Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 432 pages
- Published by: Addison-Wesley Professional February 21, 2003
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0201760401
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0201760408
-
Book Dimensions:
9 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
- Weighs: 1.8 pounds
Product Review
The
Microsoft .NET Framework is exactly what its name implies: A general system onto which a lot of application-specific technologies are stuck.
Essential ASP.NET With Examples in C# assumes you know something about the .NET way of doing things, and want to know more about how you can use its ASP.NET facet to implement robust and stylish Web applications. Fritz Onion, in a manner typical of this series, introduces key ASP.NET concepts logically, and with lots of code listings that make it clear how the concepts should be translated into reality. The truth be told, Onion excels at combining conceptual information with practical examples. This is unusual among writers of technical books, who tend to be good at (at best) one or the other.
Typically, the author approaches a capability of ASP.NET--validation of submitted form data, say--by presenting a quick summary of the problem and then attacking it (or components of it) with code. The code segments (which tend not to be too long, and so relatively easy to trace and comprehend) are then dissected, and special attention called to details of particular interest to the local problem. It's a great way to learn if you already have a grasp of the basics, as you can either go hands-on with your own system or absorb the author's wisdom through the book alone.
--David Wall Topics covered: How ASP.NET works, and how to write effective
software with it. Detailed coverage goes to HtmlControls, WebControls, the web.config file, form-data validation, custom controls, and state management. There's also great coverage of the often confusing HTTP Pipeline.
Product Description
This book will provide the definitive resource for ASP.NET developers working in C#, not just to the features of ASP.NET but also how to use them best. Fritz Onion looks at working examples of how Web applications are built today, and then looks at what ASP.NET offers to simplify constructing Web applications of this type. In addition to explaining how to use ASP.NET and looking at why it is built the way it is, Onion also explores implementation tools not covered in any other books. He helps the reader acquire a broader understanding of the technology and how it fits in with other tools. From his experience teaching ASP.NET to working developers, Onion knows what information they need, what questions they have, and how to organize and present the material in the best way possible. As Justin Burtch, a
software Engineer at Integrated Data Systems expressed it, "This book does not try to be everything to everyone. As a result, it is able to provide both breadth and depth on the subject. Essential ASP.NET is positioned to become the seminal book on the most important advancement to web development in years."
Reader ReviewsI recently read the excellent "ASP.NET Essentials with Examples in C#" by Fritz Onion, published by Addison-Wesley as part of the company's excellent .NET Development Series. Having been working with ASP.NET for more than two years, I tend to be a bit more skeptical of new ASP.NET titles when they take an omnibus approach, attempting to preview an entire technology in one book, rather than a specific part of a platform or the application of it. This is definitely not the case with this new book, as it's a very refreshing overview of ASP.NET for those who have been working with it. It's been my experience that with most titles taking an omnibus approach, a book will have one or two chapters that really shine, explaining some aspect of ASP.NET development better than most books. This book has several such gems. It features one of the better descriptions of proper surgery of machine.config/web.config that you'll find on the market today. Specifically, each element with an application's configuration file is examined, instead of the lackadaisical "here's a look at the more important ones" approach that so many authors sadly resort to. It also sports a better description than most books about the ASP.NET worker process (aspnet_wp.exe) and the role of it within the context of an application. The book also does a good job of defining the HTTP pipeline and the importance of authoring custom modules to extend/enhance an application. Really good chapters on data binding and writing custom server controls also stand out. Both beginners and experienced developers will get a lot out of these helpful and very necessary explanations. The illustrations are very helpful, and Onion takes another rarely-used approach - explaining each and every data member for each interface implemented by ASP.NET, rather than just saying, "Class XYZ implements IASyncResult". The book's focus is giving the professional developer a better understanding of the inner-workings of the ASP.NET platform, not providing some generic code samples. Author Onion's writing style is pleasant - he doesn't insult more experienced developers by diluting the easier material, and likewise won't render beginners numb with confusion when explaining more technical concepts. The book's physical binding is solid, with a rugged cover, thick paper, and a spine that won't easily break while resting in your lap while coding or on your stomach while reading (like me!) At a lean 378 pages, the book features 11 power-packed chapters that won't have you forego your normal social habits just to get through it (I finished the book in two nights' time). However, I found it curious that the book did not cover the obligatory chapter on XML Web services. This surprised me, as it has become a de facto standard for authoring ASP.NET titles to at least mention how to write "Hello, world!". No biggie on this one, just sort of surprising. But outside of that, the book is a winner, and a must-have for experienced developers who want to augment their knowledge of ASP.NET by being aware what goes on under-the-hood. Bravo Fritz, for a job well done!
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