Official Free References Thread

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: chronodekar

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Free Visual Studio Books from Microsoft (get it soon)

Thanks Aberforth !! And sorry for the delay in updating. I had some internet problems for the past few days...

I made a new section, "Visual Studio" for these. Or should I put them in appropriate language sections? Any thoughts?

No, visual studio is fine (or .NET Framework), I suggest you make copy of these files and host it privately because these ms links will be removed soon.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
No, visual studio is fine (or .NET Framework), I suggest you make copy of these files and host it privately because these ms links will be removed soon.

Keeping a post updated is one thing. Now, hosting files online is something else entirely. I think we'll just keep those links active for as long as they are valid? Unless, anyone out here volunteers to host them for us ?

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: chronodekar

Originally posted by: Aberforth
No, visual studio is fine (or .NET Framework), I suggest you make copy of these files and host it privately because these ms links will be removed soon.

Keeping a post updated is one thing. Now, hosting files online is something else entirely. I think we'll just keep those links active for as long as they are valid? Unless, anyone out here volunteers to host them for us ?

I think Windows Live SkyDrive allows public sharing of files or there are sites like Mediafire & Filefactory, you could host all your free materials like that.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
I think Windows Live SkyDrive allows public sharing of files or there are sites like Mediafire & Filefactory, you could host all your free materials like that.

A good suggestion. Unfortunately, my hands are tied at the moment. It will be a bit more than a month before I'll have enough spare time to go about setting it up. Still, I think until then, I'll just go about and keep downloading materials.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[tarak]

I'd like to recommend the free ebook Application Architecture Guide 2.0 from the Microsoft Paterns & Practices group. It gives a wide variety of insights and suggestions for which (microsoft) technologies to use in which space. Advantages/disadvantages, etc.

Also C# In Depth is a great read to get you from C# 1.1 to C# 2 & 3. It doesn't go into the .net libraries at all, but instead focuses purely on the C# language and the changes from one version to another. Covers topics like generics, anonymous types, LINQ, etc.

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: chronodekar

Originally posted by: Aberforth
I think Windows Live SkyDrive allows public sharing of files or there are sites like Mediafire & Filefactory, you could host all your free materials like that.

A good suggestion. Unfortunately, my hands are tied at the moment. It will be a bit more than a month before I'll have enough spare time to go about setting it up. Still, I think until then, I'll just go about and keep downloading materials.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

I would think long and hard before setting up hosting for any files needed to maintain the thread. It's one level of commitment to agree to maintain a forum thread, and a whole 'nother level to host files for it. Forum stickies can hang around a long time, and if we're going to end up with broken links at some point (and we will), then it's probably better for them to be broken Microsoft links than broken private 3rd party links.

I'm way behind on trolling the free tools thread for broken links. It ends up being a big job.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
It ends up being a big job.

I now know how this feels like. I'm more than a week behind my last 'update'. To those regularly reading this, please excuse my tardiness. I'm still busy, and this post is to server as a reminder that I'm still around. But I WILL make a proper update sometime soon!!

 

[Aberforth]

Microsoft® Visual Basic® 2008 Express Edition: Build a Program Now!: http://csna01.libredigital.com/?urrs4gt63d

enjoy

 

[chronodekar]

Well, I finally sorted out my 'update system'. So you'll start seeing more regular updates on this thread from me. And I have to pull back on that review I promised. I got too busy. Still, let me see if I can spare up some time later!!

And Aberforth, (unfortunately) it seems that at the moment, the above offer has expired. -sigh- Still, let's see how things proceed from here.

 

[chronodekar]

degibson posted some links here,
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...eadid=2298084#30925037

about programming styles. That looks like some worthwhile stuff so I'm adding it to the references list.
( I'll send a PM to degibson about the addition )

 

[chronodekar]

Some book recommendations were made by slugg and GodlessAstronomer. I'm adding those to our list. (You'll find the links in the 2nd post).

They were recommendations about Software Engineering.

