Whether youre a total novice or a programmer shifting to C#, the newest version of this programming language is full of cool features youll want to use. With its Visual Studio compatibility, C# is the perfect language for building Windows Vista applications. And the 2008 version works with LINQ, a query language with syntax similar to SQL but which simplifies database code and can also write queries on XML files.

For the best basic C# how-to, its hard to beatC# 2008 For Dummies. This plain-English guide to programming with C# can have you creating your first console application before you finish Part I. In fact, the basic template you create at that point will be the foundation of many other apps as you move through the book. Along the way youll get the scoop on organizing your data, object-oriented programming (also known as OOP), and a great LINQ-related feature called delegates and events. Youll find out how to

Create a console application templatePerform logical comparisonsWork with loops and if statementsUnderstand collection syntaxUse interfaces and object-oriented conceptsApply delegates and events, and much more

Youll even gain some rare insight into how to understand error messages you may get when programming in C#. All the code you need can be found on the companion Web site, along with great bonus information that helps you do more with C# 2008. So what are you waiting for? GrabC# 2008 For Dummies and lets get started!

Stephen R. Davis, who goes by the name of Randy, lives with his wife and son near Dallas, Texas. He and his family have written numerous books, includingC++ For Dummies andC++ Weekend Crash Course. Stephen works for L-3 Communications.

Chuck Sphar escaped Microsofts C++ documentation camps in 1997, after six years hard labor as a senior technical writer. Hes perpetrated three previous tomes, one on object-oriented programming for the Mac, one on Microsofts MFC class library, andC# 2005 For Dummies, a revision of Randys original edition. Hes currently finishing a novel about ancient Rome (against rome.com) and gobbling great mouthfuls of .NET programming. Chuck can be reached for praise and minor nits at chuck@csharp102.info.

Introduction.

Part I: Getting Started with C#.

Chapter 1: Creating Your First C# Console Application.

Part II: Basic C# Programming.

Chapter 2: Living with Variability Declaring Value-Type Variables.

Chapter 3: Smooth Operators.

Chapter 4: Getting into the Program Flow.

Chapter 5: Lining Up Your Ducks with Collections.

Chapter 6: Pulling Strings.

Part III: Using Objects.

Chapter 7: Showing Some Class.

Chapter 8: We Have Our Methods.

Chapter 9: Let Me Say This about this.

Chapter 10: Object-Oriented Programming Whats It All About?

Part IV: Object-Oriented Programming.

Chapter 11: Holding a Class Responsible.

Chapter 12: Inheritance Is That All I Get?

Chapter 13: Poly-what-ism?

Chapter 14: Interfacing with the Interface.

Part V: Now Showing in C# 3.0.

Chapter 15: Delegating Those Important Events.

Chapter 16: Mary Had a Little Lambda Expression.

Chapter 17: LINQing Up with Query Expressions.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 18: Ten Common Build Errors (And How to Fix Them).

Index.