Introduction

I remember a time years ago when I proposed a book to Apress regarding a forthcoming software SDK code-named Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS). As you may be aware, NGWS eventu- ally became what we now know as the .NET platform. My research of the C# programming language and the .NET platform took place in parallel with the authoring of the initial manuscript. It was a fantastic project; however, I must confess that it was more than a bit nerve-racking writing about a technology that was undergoing drastic changes over the course of its development. Thankfully, after many sleepless nights, the first edition of C# and the .NET Platformwas published in conjunc-tion with the release of .NET 1.0 Beta 2, circa the summer of 2001.

Since that point, I have been extremely happy and grateful to see that this text was very well received by the press and, most important, by readers. Over the years it was nominated as a Jolt Award finalist (I lost . . . crap!) and for the 2003 Referenceware Excellence Award in the program-ming book category (I won? Cool!).

The second edition of this text (C# and the .NET Platform, Second Edition) provided me the opportunity to expand upon the existing content with regard to version 1.1 of the .NET platform. Although the second edition of the book did offer a number of new topics, a number of chapters and examples were unable to make it into the final product.

Once the text entered its third edition (Pro C# 2005 and the .NET 2.0 Platform), the manuscript was updated to account for the numerous bells and whistles brought about by .NET 2.0 (new C# programming constructs, generics, updates to core APIs, etc.), and it included new material that had long been written but not yet published (such as content on the common intermediate lan- guage [CIL] and dynamic assemblies, and expanded ASP.NET coverage).

In this special edition of the text, I have added six new chapters dedicated to the new pro-gramming APIs brought about with the release of .NET 3.0. Over these chapters, you will come to understand the role of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF). As well, this new text provides details regarding the forthcoming C# 3.0 programming language and LINQ programming technologies (LINQ to SQL and LINQ to XML). While C# 3.0 and LINQ are currently beta technologies, the final two chapters of this text will provide a solid road map for the changes to come.

As with the earlier editions, this special edition presents the C# programming language and .NET base class libraries using a friendly and approachable tone. I have never understood the need some technical authors have to spit out prose that reads more like a GRE vocabulary study guide than a readable book. As well, this new edition remains focused on providing you with the informa- tion you need to build software solutions today, rather than spending too much time examining esoteric details that few individuals will ever actually care about.