Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! review

Verdict:

Review Date: 22 Feb 2006

Price when reviewed:

Our Rating 3 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

This is a great idea: a project book with a disc that contains C# 2005 Express Edition and all the code involved.

Patrice Pelland's book should be all you need to get started with C#. It is a lavishly produced book with full colour on every page, and this alone makes you feel that a lot of effort has been expended on it. Consequently, it's difficult not to like Build a Program Now! as it leads you gradually through creating an application.

The problem is that the application quickly evolves into something a bit too sophisticated for the beginner who's struggling with more basic ideas. The author seems to be under the misapprehension that the purpose of an example is to show what's possible rather than how things work. This book is simply in too much of a hurry to get somewhere, and as a result it doesn't take the time to explain fundamental principles. You could easily work your way though this book thinking you were making progress only to discover that when cast adrift you had no idea what to do next.

It's not a good introduction to programming - still, it does come with some useful software.

Prev Next

Get more reviews, tutorials and in-depth advice, every month with Computer Shopper.
Click here to try 3 issues for £1

< Previous Reviews : General Next >

Sponsored Links

Be the first to comment on this article

You need to Login or Register to comment.