visual basic

I have spent the last 12 months getting up to speed on .Net programming and read about 10 books. This one is by far the best.

What sets Rockford's book apart is that he solves problems by setting an objective, discusses approaches and highlights pros and cons, delves into the coding structure, walks through the solution in the chosen programming language, and gives adequate information/description on the steps in the IDE.

Other books I have read focuses on how Microsoft has implemented the technologies and libraries. Rockford puts it to use for a corporate programmer.

Many advanced programmers may disagree with his solution and point out weaknesses, but so does Rockford. The enormous benefit here is learning problemsolving with some advanced thinking and forethought, EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE with Rockford's answers and solutions!!!

The biggest value you'll get is learning to solve problems. BETTER YET, there are active discussions online at www.lhotka.net (Rockford's website) on solving real problems using his solution - even enhancing and adapting it.

Using .Net, the framework presented can be used in other languages for application development. Hence, you can learn to use the framework and progress in your professional work.

I'd say this is the book that brings you up a notch or two in the programming world. Real experience put to real use in the real world is the gyst of this book.

If you are not a VB programmer, get it anyway. If you are a C# programmer, get this VB version and buy the C# version to be released in May 2004!!

It's not easy to reach Rockford's level, but this book sure gets you going!

It will move you from intermediate to advanced in a month of dedicated work! A book for anyone who is serious about their professional career!

As you probably know from this review I give it 5 stars and top rating!

The amount of information provided by this book is enormous! Not only does Rocky explain how to build and use business objects in .NET, but he also provides a complete business object framework.

All .NET developers (not just VB.NET!!!) can benefit greatly from this book. Rocky provides insight and experience that would take years to accumulate, or hundreds of consulting hours to purchase.

I developed a number of apps. utilizing Rocky's architecture for VB6, so, when I was learning VB.NET and noticed Rocky had a book out on his CSLA architecture in .NET, I knew I had to buy it. As is the case with all of Rocky's books, they are the best value out there. He explains the stuff extremely well, (yes, I have to read a few of the chapters a couple of times, but, this is some difficult stuff) and follows up his explanations with solid, correctly executing code. I learn best by examples, and loading his projects and stepping through them provide me with an invaluable learning experience. I cannot wait for his C# book on CSLA. I have already been on his website and downloaded the beta code in C# and started working on some C# projects so when his book comes out, I will have already tackled the material.