Preface

There are programming books that are thousands of pages long that aim to be comprehensive references for the C# language, .NET libraries, app models like websites, services, and desktop, and mobile apps.

This book is different. It is concise and aims to be a brisk, fun read packed with practical hands-on walkthroughs of each subject. The breadth of the overarching narrative comes at the cost of some depth, but you will find many signposts to explore further if you wish.

This book is simultaneously a step-by-step guide to learning modern C# proven practices using cross-platform .NET and a brief introduction to the main types of practical applications that can be built with them. This book is best for beginners to C# and .NET, or programmers who have worked with C# in the past but feel left behind by the changes in the past few years.

If you already have experience with older versions of the C# language, then in the first section of Chapter 2, Speaking C#, you can review tables of the new language features and jump straight to them.

If you already have experience with older versions of the .NET libraries, then in the first section of Chapter 7, Packaging and Distributing .NET Types, you can review tables of the new library features and jump straight to them.

I will point out the cool corners and gotchas of C# and .NET, so you can impress colleagues and get productive fast. Rather than slowing down and boring some readers by explaining every little thing, I will assume that you are smart enough to Google an explanation for topics that are related but not necessary to include in a beginner-to-intermediate guide that has limited space in the printed book.