It is no exaggeration to describe the C# language and its associated environment, the .NET Framework, as the most important new technology for developers in many years. .NET provides a new environment within which you can develop almost any Windows-based or web-based application, while C# is a new programming language designed specifically to work with .NET.

What does this book cover?

This book is the ideal introduction to the C# language and the .NET Framework, and will become an indispensable companion for any user of C# and .NET. With this book, you learn the key concepts of the C# language, and then progress onto a complete exploration of programming the .NET Framework with C#. Topics covered include the following:

• How to program in the object-oriented C# language
• Writing Windows applications and Windows services
• Writing web pages and web services with ASP.NET
• Manipulating XML using C#
• Understanding .NET Assemblies
• Using ADO.NET to access databases
• Integration with COM, COM+, and Active Directory
• Distributed applications with .NET Remoting
• Generating graphics using C#
• Accessing files and the Registry, and controlling .NET security