LINQ is the project name for a set of extensions to the .NET Framework that provide a generic approach to querying data from different data sources. LINQ will premier in Visual Studio 2008, and will become the next must-have skill for .NET developers. For more information about LINQ, you can check out the author's portal at www.linqdev.com.

Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 is all about code.

Literally, this book starts with code and ends with code. In most books, the author shows the simplest example demonstrating how to use a method, but they so rarely show how to use the more complex prototypes. Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 is different. Demonstrating the overwhelming majority of LINQ operators and protoypes, it is a veritable treasury of LINQ examples.

Rather than obscure the relevant LINQ principles in code examples by focusing on a demonstration application you have no interest in writing, Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 cuts right to the chase of each LINQ operator, method, or class. However, where complexity is necessary to truly demonstrate an issue, the examples are right there in the thick of it. For example, code samples demonstrating how to handle concurrency conflicts actually create concurrency conflicts so you can step through the code and see them unfold.

Most books tell you about the simple stuff, while few books warn you of the pitfalls. Where Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 returns your investment is in the hours, and sometimes days, spent by the author determining why something may not work as expected. Sometimes this results in an innocent looking paragraph that may take you a minute to read and understand, but took days to research and explain.

Face it, most technical books while informative, are dull. LINQ need not be dull. Written with a sense of humor, Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 will attempt to entertain you on your journey through the wonderland of LINQ and C# 2008.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 40 Ratings

Kindle Only Comments - 2009-04-27
Reviewer Rating:
This review is for the Kindle 2 edition of the book. I bought this version to use as a handy reference while on the road. I found the format of Kindle edition was to hard to read make it effective. Most of the formated pictures are too small to reference even when in zoom mode. I have purchased the hard cover edition and will purchase a pdf version of the book for travel. I returned the Kindle version of the book.

Lacks spice - 2009-10-26
Reviewer Rating:
The books covers many topics regarding linq in great detail. The details makes it a bit "dry". If you're new to linq and want a book to read and know more take a more spicier book.

What an amazing book - 2009-08-20
Reviewer Rating:
It provides a solid foundation for Linq before diving into the topics. The second chapter provides so much background about the new features in .net 3.*. Lambda expressions really clicked for me after reading this book.

Excellent Coverage - 2009-06-26
Reviewer Rating:
I needed to get a book on C# that covered 3.5. As an impulse, I bought this book with it. A few months later I picked it up and started reading it. All I can say is, I wished I had read it sooner. The power of LINQ is amazing! LINQ is not trivial and requires you to think about data in new ways. But the author does a good job of walking you through all the parts that make up LINQ and explaining how they work together. Every aspect of LINQ is covered along with lots of code examples to illustrate how to use it. If you get only one book on LINQ, get this one. You won't be sorry.

Pro LINQ - Language Integrated Query in C# - 2009-05-13
Reviewer Rating:
The book is broken up into a number of "Parts" being LINQ to Objects, LINQ to XML, LINQ to Dataset and LINQ to SQL, but it does provide a some early chapters to ease into general .NET 3.5 language enhancements in preparation for many of the code examples that follow.
Beyond the initial chapters this book should be seen as a reference book for developers to find that certain operator. Each summary of an operator contains a description, outline of signatures (including any overloads), specific exceptions thrown and when and examples of how to call them against a sample collection used throughout the book. If you are the sort of person who learns through a lot of code samples then this is the book for you.
In summary this is book I would recommend as a reference book and the key comment that turned the light bulb on for me was that LINQ could be seen as a "Data Iteration Engine". So next time you code a foreach statement have a think about whether LINQ is a better option.
The down sides:
+¦ firstly through no fault of the author is that LINQ to SQL is on the way out so a large section of the book will be of little value in the near future.
+¦ secondly, the code samples do get a little repetitive.

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