Benjamin Perkins - Beginning C# 6 Programming with Visual Studio 2015

1. Chapter 1: Introducing C#
2. Chapter 2: Writing a C# Program
3. Chapter 3: Variables and Expressions
4. Chapter 4: Flow Control
5. Chapter 5: More about Variables
6. Chapter 6: Functions
7. Chapter 7: Debugging and Error Handling
8. Chapter 8: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
9. Chapter 9: Defining Classes
10. Chapter 10: Defining Class Members
11. Chapter 11: Collections, Comparisons, and Conversions
12. Chapter 12: Generics
13. Chapter 13: Additional C# Techniques
14. Chapter 14: Basic Desktop Programming
15. Chapter 15: Advanced Desktop Programming
16. Chapter 16: Basic Cloud Programming
17. Chapter 17: Advanced Cloud Programing and Deployment
18. Chapter 18: Files
19. Chapter 19: XML and JSON
20. Chapter 21: Databases
21. Chapter 22: Windows Communication Foundation
22. Chapter 23: Universal Apps

1. Chapter 3: Variables and Expressions
2. Chapter 4: Flow Control
3. Chapter 5: More about Variables
4. Chapter 9: Defining Classes
5. Chapter 12: Generics
6. Chapter 14: Basic Desktop Programming
7. Chapter 15: Advanced Desktop Programming
8. Chapter 18: Files
9. Chapter 19: XML and JSON
10. Chapter 20: LINQ
11. Chapter 22: Windows Communication Foundation

C# is a relatively new language that was unveiled to the world when Microsoft announced the first version of its .NET Framework in July 2000. Since then its popularity has rocketed, and it has arguably become the language of choice for desktop, web, and cloud developers who use the .NET Framework. Part of the appeal of C# comes from its clear syntax, which derives from C/C++ but simplifies some things that have previously discouraged some programmers. Despite this simplification, C# has retained the power of C++, and there is now no reason not to move into C#. The language is not difficult and it's a great one to learn elementary programming techniques with. This ease of learning, combined with the capabilities of the .NET Framework, make C# an excellent way to start your programming career.

The latest release of C#, C# 6, which is included with version 4.6 of the .NET Framework, builds on the existing successes and adds even more attractive features. The latest release of Visual Studio (Visual Studio 2015) and the Visual Studio Express/Community 2015 line of development tools also bring many tweaks and improvements to make your life easier and to dramatically increase your productivity.

This book is intended to teach you about all aspects of C# programming, including the language itself, desktop and cloud programming, making use of data sources, and some new and advanced techniques. You'll also learn about the capabilities of Visual Studio 2015 and all the ways that this product can aid your application development.

The book is written in a friendly, mentor-style fashion, with each chapter building on previous ones, and every effort is made to ease you into advanced techniques painlessly. At no point will technical terms appear from nowhere to discourage you from continuing; every concept is introduced and discussed as required. Technical jargon is kept to a minimum; but where it is necessary, it, too, is properly defined and laid out in context.

The authors of this book are all experts in their field and are all enthusiastic in their passion for both the C# language and the .NET Framework. Nowhere will you find a group of people better qualified to take you under their collective wing and nurture your understanding of C# from first principles to advanced techniques. Along with the fundamental knowledge it provides, this book is packed full of helpful hints, tips, exercises, and full-fledged example code (available for download at p2p.wrox.com) that you will find yourself returning to repeatedly as your career progresses.

We pass this knowledge on without begrudging it and hope that you will be able to use it to become the best programmer you can be. Good luck, and all the best!

This book is for everyone who wants to learn how to program in C# using the .NET Framework. It is for absolute beginners who want to give programming a try by learning a clean, modern, elegant programming language. But it is also for people familiar with other programming languages who want to explore the .NET platform, as well as for existing .NET developers who want to give Microsoft's .NET flagship language a try.

The early chapters cover the language itself, assuming no prior programming experience. If you have programmed in other languages before, much of the material in these chapters will be familiar. Many aspects of C# syntax are shared with other languages, and many structures are common to practically all programming languages (such as looping and branching structures). However, even if you are an experienced programmer, you will benefit from looking through these chapters to learn the specifics of how these techniques apply to C#.

If you are new to programming, you should start from the beginning, where you will learn basic programming concepts and become acquainted with both C# and the .NET platform that underpins it. If you are new to the .NET Framework but know how to program, you should read onward.

Alternatively, if you already know the C# language, you might want to concentrate on the chapters dealing with the most recent .NET Framework and C# language developments, specifically the chapters on collections, generics, and C# language enhancements (.

The chapters in this book have been written with a dual purpose in mind: They can be read sequentially to provide a complete tutorial in the C# language, and they can be dipped into as required reference material.

In addition to the core material, starting with .

This book also gives plenty of love and attention to coincide with the release of C# 6 and .NET 4.6. Every chapter received an overhaul, with less relevant material removed, and new material added. All of the code has been tested against the latest version of the development tools used, and all of the screenshots have been retaken in Windows 8.1/10 to provide the most current windows and dialog boxes.

New highlights of this edition include the following:

• Additional and improved code examples for you to try out
• Coverage of everything that's new in C# 6 and .NET 4.6, including how to create Universal Windows Apps
• Examples of programming cloud applications and using Azure SDK to create and access cloud resources

This book is divided into six sections:

• Introduction Purpose and general outline of the book's contents
• The C# Language Covers all aspects of the C# language, from the fundamentals to object-oriented techniques
• Windows Programming How to write and deploy desktop applications with the Windows Presentation Foundation library (WPF)
• Cloud Programming Cloud application development and deployment, including the creation and consumption of a Web API
• Data Access How to use data in your applications, including data stored in files on your hard disk, data stored in XML format, and data in databases
• Additional Techniques An examination of some extra ways to use C# and the .NET Framework, including Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Universal Windows Applications

The following sections describe the chapters in the five major parts of this book.