Any book suggestions for a working programmer?
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
just ask the unmanaged C++ coders, and soon, Silverlight coders...
Should I belive you or Microsoft? http://team.silverlight.net/announcement/pdc-and-silverlight/[^]
I wouldn't trust Microsoft's words - instead watch their actions over the next year. So far there is no announced schedule for SL5. If that's still the case in 6 months, then you have your answer.
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Being "around" and being "supported" are two completely different things, especialy where MS is concerned.
.45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001 -
I'd recommend 'Code Complete' by Steve McConnell - as I'm sure many others on here will as well. Truly an essential book for good developers. I've just bought a book Professional ASP.NET Design Patterns[^] and although I'm only a couple of chapters in I'm finding it to be an excellent text, explaining not only how your applications should be structured but why and the implications this has on testing etc. If you want an idea of the sort of things it's doing, head over to the Wrox site and download the code for the book - obviously there's no narrative but you can see a clear structure in terms of the coding patterns that are being used. I found the Gang of Four book 'Design Patterns' quite inaccessible and believe that other books can provide a better insight into using patterns correctly. The 'Head First' book 'Design Patterns' is a gentle introduction to many of the patterns out there and is probably a good place to start. In terms of improving your code, I'd recommend 'Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code' by Martin Fowler (who I believe is one of the best technical authors out there) in conjuntion with 'Refactoring to Patterns; by Joshua Kerievsky. For more general ASP.NET and C# books, I'd recommend 'Pro C# 2010 And The .NET 4.0 Platform 5th Edition' by Andrew Troelsen (an excellent reference) and 'Pro ASP.NET 4.0 In C# 2010 4th Edition' by Matthew Macdonald. I also think 'C# in Depth' by Jon Skeet is an excellent reference, particularly for generics and LINQ. HTH
Sarchasm : The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
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This is probably the most most useful general .NET book I have read: CLR via C# Cheers, Daniel
Daniel Vaughan Twitter | Blog | Microsoft MVP | Projects: Calcium SDK, Clog | LinkedIn
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Hi to everyone in this great crowd. For two years now, I've been a professional programmer. I work in .NET (C#, ASP.NET, WPF, WCF) and so far the ride has been great - I am hoping for a long and prosperous career. But I have a nagging voice in my head reminding me that everything I know of .NET was learned ad-hoc, in the heat of the moment, in a do or die situation. Starting a project in a never-before-used technology was, and still is a frequent occurrence. Now, don't get me wrong - I would soon get bored if everything stayed the same as I love learning new technologies, and googling for answers to my questions. But I have this nagging feeling that I need to learn the "proper" way to do things sooner or latter - preferably sooner. Here I am talking about using general language features, design patterns, and the lovely .NET framework classes to their full extent. So, in the attempt to en-better my (still somewhat green) professional skills I am asking for advice - do you know of some good books to get a .NET programmer on the way to better and greater coding? Do any of you have the "It may work, but learn to do it right" urge?
The most important book anyone should read is "Code Complete" and then look at the book recommendations in that book. It has three levels of recommendations: Level 1, 2 and 3.
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Don't bother with books. The best way to actually LEARN something new is to write code in an area that is outside your comfort zone. Of course, you have to be careful about which platform you chose because Microsoft will just stop supporting something out of the blue, and you're left standing their with your thumb up your ass - just ask the unmanaged C++ coders, and soon, Silverlight coders...
.45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Microsoft will just stop supporting something out of the blue, and you're left standing their with your thumb up your ass - just ask the unmanaged C++ coders
Maybe you mean MFC coders? Native C++ is used in many non-Microsoft envirinments, and Microsoft itself is using it for all money-making software (Windows, Office, SQL Server...)
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Hi to everyone in this great crowd. For two years now, I've been a professional programmer. I work in .NET (C#, ASP.NET, WPF, WCF) and so far the ride has been great - I am hoping for a long and prosperous career. But I have a nagging voice in my head reminding me that everything I know of .NET was learned ad-hoc, in the heat of the moment, in a do or die situation. Starting a project in a never-before-used technology was, and still is a frequent occurrence. Now, don't get me wrong - I would soon get bored if everything stayed the same as I love learning new technologies, and googling for answers to my questions. But I have this nagging feeling that I need to learn the "proper" way to do things sooner or latter - preferably sooner. Here I am talking about using general language features, design patterns, and the lovely .NET framework classes to their full extent. So, in the attempt to en-better my (still somewhat green) professional skills I am asking for advice - do you know of some good books to get a .NET programmer on the way to better and greater coding? Do any of you have the "It may work, but learn to do it right" urge?
Dune. But seriously, just make sure you and your colleagues review each others' code and bounce ideas off each other as well.
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Dune. But seriously, just make sure you and your colleagues review each others' code and bounce ideas off each other as well.
