A must have reference book for C# developers.

C# 4.0 In A Nutshell: The Definitive Reference

Authors:  Joseph Albahari, Ben Albahari

Edition:  4th Edition (covers CLR 4.0)

Publisher:  O’Reilly

ISBN:  978-0-596-80095-6

Price:  $49.99 (US); $62.99 (CAN); £38.50 (British)

Catalog Page:  http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596800956/

TOC Listing:  http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596800963#toc

O’Reilly User Group Discount Code:

(5 out of 5 clownfish)

Without a doubt, O’Reilly Media produces many of the finest information technology books on the market. Whether your need is beginner’s level introductions to information technologies or are a more advanced programmer in need of more complex and refined topics, O’Reilly has a book that can meet diverse needs of an audience often with vastly wide-ranging skill levels. One of their numerous series of books are the Nutshell series which their website describes as “topical quick-reference guides that document every nook and cranny of a topic or technology area . . . Designed to be daily companions, these books belong next to your keyboard, at the ready when you need a quick answer” (http://oreilly.com/store/series/nutshells.csp). Having used a couple of the Nutshell selections for a couple of years, I have to say that this description perfectly fits these books. They are not really a book you sit and read cover to cover.

The text contains twenty-six chapters covering all elements of C# 4.0. Notably, the book covers “features new to C# 4.0 and the associated Framework are flagged so that you can also use this book as a C# 3.0 reference” (Albahari & Albahari, 2010). This fourth edition of the book covers the significant new feature set being provided in C# 4.0 including dynamic binding, type variance with generic interfaces and delegates, optional parameters, named arguments, and COM interoperability improvements.

The first three chapters of the text concentrate purely on C# covering the basics of syntax, types, and variables. This front content finishes with advanced topics including unsafe code and preprocessor directives. New C# users should read all three of these chapters sequentially to gain the foundational understanding of the language before moving into the remaining chapters that cover the core .NET Framework including such topics as LINQ, XML, collections, I/O and networking, memory management, reflection, dynamic programming, attributes, security, concurrency, application domains, and native interoperability. For new C# programmers, chapters six and seven (Framework Fundamentals and Collections) should also be read sequentially as they are integral concepts. The text also contains three chapters covering LINQ that should be read sequentially (LINQ Queries, LINQ Operators, and LINQ to XML).

As I examined this book, I realized that it would serve as an excellent quick reference for developers of all levels. However, the book is targeted at intermediate to advanced audiences. For beginners who make the wise decision to include this book in their library, it will serve as an exceptionally useful complement to a tutorial-style instruction to programming in C# 3.0 or 4.0. It will also serve as an ideal companion to books focusing on applied technology such as WPF, ASP.NET, or WCF. In fact, this book should be a required supplementary text for beginning students in C# 3.0 or 4.0 programming classes.

To work the code examples (especially those specific to C# 4.0) you will need the following software tools and documentation:

• C# 4.0 Compiler
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
• Microsoft’s .NET documentation

All three of these items are available in Microsoft® Visual Studio 2010 which includes an express edition of Microsoft SQL Server®. SQL Server is required to run the LINQ to SQL and Entity Framework examples in the text, and includes IntelliSense. Currently, Visual Studio 2010 is available as a download from the Microsoft web page in a Release Candidate version (http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010/default.mspx). Official launch events for Visual Studio 2010 are scheduled for April 12th.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in developing applications using C# 4.0. In fact, if you develop in C#, your library or bookshelf should not be missing this book. Clear concise examples, a great writing style, and wonderful diagrams of key concepts just add to the overall value of this book. Add to that the fact that you can use this book as a resource for C# 3.0 and it is a no brainer! Another excellent work from the O’Reilly team.

Moving On Down The Road Of Life

In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read that there is a time for everything, a season for all things under the sun.  And, so it is in life at times.  The last year has been a journey for me, a journey that at times has been anything but fun.  Rather, there have been moments when the outlook seemed bleak and the atmosphere seemed dark.  Indeed, there were moments when the storm clouds seemed to be on the verge of overwhelming me.  But, as is so often with the cycles of life, things turn around, decisions are made, movement happens.

For much of the past few months, I have wandered blindly through a dark haze that wouldn't seem to lift.  In short, I had gotten so mired in dismay and despair that I had forgotten to remember that God always has a plan.  We don't always know that plan because we are trying to find our way as we listen to his promptings.  But, after a long dark night, I can finally say I'm moving on down the road of life.  There is sadness which will remain for sometime.  There is pain that will lessen in time.  There are wounds that will heal with time and God's urgings.  But, through the deepest and darkest moments of the past year and the bitterest moments of the past few months, one thing, one person, has been a constant.  God never left my side.  He never gave up on me.  He never forsook me.  His loving arms were stretched tight around me and his hands were wiping away every tear that fell from my eyes.  And there is a comfort in that because I know that this will always be a truth for me.

