Hi, I am a C/C++/Java programmer and I was wandering if there is any good book or some website that helps you make the switch, I mean, not a beginner's C# book, but a book that compares the platforms, CLI vs. Java Virtual Machine, that explains the .Net arquitecture, etc.
To sum up, I already know OOP and design, but I need to learn C#, learn about the changes in synthax, new features, and all that stuff.
Thanks for your help guys.
Check these:
I made the switch after reading this interview with Anders Hejlsberg
CLR via C# gives a great nitty gritty under the hood explanation on the CLR, using C# as the context.
Definitely a good read.
Anything written by this guy, the points say it all.
Providing you have good OOP foundations, and coming from Java you probably have the essentials, then the rest should be straight forward. The more advanced features you wont need and will only confuse when starting to learn ... and they will come in time.
I would read the Getting Started Guide. It's helped me get started.
If you need more specific knowledge, follow it up with a sections from the Programming Guide.
I am a visual learner and have found great value in http://www.learnvisualstudio.net.
I had been a java developer for a long time when I first tried C# and I found that I didn't have to read anything at all. I was able to just guess at the function names and use auto complete in visual studio. Occasionally I would look things up on the MSDN website.
It's really easy and with the visual designer (if you're writing a GUI program) you just lay out the GUI element, then double click a button or whatever to bring up the code for that button. Enough code is generated for you that if you can figure out the function names, you should be good to go.
I had experience in VB6 and Win32 programming in C++ before that too, though. So that probably helped (VB for the RAD/GUI stuff)
This page has been invaluable to me, and I've used almost no other resources since finding it: http://www.harding.edu/fmccown/java1_5_csharp_comparison.html
Check out this guide:
http://www.csharp-station.com/default.aspx
Since most of what you'll be starting with is syntax adjustments, a simple tutorial such as the one on that site may just be what you're looking for.
There is an MSDN section that might help: C# for Java developers.
I'm learning about C# from the Head First series. The way the book is set out does keep you reading. However, it is aimed at a C# beginner, so maybe this type of explanation of the language isn't aimed at your level.
Microsoft has an online learning track for Java developers switching over to .NET:
For the Java Developer: Learn .NET
It's targeted at .NET 2.0 (Visual Studio 2005), though.
You might also want to look at some actual code, especially of open source projects that may have had their genesis in java but have been ported to c#. nHibernate or nUnit, for example.
I've found the MCTS 70-536 exam book very useful as an intro to C# - it covers all the common things you're likely to need to know.
Also, I'm not saying that you should necessarily take the exam, just reading the book and messing around with the practice apps should get you started
I too was a Java hacker for a while. If you have a good grasp on the JVM specification and JVM implementations, the the CLR 2.0 via C# is the best book I've read to date. Jeffrey Richter is one of the best writers in .NET arena.
One of the best people to know is Ted Neward. He keeps a foot in both camps and is one of the most interesting people I've met.
Take a look at this book: C# for Java Developers. It's a great intro for those which are coming from Java. http://www.amazon.com/Java-Developers-Pro-Developer-Allen-Jones/dp/0735617791