Charles Petzold
1 Old COBOL Developer
I got this book so I could get up to speed with C# and the whole OO philosophy. It contains a lot of material but is a very dry read. I found the Learning C# by Smiley a much more entertaining read and covered basically the same material.
2 Good if you never programmed before, otherwise a waste
Hopeful that this book off the Microsoft press would give me a quick start into the new C sharp language, I was disappointed to find this a flat. It fails to effectively address the large audience of Visual Basic, Delphi, and C++ programmers migrating to C#.
Most of the book is simplistic and tries to teach the reader how to "think like a programmer." The problem is that many people learning C# are already familiar with programming to some degree. In addition, this book desperately needs some larger code examples to give the reader an overall perspective, such as a few brief sample programs. A "quick reference" section of the book would be most helpful. This book also sticks purely to the C# language, and does not discuss anything about the compiler or the Visual Studio .NET environment. I am still clueless about some of Visual Studio's automated behavior.
People learning how to write for the first time will find this book an easy to understand introduction to programming. People migrating to C# from other languages will be disappointed. If you do decide to buy this book, I recommend getting a Sam's Teach Yourself C# book in addition so that you have a good reference.
3 "A Primer for Aspiring Programmers"
Charles Petzold does an excellent job of introducing C#, the latest OOP from Microsoft. The book is not for an advanced programmer - you would be disappointed if you thought this was a 300 level book, but it does say it right in the name.
What this book does that C# Step by Step does not do is it explains, very clearly, why you are doing what you are doing. It doesn't get bogged down in step 14 of 30. Petzold patiently explains what placeholders are in Console.Writeline() and why they're so useful. He carefully takes you from something you know to something you wish you knew and then explains the how's and why's of everything. His style is almost as if he were talking to you. He uses phrases like "Check this out" to make the reading livelier. I can almost feel his enthusiasm for C# coming off the pages.
If you know C, C++, Java or maybe even Visual Basic this book may be too basic for your needs. But if you're interested in learning C# as a first language this is a great book.
4 Excellent Book For What It Is
Looking for an introduction to C#, I read the reviews here and decided to purchase this book. Unlike a couple of other reviewers here, I already own a DICTIONARY, and so I am aware of what the words PRIMER and ASPIRING mean. Those looking for a book about programming .NET should buy a book titled something like, "Programming .NET." Those looking for a book about using Visual Studio.NET should buy a book titled something like, "Using Visual Studio.NET." A book titled, "Programming In The Key Of C# - A Primer For Aspiring Programmers" should present a primer for aspiring programmers. Gee, go figure.
Through the years, I have programmed in C, Pascal, Fortran, Cobol, Visual Basic, Delphi, various scripting languages in both the Unix and Windows worlds, Cold Fusion, PHP, and Active Server Pages. I wanted to learn C# from the lowest level and move upward from there so I would have a complete understanding of the language as I move towards my final goal of programming Windows and ASP.NET using C#. Having reviewed the TABLE OF CONTENTS made available here, it was easy to tell that this book would be the primer I was looking for. A previous reviewer claims that this book didn't teach him enough about C# syntax. The syntax in C#, although similar to most other object-oriented languages, is unique to C#. This whole book teaches C# syntax, and also goes into a fair amount of detail of how structures, objects, classes, etc. are handled internally in the computer, and by the C# compiler. I know there is another book written by Anders Hejlsberg which is a most complete coverage of the C# syntax, and I will probably end up buying that book as well to use as a reference. To begin learning C#, however, I wanted to begin in a very comfortable and basic place. I have finished this book, I have purchased and am reading a book on programming Windows with C#, and when I am finished with that book, I will buy a new book that is more specific to programming ASP.NET. I will probably buy books specific to ADO.NET, and who knows what else as I become aware of new complexities that I would like to understand.
As a book about learning the basics of programming in C#, Mr. Petzold's book delivers on just what the title implies.
5 WARNING! For beginners only!
If I were a beginning programmer, I would give this book 4.5 stars. I gave this book a poor rating because it does not clearly state its intended audience, which are beginning programmers. It is NOT intended for those who already are proficient at another language (C,C++,Java, etc.) to learn how to program in C# and .NET. It was too basic and didn't teach me enough about C# syntax nor how to use the Visual Studio .NET environment (it included it's own compiler).
The title should have read "Learn to Write Your First Programs, a C# Experience!", or something of that nature.
6 Clear, Concise - What All Programming Books Should Be!
Those wishing to shift into the .NET phase will thoroughly enjoy Petzold's Key of C#. Not only does it teach the fundamentals clearly, it builds off the fundamentals with a clever approach to programming. Programming in the Key of C# promotes experimentation and critical thinking.
7 disappointed with the book
I found a number of mistakes, both in code, and in printing. The book is absolutely for novices. I breezed through the entire 41 chapters of the book in just one weekend. And yet it lacks many details, even those which I consider basic, and should have been covered. I really think, with all due respect to the author, that he bombed it this time. Nothing is treated in completeness. The material the book provides can easily be had for free from a number of tutorials on the internet, if you type c# tutorial in google. I just liked the first four paragraphs of the first chapter, because they show my sentiments of being a programmer.
8 The best by far
I bought five different books for C#. All of them containing the same info. Key of C# was str8 forward it started from the very beginning. Eventhough the subject matter is technical it is very well written. If you want to understand the syntax of this language, read this book!
9 Great Book!
I have been looking for a book that would explain the fundamentals of programming. The authors writes in understandable english with clear examples. If you are new to programming and want to grasp the basics this is a must read book.
10 Best beginning programming book I have read.
Great not only for C# but for learning basic programming concepts. For a beginning programmer, but exceptional.
11 ANOTHER PETZOLD CLASSIC!!!!
PETZOLD IS THE PREMIER WRITER OF PROGRAMMING BOOKS, PERIOD! IF YOU WANT A VERY GOOD TUTORIAL ON C#, THEN YOU WANT THIS BOOK. JUST LIKE ALL OF PETZOLD'S WORKS, THIS IS LUCID, COMPLETE AND THE VERY BEST PRIMER ON C# TO DATE!!!!!
12 BINGO! Simply the best C# learning book available!
As a beginning programmer(with no background other than a little FileMaker scripting)i have searched the book stores for anything "readable" about the subject. I have spent a great deal of money on all the well known titles, whitch i haven't been able to read and understand properly. But here it is! -And im a very happy man, writing programs in C#!
Describe this book in three words: Very Very Fine
