The public beta of Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 are now available here.

SP1 comes with a slew of enhancements and fixes covering various aspects of the VS 2008 IDE as well as the .NET Framework.

Among the highlights relevant to ASP.NET and web development in the upcoming SP1 release include:

• ASP.NET Data Scaffolding Support (ASP.NET Dynamic Data)
• ASP.NET Routing Engine (System.Web.Routing)
• ASP.NET AJAX Back/Forward Button History Support
• ASP.NET AJAX Script Combining Support
• VS 2008 Performance Improvements in HTML Designer and HTML Source Editor
• VS 2008 JavaScript Script Formatting and Code Preferences
• Better VS Javascript Intellisense for Multiple Javascript/AJAX Frameworks
• VS Refactoring Support for WCF Services in ASP.NET Projects
• VS Support for Classic ASP Intellisense and Debugging
• Visual Web Developer Express Edition support for Class Library and Web Application Projects
• ASP.NET Application Request Throughput Improvements of Up to 10%
• SQL 2008 Support in VS 2008
• ADO.NET Entity Framework and LINQ to Entities
• ADO.NET Data Services
• WCF Development Improvements
• VB and C# Improvements

Other enhancements not mentioned above cover primarily client development (Windows Forms, WPF, and Setup Package).  The SP1 releases are expected to be shipped this summer as free updates.

For a more detailed description of the new features in the release, check out Scott Guthrie's blog post or Somasegar's blog post.

A refresh of the ASP.NET MVC source code in CodePlex has been published.  This source refresh is just an interim drop pending the release of the official "ASP.NET MVC Preview 3" in a few weeks time.

Check out Scott Guthrie's blog post for screenshot guides and more juicy information on the source refresh.

An updated ASP.NET Dynamic Data Preview is now available. You can download it from:

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/dynamicdata

Highlights in this preview:

• Works with the standard built-in ASP.NET data controls (GridView, ListView, FormView, DetailsView, etc)
• Automatic UI validation support (both client-side and server-side)
• Dynamic data project wizard

Check out Scott Guthrie's blog post for more information on the preview.

Mike Murach and Associates has just published a 2008 edition of their core C# book, "Murach's C# 2008." It's described in detail at the Murach web site:

http://www.murach.com/books/cs08/index.htm

It teaches how to develop Windows forms applications for business the way the best professionals do. To do that, it incorporates the features that have made earlier editions such popular choices among developers.

#1: It focuses on the essential skills that C# developers need every day

That may sound obvious. But too often, critical skills are glossed over or ignored in C# training.

So as this book teaches how to use Visual Studio 2008 and C# 2008 to create business applications, it covers the skills that developers need most on the job. That includes skills like how to validate input data, how to work with different data types, how to use arrays and collections, how to do structured exception handling, and how to read and write text, binary, and XML files.

#2: The OOP section deals with business objects, not cats and dogs

Many books explain object-oriented programming by using examples that are meant to be easily understood, like illustrating objects by creating animal classes such as mammals, cats, and dogs. However, the analogy breaks down as developers try to figure out how to apply it to business applications.

So this book presents business objects like customers, invoices, and products to show how OOP is applied in the real world. Likewise, it explains critical concepts like inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces within the context of business applications so there's no confusion.

#3: There's a 4-chapter section on database programming

Because database handling is so critical in business applications, this book presents more coverage than is usual in introductory texts.

To begin, it teaches how to prototype database applications using rapid application development tools like the data sources feature, datasets, and bound controls. But beyond that, it shows developers how to start using ADO.NET to work directly with databases for more processing control than the RAD tools offer.

#4: It provides practical coverage of new features, especially
LINQ

LINQ is the big news in C# 2008. Using constructs that are built into the C# language, developers can now use the same language to access a variety of data sources from their applications, from databases to arrays to XML files. The introductory chapter on LINQ in this book gives you a practical overview that will prepare you for more in-depth LINQ training.

#5: Complete applications show how all the pieces interact

One key to mastering C# development is to have plenty of applications that show how the features you're learning interact and what problems you might run into as you work on your own. So this book shows complete Windows forms applications for everyday business functions. These can be downloaded for free from the Murach web site, along with coding starts for the practice exercises in the book.

#6: The paired-pages format lets developers set their own pace

Murach books have a distinctive format, where each two-page spread presents a single topic. Both beginning and experienced developers find that this format makes it easy to focus on the information they need, whether they're using the book for training or reference.


"Murach's C# 2008" is available from all major retail outlets and directly from the publisher at the Murach web site:

http://www.murach.com

Note: The book is also available from ASPNETWorld.com Store

Scott Guthrie has announced that the ASP.NET MVC source code is now available.

"Today we opened up a new ASP.NET CodePlex project that we'll be using to share buildable source for multiple upcoming ASP.NET releases.  You can now directly download buildable source and project files for the ASP.NET MVC Preview 2 release here."

For more information, check out Scott's blog entry here.

