10 .NET Framework 4 Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

When Anne Boehm first realized how daunting server-side web programming could be for developers new to ASP.NET, she crafted this book to bridge that gap. Drawing on her 30-plus years as a technical author, she guides you through building ASP.NET Web Forms applications with C#, starting from the essentials like Visual Studio setup and client-side technologies such as HTML5 and Bootstrap. You'll gain concrete skills in managing state, validating user inputs, and integrating databases with Entity Framework, plus advanced topics like authentication with ASP.NET Identity and creating web APIs. This book suits both beginners eager to enter the ASP.NET world and seasoned developers seeking a structured, example-driven resource to deepen their expertise.

Unlike most programming books that skim the surface, Jeffrey Richter's CLR via C# dives into the depths of the common language runtime and .NET Framework 4. Drawing on his extensive experience consulting for the Microsoft .NET team, Richter unpacks complex runtime behaviors and C# intricacies with clarity. You’ll explore hands-on C# code samples that clarify challenging topics like memory management, threading, and interoperability, equipping you to build high-performance applications across ASP.NET, Windows Forms, and more. This book suits developers ready to move beyond basics and truly understand what happens under the hood to optimize their .NET applications.

This tailored book provides a structured framework for mastering ASP.NET development within the context of the .NET Framework 4. It focuses on practical methodologies for building dynamic, scalable web applications using Web Forms and MVC architectures. The content explores core ASP.NET components such as server controls, state management, and AJAX integration, while addressing security practices and performance optimization tailored to your development environment. By cutting through generic advice, it offers a personalized approach that fits your programming background and project goals, facilitating effective implementation of database connectivity, session management, and deployment strategies. This personalized framework sharpens your skills with targeted insights relevant to your specific ASP.NET challenges.

What if everything you thought about learning ASP.NET was wrong? Imar Spaanjaars challenges the typical fragmented approach by guiding you through a cohesive, chapter-by-chapter journey starting from installing Visual Web Developer to deploying a full-featured web application. You gain hands-on skills in both C# and VB, mastering server controls, AJAX integration, jQuery, database connectivity with ADO.NET Entity Framework, and security essentials. This book suits beginners eager to build interactive Microsoft-based websites, as well as developers upgrading from prior ASP.NET versions who want to grasp the latest framework updates with practical examples like the comprehensive Planet Wrox project.

When Tom Archer and Nishant Sivakumar recognized the challenges MFC developers faced integrating newer technologies, they crafted this guide to bridge those worlds. You learn how to enhance existing MFC applications by incorporating .NET Framework 4 features, with detailed examples and source code to follow along. The book walks you through practical integration techniques, making it particularly useful if you maintain legacy C++ applications yet want to leverage .NET's capabilities. Chapter examples cover real implementation scenarios, showing you exactly where and how to embed .NET functionality to boost productivity without rewriting entire apps.

When Andrew Troelsen first realized the complexities and evolving nature of the .NET platform, he set out to craft a resource that goes beyond beginner basics and dives deep into the intricacies of C# and .NET 4. This book teaches you advanced language features like dynamic lookups, named and optional arguments, and Parallel LINQ, while also covering essential platform topics such as assemblies, remoting, and web services. If you're an experienced developer or a graduate student aiming to master the .NET Framework 4, this text equips you with a robust foundation to confidently tackle your programming projects and explore the platform on your own terms. Chapter 15's focus on improved COM interoperability exemplifies the practical depth Troelsen delivers.

This tailored book provides a structured methodology for integrating legacy MFC applications with modern .NET Framework 4 features, focusing on bridging the gap between native and managed code environments. It offers a personalized framework that adjusts to your specific project requirements, addressing common challenges such as interoperability, performance optimization, and incremental migration strategies. The content systematically explores techniques to extend MFC applications using .NET components, COM interop, and managed wrappers, fitting your particular development context and goals. By cutting through generic integration advice, it delivers targeted guidance that enhances legacy systems with contemporary .NET capabilities while preserving stability and maintainability.

Drawing from decades of experience as a Microsoft Regional Director and software architect, Christian Nagel and his co-authors crafted a detailed exploration of C# 4.0 and the .NET Framework 4. The book opens with an architectural overview of .NET, grounding you in managed code essentials before delving into advanced C# topics including generics, LINQ, and dynamic language extensions. It methodically covers Visual Studio 2010 usage, foundational .NET features like threading and security, and extends into data access, presentation layers with WPF and Silverlight, plus communication frameworks such as WCF and Windows Workflow Foundation. If you’re an experienced programmer aiming to deepen your mastery of .NET 4’s capabilities and build sophisticated applications, this book offers a structured path through both language and platform intricacies.

What if everything you knew about database programming was reconsidered? Anne Boehm and Ged Mead draw from decades of programming experience to dissect ADO.NET 4 within the Visual Studio 2010 environment, focusing on practical application over theory. You’ll learn to harness datasets for rapid development, explore three-layer Windows forms applications, and tackle advanced database programming techniques, all supported by clear code examples and illustrative exercises. This book suits experienced C# programmers aiming to deepen their grasp of database-driven applications, especially those wanting to leverage ADO.NET’s capabilities beyond surface-level usage.

Unlike most .NET Framework 4 books that focus solely on theoretical detail, this one dives into the practical nuances of ASP.NET 4 and its integration with C# 2010. Matthew MacDonald, an experienced author and MCSD developer, distills complex topics like ASP.NET MVC, AJAX 4, and Silverlight 3 into accessible insights, helping you write better code and understand the ecosystem's evolution. You'll find detailed chapters dedicated to mastering dynamic web pages on Windows, with clear examples illustrating new features alongside legacy functionality. This book suits developers ready to deepen their ASP.NET skills beyond basics and implement real-world applications with confidence.

What if everything you knew about the .NET Framework 4 was wrong? This book challenges conventional approaches by offering direct insights from 15 Microsoft MVPs, each unpacking complex aspects of .NET 4, C# 4, and Silverlight 4 with clarity and practical depth. You'll learn specialized skills like optimizing ASP.NET performance, applying entity framework techniques, and mastering Windows Presentation Foundation, all broken into approachable sections. This multi-author effort benefits developers aiming to deepen their understanding of .NET 4's architecture and apply advanced features effectively in real projects.