Where do I get started?

[BOUND4DOOM]

Well some of you may know me, from the VB Forums from the past, so I am a very competent ASP and VB coder, I am also very knowledgeable in Java and JavaScript. and I understand OO extemely well. I have done multiple server components and even services in VB. I have already done a couple small VB.net apps and didn't have much trouble migrating in.

However I have never done a C application in my life. Well I finally convinced the boss man to go ahead and lets migrate to .net ( we still got coders that swear by Forte'), I am and always have been a revolutionary in the company cause I knew VB, yeah its true. Anyway, going to .net I am thinking going and digging right head on into C#. Whats my learning curve going to be?, What are some advantages over the vb.net? And what is a good book to get me started? I have always like the WROX books

[DevGrp]

There are'nt many advantages over VB.NET. Also since you said that you are quite knowledgable in java and OO, you should have much of a problem picking up C#.

[hellswraith]

Between VB.net and C#.Net, your basically only looking at a syntax change. Your loops and such will look almost identical to Java's. You shouldn't have much of a problem.

With VB.Net or C#, the greatest part of learning it, besides the OO thing, is learning the framework and what it has to offer you. I have been a VB programmer, and only took college classes in C++ and Java. I had no trouble switching to C#. As a matter of fact, I switched because I didn't want all that extra stuff that VB does for you. Sounds silly, but I understand the internal workings of events and such better because I am learning C#. It doesn't hide as much for you.

Sure, I could have gotten up to speed with VB.Net much faster because of my VB6 knowledge, but C# really didn't add that much time to my learning curve. Plus, I didn't carry over old VB6 habbits that I still see others doing.

After I got up to speed with C#, using VB.Net has been really easy. I can switch back and forth with ease because the framework is the exact same for both, just simple syntax changes. This helps when I find an example in VB.Net because I can easily port it over to C#, and vice versa.

[BOUND4DOOM]

Thanks both and extra thanks hellswraith great explanation. Would you recomend me starting with a good book on the framework first or go with a C# book, I have seen both out there or will a C# book introduce me more to it. And yeah I know what you mean about the extra VB stuff that was the one thing I am hoping C# will do is give me more control over my programs.

[hellswraith]

I am not sure which you should start with. I have this book that I really like: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/progcsharp2/ It is a C# oriented book, but helps out with the basics your going to need to know. Plus it is smaller in size than most books, but delivers quality.

About a Framework oriented book, not sure. I don't have one yet. That will be my next purchase. I really think that knowing the framework is the most important thing. You can always look in the MSDN library for syntax stuff when you need it, especially since you already have Java experience. Plus, they have tutorials in there that gets you oriented with the language itself.

Because I don't have a framework book yet, I can't tell you which way to go. I suggest you just go look at a bookstore for one that you think is the one for you.

[Scott Penner]

I would recommend this book as a starting point. I found it was super easy to get going, but in depth enough.
C# and the .NET Framework - by Troelsen (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893115593/qid=1039220014/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-7296728-0658428?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

When you're ready to get serious about the framework, look at Richter's book: Applied Microsoft .NET Framework Programming (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0735614229/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/002-7296728-0658428?v=glance&s=books)

Hope that helps to get you started :)

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Scott Penner
I would recommend this book as a starting point. I found it was super easy to get going, but in depth enough.
C# and the .NET Framework - by Troelsen (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893115593/qid=1039220014/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-7296728-0658428?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

When you're ready to get serious about the framework, look at Richter's book: Applied Microsoft .NET Framework Programming (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0735614229/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/002-7296728-0658428?v=glance&s=books)

Hope that helps to get you started :)

I use both of these books daily, they are excellent. The only wrox book I have is "Beginning asp.net 1.0 with C#". It's an ok book for a complete beginner but dosn't even scratch the surface of the cool stuff you can do with asp.net.