There is a peace that comes with being able to make decisions that resolve problems we face in life.  And that peace truly passes all human understanding.  Although I know there will be sad days and sad moments in the time to come, I will march forward into the bright new future that God has prepared for me.  Whatever he has in store, it will be good and I will be happy.  That should be enough for all of us.

The Joy of Friendship

Today has been a good day. Not because I have done lots of things (I haven't!). And not because I have felt particularly great (because I haven't!). But despite having a late summer head cold, this has been a great day! My day started awaking early because of "snotitis". I didn't know the nasal passages could create that much stuff. Wonder if you could sell it for the purposes of laboratory research? *he he*

I got myself up out of bed and got ready for church. I particularly enjoyed playing the organ today. Maybe it was the cold medicine induced euphoria but I did enjoy it. The special singing was one of my favorite songs. And the preacher did have a wonderful message that all of us need to take more to heart. Sometimes it is very difficult to love as we should. Let's face it folks, human beings are not always the most lovable of creatures! But it was a good lesson and I look forward to more of it because it will be good for us to re-learn this important element of our Christianity.

Following church, I gathered with some of my truly best friends for lunch at Bogart's in Waynesville. There were nine of us all together and it made my day! No matter how I feel, how down in the dumps, whatever, these people ALWAYS lift my spirits. And that is what is so good about having friends, people that you truly care for and love. To be a friend, at least to me, is to give completely of myself. To be there in the ups and in the downs, in the good times and in the worst of times, in the fun times and in the not so fun times. In short, friendship is about allowing yourself to be loved and to love in return. And when that gift is given freely, I believe you evidence the love of God in its purest of forms, the agape love spoken of in the Bible. It is a love given, not because it is necessarily deserved, but because you want to give it. It makes you feel good to give it. That kind of love is transformative in your life because it serves as a solid post in the storms of life, a rallying point to hold on to through the toughest parts of our daily lives.

So, in short, it is friendship and the love of great friends that has made my day truly blessed!

Pondering the End of a Generation

As the day has unfolded, I have watched the funeral of Senator Ted Kennedy. Although I didn't watch the wall-to-wall coverage that blanketed the cable news networks, I did get an opportunity to see parts of the funeral mass, the stop at the steps leading up to the Senate chamber, and the graveside rites. Whether you liked or disliked Sen. Kennedy, it is hard to imagine a senator who more defined a hard-working leader who fought for what he believed in and spoke his mind on issues of the day. I happen to be one of the Democratic Party's faithful who believes that Teddy, as we affectionately thought of him in meetings that I have attended and at the Democratic National Convention's that I have attended, was indeed one of the finest examples of a United States senator that this nation has ever seen.

When you look at the broad sweep of his 77 years of life, exuberant and joyful life in the face of great adversities and great personal tragedies. Who among us could have lost one brother, a President of the United States, to a tragic assassination only to face the same situation five years later with a second brother who was running for President. But through both of those tragedies, he never lost his hope; he never lost his joy in living life to his fullest. Senator Kennedy freely admitted that he had personal problems and personal failings. But isn't that the true story of human beings? Aren't we essentially flawed creations because of original sin? Yet, through these personal failings, the senator was able to look to his faith to find the means of redemption. For, redemption is what original sin caused ALL of us to need! Often, we are so quick to condemn folks who fail. Our "righteous indignation" rises to the front as we stand up and act as if we are any better than that person who has failed. Well we aren't. The scriptures teach us that "all have failed and come short of the glory of the Lord" (Romans 3:23, paraphrase). Who among us has the right, or even the moral standing, to cast the first stone. I will certainly say that I don't. And the senator thus teaches us a powerful lesson through his life. In the face of adversity, in the face of tragedy, in the face of despair, we must rise above through our faith and our trust in the "author and finisher" of our faith.

So, I say, "Godspeed Senator Kennedy." We were all better off for having had you as such a powerful force in American politics for all these many long years. We will sorely miss you in the years to come!

A Truly Wonderful Week

What a wonderful week this has been!! I started Monday rather down in the dumps. But a fresh spirit from heaven encouraged me. It has only gotten better each day of this week. As the saying goes, "out of the mouth of babes" sometimes the most amazing things come out and strengthen our resolve, our spirit, and our faith. That has been the case for me and has been a help and a comfort for me this week.

Today was another day of slogging through PHP code trying to get an updateable form on our website at work. After two days of working on this rather tediously monotonous list of variables, I have major breakthroughs this afternoon and was able to bring the whole form set to fruition and make it live. I believe it will be greeted with quite some enthusiasm and the battle to make it happen quickly increased my confidence in coding from start to finish. Now on to other important issues and tasks.

Over the next few blog posts, I hope to post some reviews of books that I use so that others who may work with web pages or be interested in working with web pages will know what resources I have found useful. These posts will review books on HTML/XHTML, CSS, XML, XSLT, Xpath, SQL, PHP, and .NET applications. They won't all come at first but will come one at a time in between other blogposts. I will be working on a specific format for each that will include links to Amazon.com for the actual books, a link to the publishers website, ISBN, prices, etc. So stay tuned!

