Maximizing ASP.NET, Addison-Wesley
Microsoft .NET Framework, ASP.NET, Visual C# (CSharp, C Sharp, C-Sharp) Developer Training, Visual Studio
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C# Online.NET Book Review
Object-oriented ASP.NET is a whole different ball game than ASP. True, you can create pages almost in the same way. But, in doing so, you are not taking advantage of the power, performance, scalability, and maintainability available in ASP.NET.
The book exhorts us to "build applications, not pages"; because, "an ASP.NET application is more than just a bunch of pages". Or, at least, it should be. The book starts by making the case for taking advantage of the object-oriented nature of ASP.NET. The book advocates a n-tier design with business object classes coded to interfaces and a persistence layer. Experienced OO programmers may skip this section; but, ASP scripters had better pay close attention.
Primarily, this is a book of concepts, which are illustrated by clear and concise examples. So, do not expect too much detail. I suppose it was for the sake of brevity; but, there is virtually no exception handling code in the entire book.
There are particularly good expositions on caching, HTTP handlers, HTTP modules, membership, security, and server controls. The chapter on Visual Studio is a distraction from the main purposes of the book. The introduction to Test-Driven Development (TDD) utilizing the freeware NUnit tool is valuable. And, the book finishes with titillating glimpses of advanced topics.
The reader should be acquainted with ASP.NET and C# (or VB.NET); because, this book does not provide basic information for beginners. Familiarity with SQL Server is, also, helpful. The source code examples are given in both C# and Visual Basic .NET.
The author has a pleasant writing style and has a knack for presenting complex ideas simply—ready for practical application.
Bottom line
Maximizing ASP.NET is a great introduction to applying object-oriented methodology in ASP.NET.
From the back cover
Using ASP.NET, you can build Web applications that deliver unprecedented power and performance. But to make the most of ASP.NET, Web developers need to think and work very differently from the ways they've programmed in the past. In Maximizing ASP.NET Jeffrey Putz helps you make the transition—and reap the rewards.
If you're a long-time scripter who's migrated from ASP, PHP, or other traditional platforms, Putz shows you how to use ASP.NET's object-oriented model to write code that's easier to deploy, manage, extend, and reuse. If you're already comfortable with the fundamentals of ASP.NET using C# or VB.NET, this book's platform-specific details and development best practices will make you dramatically more effective.
Coverage includes
- Understanding the ASP.NET object model, classes, and n-tier application architecture
- Designing classes for maximum performance and reusability, one step at a time
- Mastering the nuts and bolts of ASP.NET IIS and Web applications
- Using the ASP.NET event model to control the entire user request lifecycle
- Creating special handlers for special requests
- Building custom server controls: It's easier than you think
- Creating Web services from existing code and using remote services just like local objects
- Using ASP.NET 2.0's rich security and membership classes
- Personalizing sites—without unnecessary complexity
- Maximizing application performance and scalability
- Implementing effective testing, code management, and metrics
- Taking full advantage of ASP.NET 2.0 in the Visual Studio 2005 environment
- Leveraging your Web development skills in other .NET projects
Whatever your background, Maximizing ASP.NET will deepen your skills across all aspects of enterprise development: application design, test-driven development, modularization, optimization, and beyond. Packed with C# and VB.NET examples for both ASP.NET 2.0 and 1.1, this is no mere "cookbook"—it's a superbly well-written guide to both the "hows" and "whys" of serious ASP.NET development.
About the author(s)
Jeff Putz is the founder of POP World Media, LLC, a company formed originally to organize several hobby Web sites into a bona fide business. Jeff started programming in grade six on a TRS-80, and later moved up through an Atari 600XL and Apple II+. After flirting with various jobs in the broadcast world, Jeff returned to computers and welcomed the Internet in 1998, working in various programming and management roles for several companies specializing in vertical market content.
Jeff's POP Forums application has been downloaded tens of thousands of times and was featured in MSDN Magazine (Feb. 2004). His company is in the process of developing several products using ASP.NET and continues to operate CoasterBuzz, the world's most popular roller coaster enthusiast site.
Table of Contents (abbreviated)
I. THE LEAP TO OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING.
1. The Object Model.
2. Classes: The Code Behind the Objects.
3. Class Design.
4. Application Architecture.
5. Object-Oriented Programming Applied: A Custom Data Class.
II. THE ASP.NET ARCHITECTURE.
6. The Nuts and Bolts of IIS and Web Applications.
7. The ASP.NET Event Model.
8. HttpHandlers and HttpModules.
9. Server Controls.
10. Web Services As Objects.
11. Membership and Security.
12. Profiles, Themes, and Skins.
13. Declarative Programming.
III. DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.
14. Developing with Visual Studio.
15. Performance, Scalability, and Metrics.
16. Testing, Deployment, and Code Management.
17. More Advanced Topics
