LINQ is the project name for a set of extensions to the .NET Framework that provide a generic approach to querying data from different data sources. LINQ will premier in Visual Studio 2008, and will become the next must-have skill for .NET developers. For more information about LINQ, you can check out the author's portal at www.linqdev.com.

Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 is all about code.

Literally, this book starts with code and ends with code. In most books, the author shows the simplest example demonstrating how to use a method, but they so rarely show how to use the more complex prototypes. Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 is different. Demonstrating the overwhelming majority of LINQ operators and protoypes, it is a veritable treasury of LINQ examples.

Rather than obscure the relevant LINQ principles in code examples by focusing on a demonstration application you have no interest in writing, Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 cuts right to the chase of each LINQ operator, method, or class. However, where complexity is necessary to truly demonstrate an issue, the examples are right there in the thick of it. For example, code samples demonstrating how to handle concurrency conflicts actually create concurrency conflicts so you can step through the code and see them unfold.

Most books tell you about the simple stuff, while few books warn you of the pitfalls. Where Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 returns your investment is in the hours, and sometimes days, spent by the author determining why something may not work as expected. Sometimes this results in an innocent looking paragraph that may take you a minute to read and understand, but took days to research and explain.

Face it, most technical books while informative, are dull. LINQ need not be dull. Written with a sense of humor, Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 will attempt to entertain you on your journey through the wonderland of LINQ and C# 2008. What you'll learn How to leverage all the new LINQ relevant C# 2008 language features including extension methods, lambda expressions, anonymous data types, and partial methods. How to use LINQ to Objects to query in-memory data collections such as arrays, ArrayLists, and Lists to retrieve the data you want. Why some queries are deferred, how a deferred query can bite you, and how you can make deferred queries work for you. How to use LINQ to XML to revolutionize your creation, manipulation, and searching of XML data. How to query DataSets with LINQ to DataSet so you can co-exist with legacy code and use LINQ to query databases other than SQL Server. How to query Databases with LINQ to SQL, write your own entity classes, and understand how to handle concurrency conflicts. Who is this book for?

This book is written for the proficient C# developer, but you do not need to be up on all the latest C# features to understand the material. When you finish this book, you will be up on all the latest C# features.

Intended for .NET programmers, this guide introduces Microsoft's language integrated query (LINQ) mechanism for querying data of all types, and explains how to work with LINQ to objects standard query operators, XML-specific operators, DataSet operators, and SQL Server databases. Although many enhancements to C# 3.0 specifically support LINQ, the numerous code examples are written in C# 2.0. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

So if you find yourself with 30 minutes here and there, and you wonder whether LINQ will be able to help you in your work, make the time to check this book out. You can also check out the author's portal, www.linqdev.com.

LINQ is the code name for a set of extensions to the .NET Framework that provide a new set of standard query operators that can be used regardless of the data source involved. This means that queries to text files, XML files, and relational databases can now all be handled in the same way--with the same syntax--in a fully object-oriented fashion. These enhancements will revolutionize database application development, along with Visual Studio Orcas in mid-2007.

Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 will help you run LINQ queries in a matter of minutes, with a solid understanding of the technology's implications in just a few hours. It features small, bite-sized chunks of information that make it possible to understand key principles in short periods of time. Throughout the book, concepts are demonstrated in practical ways. This book doesn't dwell on theory, but helps you put LINQ into practice.

So if you find yourself with 30 minutes here and there, and you wonder whether LINQ will be able to help you in your work, make the time to check this book out. You can also check out the author's portal, www.linqdev.com.