Now, to my last item for this blog post, a few words about my sweet little man, Morgan Barnes. Today was Morgie's first day of school, my little sweet buddy became a kindergartner. I have so enjoyed getting to know this little boy who has become one of the lights in my life. All of us at the church have had a chance to watch him from birth to this momentous transition in his life. And, if you ever meet Morgan, you will never forget him. His sweet little smile, and that good old dose of Barnes stubborness, are so much fun to be around and to watch. And, if you didn't know, Morgie gives a great chiropractic workout to your back. Just let him jump and climb on it for an hour or so and all the kinks will be worked out! So Morgan, welcome to school! Just be who you are and never forget how much we all love you. And, of course, let's not forget that Thomas the Train is never far away!

Sometimes There Are Pleasant Surprises

For a while now, I have struggled with bitterness, a bitterness created by others and out of my control. It has been a true struggle and that struggle is not over yet. When those you care about hurt you badly it takes time to heal. Yes, you heal; and, yes, you survive, but it changes you in myriads of ways and although you can forgive, you never truly forget. When people pass you in church and refuse to look at you, it makes you question if you can worship in such an atmosphere. But then, along comes inspiration from above, an unlooked for moment when someone provides encouragement when you need it most. My encourager caught me unawares yesterday and raised my spirits and helped renew my flagging faith.

My encourager was a young man who truly has more faith than many older Christians who have been in the church for years. And I fear that may sum up the problem with the church in this modern age. Where has our courage gone? Where has our thirst for truth gone? I believe we are too comfortable. But lest I digress into bitterness, let me say that in less than thirty minutes, this very young Christian had reminded me that regardless of how people act and react in the church that I am there to worship and serve God. If others choose to treat the opportunity to worship as an opportunity to be social, or to see and be seen, that is not my concern. God has a work for me to do. I believe that in due time he will accomplish that will and this young man was able to remind me of all of that with his fervor in his faith. I tip my hat to this young man and thank him for doing something that I believe God was prompting him to do. He likely had no idea that he was sent in that fashion, but nevertheless he was used to encourage me. So, Tony Wing, I thank you for who and what you have become and for taking a moment out of a day to make mine so much brighter!

How Long, O Lord?

How long, O Lord will I have to watch the farce that has become your church? And when I speak of the farce of the Lord's "church," I do not mean that God is the farce because he is the only constant in our lives. He is truly the one being in this great and immensely large universe in which we can trust. No, the farce of the Lord's church is in the farce that God's people make of the church. Is it any wonder that people die and go to hell lost in their sins when God's people seem so caught up in their own little world while the world literally falls apart around them?

As I watch with newly opened eyes, I wonder how God stands to look upon what he sees among his people? Does he feel intense hot anger like I do? Does he weep openly like I do? Does our creator, who loved us so much that he sent His only begotten Son to die the cruelest of deaths that we might gain salvation, shake his mighty head in disgust and sadness? As our preacher says, I am engaging my heavenly imagination to wonder about my creator and my Savior. I believe he does all of what I have described and so much more.

I believe that our Savior weeps. He weeps for the lost; and, he weeps for his people. There is no doubt that in spite of our failings, he still loves us unconditionally. He still pleads with us to listen to his voice and his tender guidance. He comes back to us time andtime again even though we don't deserve it because he wants us to be a part of his work. He wants to use us as his representatives, his ambassadors, to a lost and corrupted world.

But, how can he use us? Do we enjoy simply playing church? Is this all just a game to so many of us? Do we even care the damage we are doing to God's work at such a critical time in world history? I often find myself profoundly saddened by the state of what has been termed by some, the "modern" church and by others, the "post-modern" church. The modern church is every bit the Laodicean church of the book of Revelation where Christ writes to say "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot" (3:15). The modern church is truly lukewarm and it surprises me that God has not already spewed us out of His mouth in disgust. There is nothing worse than lukewarm water, lukewarm food, and especially lukewarm belief. Lukewarm food and water are sickening to the taste, upset the stomach, and generally just make you sick. If lukewarm food and water do that to humans, how must we have sickened our Savior? The fact that he hasn't cast us aside is evidence of his long-suffering patience.

Are we willing to step outside our comfort zones? Will we sacrifice in the service of our Lord? Or have we become a comfortable people incapable of understanding the voice of God? Do we hear the call of our Savior to go and tell? Or are we content with our own church family and unconcerned with those who have not heard and will not hear save through us? I fear that these rhetorical questions do not have positive answers for the modern church. I truly fear that most of us are not capable of stepping outside our comfort zones. We are so comfortable, so "rich yet poor" that we often do not even hear the voice of God. Or worse yet, we consciously choose to ignore him because hearing him requires action and action requires obedience and obedience moves us well outside our comfort zone. I also fear that the modern church has lost its concern for those outside its four walls.

These thoughts bring me full circle to the title of this blog. In Habakkuk 1, the scripture says "O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!" And, I ask truly from my heart, "How Long O Lord will you tolerate our lukewarm faith, our lukewarm attitudes, our cold hearts, our richness while we are yet poor? How long?"