This update is with regards to the ASPNETWorld.com Store section:

In anticipation of the retirement of Amazon ECS 3.0 web service APIs coming March 31, 2008, we have successfully completed migration of the old API calls to the latest API calls in ECS 4.0 (now known as Amazon Associates Web Service).  There are now up to five featured customer reviews in the product details page instead of the previous three customer reviews.

Some of the product browsing categories have been updated and there are a few new categories added as well.  Here's a few of the new browse nodes that we've added or updated:

• Books: ASP.NET 3.5 (General),Visual Studio 2008, LINQ
• Software: Visual Studio 2008, Windows Vista SP1

If you're researching for a good ASP.NET-related book or product, we hope that ASPNETWorld.com Store would be able to serve your needs.

Enjoy!

Mike Murach and Associates has just published a 2008 edition of their core Visual Basic book, "Murach's Visual Basic 2008." It's described in detail at the Murach web site:

http://www.murach.com/books/vb08/index.htm

It teaches how to develop Windows forms applications the way the best professionals do. To do that, it incorporates the features that have made earlier editions such popular choices among developers.

#1: It focuses on the essential skills that VB developers need every day

Although that may sound obvious, some skills tend to be glossed over or ignored in VB training. But in teaching how to use Visual Studio 2008 and VB 2008 to develop Windows forms applications, this book covers skills like how to validate input data, how to work with different data types, how to use arrays and collections, how  to do structured exception handling, how to read and write text, binary, and XML files...the kinds of skills needed to develop the applications that businesses rely on.
 
#2: There's a 4-chapter section on database programming
 
Because database handling is so critical in business applications, this book presents more coverage than is usual in introductory texts.
 
To begin, it teaches how to prototype database applications using rapid application development tools like the data sources feature, datasets, and bound controls. But beyond that, it shows developers how to start using ADO.NET to work directly with databases for more processing control than the RAD tools offer.
 
#3: It teaches the OOP skills that many developers miss out on
 
Visual Basic is an object-oriented language, yet many VB developers have only a hazy understanding of OOP. So this book includes 5 chapters that clearly explain OOP features like inheritance and interfaces in the context of database applications. The intent is to provide the kind of background that makes you a more savvy, confident developer.
 
#4: It provides practical coverage of new features, especially LINQ
 
LINQ is the big news in VB 2008. It allows you to query a data source using constructs that are built into the VB language. That way, you can use the same language to access a variety of data sources, from databases to arrays to XML files. The introductory chapter on LINQ in this book gives you a practical spin that will prepare you for more in-depth LINQ training.
 
#5: Complete applications show how all the pieces interact
 
One key to mastering VB development is to have plenty of applications that show how the features you're learning interact and what problems you might run into as you work on your own. So this book shows complete Windows forms applications for everyday business functions. These can be downloaded for free from the Murach web site, along with coding starts for the practice exercises in the book.
 
#6: The paired-pages format lets developers set their own pace
 
Murach books have a distinctive format, where each two-page spread presents a single topic. Both beginning and experienced developers find that this format makes it easy to focus on the information they need, whether they're using the book for training or reference.
 
 
"Murach's Visual Basic 2008" is available from all major retail  outlets and directly from the publisher at the Murach web site:
 
http://www.murach.com

Note: The book is also available via ASPNETWorld.com Store

In a welcoming announcement by Microsoft, the .NET Framework Library source code is now available!  The source is being released under a read-only reference licence.

Developers can now step into the framework source code when debugging in Visual Studio. To set up source access within VS 2008 (with the exception of Express editions), take a look at Shawn Burke's blog post: Configuring Visual Studio to Debug .NET Framework Source Code

Scott Guthrie has hinted that there'll be a separate download version in the near future. This avoids the need for developers to be online in order to access and browse the framework source.  The source code for Silverlight libraries will also be made available in the future.

The first CTP preview of ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions has been released.

The CTP includes ASP.NET AJAX improvements, ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Dynamic Data support, ASP.NET Silverlight support, and ADO.NET Data Services.

For a greater insight of the CTP, check out Scott Guthrie's blog.  Also, don't forget to check out Scott's tutorials on the new ASP.NET MVC framework.

It's finally here! Visual Studio 2008 and .NET 3.5 are now in RTM form.  The final releases are now available for download.  The free Express edition of VS 2008 is also available for immediate download. Retail copies of VS 2008 should be hitting the resellers in about 8-10 weeks.

For more information on the releases, check out the following blogs:

• Scott Guthrie
• Somasegar

Books on VS 2008 and .NET 3.5:

• Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition (Pro)
• Visual Studio 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies
• Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008

If you're looking for a good book on developing client-side components using the Microsoft AJAX Library, Packt Publishing has the book for you.

Written by Cristian Darie and Bogdan Brinzarea, Microsoft AJAX Library Essentials: Client-side ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 Explained provides a practical tutorial to using the Microsoft AJAX Library to create better user experience for your ASP.NET web applications.

Read the full review here