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The Gang of Four is IMHO the most dangerous book unleashed on the development world and I'm seriously wary of those who have a copy on their desk - nothing has done more for the world of over-engineered complex design. Simple is always best.
Regards, Rob Philpott.
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The Gang of Four is IMHO the most dangerous book unleashed on the development world and I'm seriously wary of those who have a copy on their desk - nothing has done more for the world of over-engineered complex design. Simple is always best.
Regards, Rob Philpott.
First, simple is NOT always best. There are times complexity is a necessary evil to accomplish what you need. Which is not to say you should over-engineer something. That said, GoF is not really the best book to learn patterns from. It's influential and important, but that's not quite the same thing. Successfully adapting patterns others have used and learned from into your own designs is pretty obviously a good idea.
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Hi to everyone in this great crowd. For two years now, I've been a professional programmer. I work in .NET (C#, ASP.NET, WPF, WCF) and so far the ride has been great - I am hoping for a long and prosperous career. But I have a nagging voice in my head reminding me that everything I know of .NET was learned ad-hoc, in the heat of the moment, in a do or die situation. Starting a project in a never-before-used technology was, and still is a frequent occurrence. Now, don't get me wrong - I would soon get bored if everything stayed the same as I love learning new technologies, and googling for answers to my questions. But I have this nagging feeling that I need to learn the "proper" way to do things sooner or latter - preferably sooner. Here I am talking about using general language features, design patterns, and the lovely .NET framework classes to their full extent. So, in the attempt to en-better my (still somewhat green) professional skills I am asking for advice - do you know of some good books to get a .NET programmer on the way to better and greater coding? Do any of you have the "It may work, but learn to do it right" urge?
Safari bookshelf is a good resource, since technologies change so often. You can read any book you like and decide which best fits your needs.
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Rajesh R Subramanian wrote:
Would you like to be shot or hung?
toss a coin?
thatraja |Chennai|India|
Brainbench certifications
Down-votes are like kid's kisses don't reject it :-)
Do what you want quickly because the Doomsday on 2012 :-) -
No, I said toss a coin for hung or shot if you are in confusion to choose from the two. :rolleyes:
thatraja |Chennai|India|
Brainbench certifications
Down-votes are like kid's kisses don't reject it :-)
Do what you want quickly because the Doomsday on 2012 :-) -
No, I said toss a coin for hung or shot if you are in confusion to choose from the two. :rolleyes:
thatraja |Chennai|India|
Brainbench certifications
Down-votes are like kid's kisses don't reject it :-)
Do what you want quickly because the Doomsday on 2012 :-) -
also "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy"
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blackjack2150 wrote:
Should I belive you or Microsoft?
Would you like to be shot or hung?
There are some really weird people on this planet - MIM.
Technically it should be "hanged". Looks weird, I know. Stupid English.
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Hi to everyone in this great crowd. For two years now, I've been a professional programmer. I work in .NET (C#, ASP.NET, WPF, WCF) and so far the ride has been great - I am hoping for a long and prosperous career. But I have a nagging voice in my head reminding me that everything I know of .NET was learned ad-hoc, in the heat of the moment, in a do or die situation. Starting a project in a never-before-used technology was, and still is a frequent occurrence. Now, don't get me wrong - I would soon get bored if everything stayed the same as I love learning new technologies, and googling for answers to my questions. But I have this nagging feeling that I need to learn the "proper" way to do things sooner or latter - preferably sooner. Here I am talking about using general language features, design patterns, and the lovely .NET framework classes to their full extent. So, in the attempt to en-better my (still somewhat green) professional skills I am asking for advice - do you know of some good books to get a .NET programmer on the way to better and greater coding? Do any of you have the "It may work, but learn to do it right" urge?
-
Don't bother with books. The best way to actually LEARN something new is to write code in an area that is outside your comfort zone. Of course, you have to be careful about which platform you chose because Microsoft will just stop supporting something out of the blue, and you're left standing their with your thumb up your ass - just ask the unmanaged C++ coders, and soon, Silverlight coders...
.45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
-----
"The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Don't bother with books. The best way to actually LEARN something new is to write code in an area that is outside your comfort zone.
I'll have to disagree. As someone who learned a lot through books, I wouldn't even be able to get outside my comfort zone if it weren't for them. I beleive books get you so far, and then you get out and venture. And there are many things people are unaware of their existance that are learnable through books. They also avoid a lot of wheel reinventing and let you know about very good and proven techiniques.
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C++ does not need "support" from MS to sustain itself on the market. On the other hand, MS *does* want to support C++ fully - the C++0x core language support, some UI improvements in MFC, enhanced debugging capabilities for multi-threaded native code, etc., in VS 2010 are some of the examples. Sure, they can do better than whatever they've been doing, but they're trying hard. They won't drop support for C++. And if they do take such a drastic step, they will lose more than anyone, AND that will anyway not have a measurable impact on the C++ community.
There are some really weird people on this planet - MIM.