Code like a Pro in C#

Code like a Pro in C# builds on your existing programming skills to help you seamlessly upskill your coding practice or transition to C# from Java or another OO language. You’ll learn to write the kind of idiomatic C# code that’s essential for enterprise development, honing your mastery with guided coding katas.

C# and the .NET framework are prized for their power, flexibility, and ease of scaling. Line-of-business applications, web systems running ASP.NET, and backend servers powering enterprise data centers all rely on C#. Code Like a Pro in C# makes it easy to turn your existing abilities in C# or another OO language (such as Java) into practical C# mastery.

Code like a Pro in C# builds on your existing programming skills to help you seamlessly upskill your coding practice or transition to C# from Java or another OO language. You’ll learn to write the kind of idiomatic C# code that’s essential for enterprise development, honing your mastery with guided coding katas. This book discusses essential backend skills and puts them into practice with a common career challenge: refactoring a legacy codebase to be secure, clean, and readable. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a professional-level understanding of C# and be ready to start specializing with advanced-level resources.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

Table of contents

Part 1—Using C# and .NET
1 Introducing C# and .NET
2 .NET and how it compiles

Part 2—The existing codebase
3 How bad is this code?
4 Manage your unmanaged resources!

Part 3—The database access layer
5 Setting up a project and database with Entity Framework Core

Part 4—The repository layer
6 Test-driven development and dependency injection
7 Comparing objects
8 Stubbing, generics, and coupling
9 Extension methods, streams, and abstract classes

Part 5—The service layer
10 Reflection and mocks
11 Runtime type checking revisited and error handling
12 Using IAsyncEnumerable and yield return

Part 6—The controller layer
13 Middleware, HTTP routing, and HTTP responses
14 JSON serialization/ deserialization and custom model binding

Appendix A—Exercise answers
Chapter 2: .NET and how it compiles
Chapter 4: Manage your unmanaged resources!
Chapter 5: Setting up a project and database with Entity Framework Core
Chapter 6: Test-driven development and dependency injection
Chapter 7: Comparing objects
Chapter 8: Stubbing, generics, and coupling
Chapter 9: Extension methods, streams, and abstract classes
Chapter 10: Reflection and mocks
Chapter 11: Runtime type checking revisited and error handling
Chapter 12: Using IAsyncEnumerable and yield return
Chapter 13: Middleware, HTTP routing, and HTTP responses

Appendix B—Clean code checklist
Appendix C—Installation guides
Appendix D—OpenAPI FlyTomorrow
Appendix E—Reading list