"This book really demonstrates Bill's strengths as a writer and programmer. In a very short amount of time, he is able to present an issue, fix it and conclude it; each chapter is tight, succinct, and to the point." –Josh Holmes, Independent Contractor "The book provides a good introduction to the C# language elements from a pragmatic point of view, identifying best practices along the way, and following a clear and logical progression from the basic syntax to creating components to improving your code writing skills. Since each topic is covered in short entries, it is very easy to read and you'll quickly realize the benefits of the book." –Tomas Restrepo, Microsoft MVP "The book covers the basics well, especially with respect to the decisions needed when deriving classes from System.Object. It is easy to read with examples that are clear, concise and solid. I think it will bring good value to most readers." –Rob Steel, Central Region Integration COE & Lead Architect, Microsoft "Effective C# provides the C# developer with the tools they need to rapidly grow their experience in Visual C# 2003 while also providing insight into the many improvements to the language that will be hitting a desktop near you in the form of Visual C# 2005." –Doug Holland, Precision Objects "Part of the point of the .NET Framework–and the C# Language, in particular–is to let the developer focus solving customer problems and deliver product, rather than spending hours (or even weeks) writing plumbing code. Bill Wagner's Effective C#, not only shows you what's going on behind the scenes, but shows you how to take advantage of particular C# code constructs. Written in a dispassionate style that focuses on the facts–and just the facts–of writing effective C# code, Wagner's book drills down into practices that will let you write C# applications and components that are easier to maintain as well as faster to run. I'm recommending Effective C# to all students of my .NET BootCamp and other C#-related courses." –Richard Hale Shaw, www.RichardHaleShawGroup.com C#'s resemblances to C++, Java, and C make it easier to learn, but there's a downside: C# programmers often continue to use older techniques when far better alternatives are available. In Effective C#, respected .NET expert Bill Wagner identifies fifty ways you can start leveraging the full power of C# in order to write faster, more efficient, and more reliable software. Effective C# follows the format that made Effective C++ (Addison-Wesley, 1998) and Effective Java (Addison-Wesley, 2001) indispensable to hundreds of thousands of developers: clear, practical explanations, expert tips, and plenty of realistic code examples. Drawing on his unsurpassed C# experience, Wagner addresses everything from value types to assemblies, exceptions to reflection. Along the way, he shows exactly how to avoid dozens of common C# performance and reliability pitfalls. You'll learn how to:

• Use both types of C# constants for efficiency and maintainability, see item 2

• Use immutable data types to eliminate unnecessary error checking, see item 7

• Avoid the C# function that'll practically always get you in trouble, see item 10

• Minimize garbage collection, boxing, and unboxing, see items 16 and 17

• Take full advantage of interfaces and delegates, see items 19 though 22

• Create CLS compliant assemblies that use noncompliant C# language features, see item 30

• Improve reliability and maintainability by creating small, cohesive assemblies, see item 32

• Leverage the full power of .NET's runtime diagnostics, see item 36

• Know when–and when not–to use reflection, see items 42 and 43

• Preview the major enhancements in C# 2.0, see item 49

• You're already a successful C# programmer–this book can help you become an outstanding one.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 30 Ratings

Could stand a rewrite - 2008-07-16
Reviewer Rating:
This book would benefit greatly from a rewrite. It is often difficult to follow the authors' logic. I get the impression that this book was rushed to print. A simple example of this is the fact that all the left-hand pages are incorrectly indented so that they run into the binding of the book. Please adjust your publishing software!

Who wants to be ineffective - 2009-09-12
Reviewer Rating:
If want to employ and understand the reason behind best practices in C# development, then this book and it's sequel More Effective C#: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your C# will prove invaluable.

I'm taking it slow, reading one tip a day and reviewing the title of previously read tips each day in hopes to make these "Specific Ways" part of my nature as a C# developer. Several of them, such as "Prefer Properties to Accessible Members" were already apart of my normal practice, but others such as benefits of preferring "Conditional Attributes Instead of #if" were a surprise :-)

Also in the process of reading C# in Depth: What you need to master C# 2 and 3 and highly recommend it as well!... must haves for developers who strive to be experts at their craft.

Slightly Disappointed with Writing Style and Typos - 2009-05-11
Reviewer Rating:
First of all, the positive of the book includes:

- The use of simple examples to illustrate the points;

- Good coverage of common noted C# pitfalls and characteristics (such as the standard dispose pattern to clean up unmanaged resources);

However, some shortfalls of the book includes:

- Glaring typos throughout the book, such as words join together without spaces in between (you don't see this often!);

- Some points are not illustrated so well - for example, in Item 6 (value vs. reference types), the author uses this line trying to demonstrate a point:

e1.Salary += Bonus; // Add one time bonus.

which is clearly not a good one, because what that line does is, instead of adding "one time bonus", it is really permanently incrementing the salary once for all.

- The writing style could be more succinct and clearer.

Overall, while the content and intention are good, the book could be better.

` - 2009-04-08
Reviewer Rating:
This book is the difference between a programmer who knows C# and becoming a true C# "craftsman". Absolutely recommended!

A must for every C# Developer - 2008-07-06
Reviewer Rating:
This book has helped me identify and made some performance improvements to my C# software code. One thing I like about this book, is that the author cuts right to the chase in his explanations and gives excellent supporting code samples in cases where needed.

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