :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I think you're referring to Matt Pietrek, but it's a compliment to Petzold nonetheless ... :)
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"Version 1.0 of the downloable code was..." I hope he didn't do the web page :) Thanks for the link, Roger...I'll check it out. I had one of his 'Undocumented Windows' books back in the Windows 3.1 days...he's pretty good.
Petzold did the standard books on basic Windows programming for each version as it came out during the 90s. One couldn't talk about Windows programming without mentioning his name. Yeah, he's pretty good :laugh:
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"Version 1.0 of the downloable code was..." I hope he didn't do the web page :) Thanks for the link, Roger...I'll check it out. I had one of his 'Undocumented Windows' books back in the Windows 3.1 days...he's pretty good.
At least it's free. :) Aside: The Indigo Girl's "Learning WCF" book (O'Reilly) has several grammatical errors in the first few pages ("principle" "principal" used instead of "principal" "principle"), but is nevertheless an excellent read. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
modified on Sunday, November 16, 2008 3:00 PM
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At least it's free. :) Aside: The Indigo Girl's "Learning WCF" book (O'Reilly) has several grammatical errors in the first few pages ("principle" "principal" used instead of "principal" "principle"), but is nevertheless an excellent read. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
modified on Sunday, November 16, 2008 3:00 PM
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Yeah, can't beat free :) I've only just started digging into WCF, though I'll probably stick with what I can find online. If I do break down and get a book, I'll look for that one.
If you're happy with what's online (there's a lot of good stuff on WCF), you may want to instead invest in Programming WCF Services[^] by Juval Lowy. It kicks it up a notch and is worthwhile reference. You don't need to read it cover-to-cover, just the parts that interest you. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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If you're happy with what's online (there's a lot of good stuff on WCF), you may want to instead invest in Programming WCF Services[^] by Juval Lowy. It kicks it up a notch and is worthwhile reference. You don't need to read it cover-to-cover, just the parts that interest you. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
I floundered around with it for a few days before I got my very first service to work under IIS, but I got there. It's kind've like the more you think about it, the worse you screw it up :) If I do get a book, I'd rather have an intermediate/advanced one that I can keep using for a long time rather than a beginner one that's only good for a couple of weeks. That one looks pretty good...thanks for the recommedation :beer:
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At least it's free. :) Aside: The Indigo Girl's "Learning WCF" book (O'Reilly) has several grammatical errors in the first few pages ("principle" "principal" used instead of "principal" "principle"), but is nevertheless an excellent read. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
modified on Sunday, November 16, 2008 3:00 PM
Heh, this is why you won't be writing any computer books too soon ;) Principle is used correctly... You are right though! It is an excellent read!
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Heh, this is why you won't be writing any computer books too soon ;) Principle is used correctly... You are right though! It is an excellent read!
c0ward wrote:
Principle is used correctly...
No it's not. I made a mistake in my original post (corrected). See the 2nd sentence of the 2nd para on page 2 and tell me if "principal" (and its plural) is used correctly.
c0ward wrote:
Heh, this is why you won't be writing any computer books too soon
You're right - I won't. But I doubt it'll be because of poor grammar. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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c0ward wrote:
Principle is used correctly...
No it's not. I made a mistake in my original post (corrected). See the 2nd sentence of the 2nd para on page 2 and tell me if "principal" (and its plural) is used correctly.
c0ward wrote:
Heh, this is why you won't be writing any computer books too soon
You're right - I won't. But I doubt it'll be because of poor grammar. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
No it's not. I made a mistake in my original post (corrected). See the 2nd sentence of the 2nd para on page 2 and tell me if "principal" (and its plural) is used correctly.
Heh, yup - it is used absolutely correctly :) Maybe you Canadians (flame on!) are a little odd. Haha! Nah - but it could be a language quirk - it wouldn't surprise me any if you guys in the far north used Principal *cough* incorrectly *cough* :doh: At least you put a 'u' in colour :P
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
You're right - I won't. But I doubt it'll be because of poor grammar.
Sounds like the exact same reason I never will!
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c0ward wrote:
Principle is used correctly...
No it's not. I made a mistake in my original post (corrected). See the 2nd sentence of the 2nd para on page 2 and tell me if "principal" (and its plural) is used correctly.
c0ward wrote:
Heh, this is why you won't be writing any computer books too soon
You're right - I won't. But I doubt it'll be because of poor grammar. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Haha I just had another look, and the version I was looking at correctly uses 'principle' :P Obviously she saw the problem and sorted it, so yes, your corrected first post is indeed correct and I shall no longer mock Canadians ;)
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Yeah, can't beat free :) I've only just started digging into WCF, though I'll probably stick with what I can find online. If I do break down and get a book, I'll look for that one.
David Lockwood wrote:
I'll probably stick with what I can find online
The first chapter of Learning WCF is online and is very good (Google "Hello Indigo"). You can also download her samples in either VS 2005 or VS 2008 format and work though the labs just for that chapter. It's surprising how much you learn just from that. I have the Programming WCF Services and it's more advanced but much less readable. Incidentally, despite the title, Learning WCF is not equivalent to Beginning WCF and is pretty in-depth.
Kevin