If you subscribe to my blog (you’re here, and it’s easy, just do it .. dooo itttt ;) click the RSS link above) there’s a Manning deal on my book coming next week. It’ll only be around for one day (Manning sets the terms, not me) and it is a really good deal.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, I encourage you to do so. Some chapters are already available to people who subscribed to the MEAP (Manning Early Access Program) for the book. That program gets you early on-line versions of chapters as well as updates as I incorporate your feedback. With technology that moves as quickly as Silverlight, it really is a great way to get ahead of the curve.
I have two more chapters (5 and 9) which will be on MEAP soon, and the rest in various stages of completion. Overall, the book is shaping up to be larger than originally anticipated, and certainly larger than the original 371 page Silverlight 2 book. I’ve incorporated lots of community feedback about the previous edition, plus Silverlight feedback in general, added to it a huge dose of what I feel is important and have come up with a really awesome book.
Here’s the current table of contents (subject to change, but not likely to):
- Introducing Silverlight
- Core XAML
- The Application Model and the Plug-In
- Integrating with the Browser
- Integrating with the Desktop
- Sizing, Positioning and Transforming Elements
- Displaying Text and Printing
- Human Input and Controls
- Binding
- Validation, Annotation, and Data Controls
- Networking and Communications
- Dialogs, Navigation, and Partitioning with MEF
- The ViewModel Pattern, Testing, and Debugging
- Introduction to WCF RIA Services
- Graphics and Effects
- Displaying and Capturing Images and Media
- Animation and Behaviors
- Styles, Templates, and Resources
- Creating Controls and UserControls
- Distribution and Deployment
This book is being targeted to people who want to dive deep into key areas of Silverlight, learn best practices, as well as just plain lean to work with the technology. I’ve made sure it is accessible to good programmers who are new to Silverlight, but not at the expense of making it a book experienced developers will want.
In short, I think this will be the best all-around Silverlight 4 book out there. I know, I’m humble :)
So subscribe to my blog (RSS link at the top of this page), and then when the deal shows up next week, be sure to take advantage of it.
Disclaimer: If this sounds like a shameless attempt to get more blog subscribers, it totally is. If it also sounds like a shameless attempt to sell more copies of my book, you’re two for two. Humor me, writing a blog and writing a book are both fun, but a ton of work :)