 

[chronodekar]

Some PHP recommendations were made here,
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=70&threadid=2292243

by degibson and txrandom. I'm adding those in the references section.

Also in the same thread NiKeFiDO made some book recommendations that I'm adding to the Book section.

 

[chronodekar]

engineereeyore made a VHDL book recommendation. I added that in as well.

 

[chronodekar]

I didn't realize that we had no book recommendations for C !!

I added stuff that was suggested by slugg and squatchman. Thanks you 2 !!

 

[imported_Dhaval00]

Didn't see the updates earlier, chrono. Good work!

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: Dhaval00
Didn't see the updates earlier, chrono. Good work!

It's good to see you again, Dhaval00 !!

Thanks. Nice to see someone's reading all these updates. The way I figure things, not many are going to be inclined to posting suggestions directly in this thread. Most usually reply to some other thread where the OP is asking a question.

So, I'm just picking up links as I find them. For on-line references, I just add the link to the first post and post a reply in the thread where I found it (on AT forums). In the case of book recommendations, as you can see, I mention the name of the member who suggested the book and have a link to where they made the suggestion. I'm hoping it will serve the purpose of a 'book review' as we don't seem to be getting much of that. (With all due apologies, Dhaval00)

I've structured the book review so that if more than 1 member has recommended a book, you can see that easily enough. In fact, we just had 1 book recommended by more than 2 members today. (It's in the C section)

It's tempting to add the member recommendations to the on-line references as well, but I can't (yet) figure out a way to display all that info without making it look like a mess of links.

Now for the usual update ,

Ken g6 , Apathetic & GodlessAstronomer have made some nice book recommendations for C books and I've updated our list accordingly. You can find the thread where they posted along in the 2nd post of this thread. (look in the C section)

 

[TechAZ]

I didn't see this listed so here's a few decent ones for beginners.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/default.aspx

They are video tutorials for absolute beginners in the following languages:

C#
VB.NET

I believe there's a couple videos for ASP.NET as well. Choose either Web Track or Windows Track.

Again, for absolute beginners. The videos don't include a great deal of explanation into the "why" of how things work or done a certain way, but I found it to be helpful while also going through an actual book and jump back and forth while bored of one or the other.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: TechAZ
I didn't see this listed so here's a few decent ones for beginners.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/default.aspx

They are video tutorials for absolute beginners in the following languages:

C#
VB.NET

I believe there's a couple videos for ASP.NET as well. Choose either Web Track or Windows Track.

Again, for absolute beginners. The videos don't include a great deal of explanation into the "why" of how things work or done a certain way, but I found it to be helpful while also going through an actual book and jump back and forth while bored of one or the other.

Thanks TechAZ !

I've added it to our Recommendation list.

-cd

 

[LuNoTiCK]

This book I'm looking at seems very suited for beginners, and it's free.

http://www.csharpcourse.com/

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: LuNoTiCK
This book I'm looking at seems very suited for beginners, and it's free.

http://www.csharpcourse.com/

I'm adding this to the Book Recommendations Section. Thanks !!

-cd

 

[chronodekar]

I'm adding some more book recommendations.

If you guys check out the book links, you'll find that some of them are downloadable. I think this is a good approach especially if anyone wants it for offline viewing.

For the K&R C book, I've added a "recommendation" to a thread. It's not really an approval for the book, but the discussion should be useful for anyone thinking about buying the book.

-cd

 

[chronodekar]

Woosta sent me this PM,

heh, i could recommend another 100 or so..

this is nice: http://www.e-booksdirectory.com/programming.php

THAT is a gold mine of a resource !!! I'm adding it to the References section.

-cd

 

[Cogman]

http://www.cplusplus.com/

I use this website all the time as a STL reference. I really enjoy it.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: Cogman
http://www.cplusplus.com/

I use this website all the time as a STL reference. I really enjoy it.

Thanks for the link Cogman. I've added it in the References section.

-chronodekar

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Microsoft's Channel 9 is an excellent resource for video tutorials from MS.