The 2008 version of Visual Basic is tremendously enhanced and introduces dramatic new concepts, techniques, and features to this popular object-oriented language. Written by an elite author team who are sympathetic to the challenges of learning VB 2008, this comprehensive book provides a clear and concise approach to using VB 2008 in the ever-expanding .NET world.

This book focuses on using the latest and most powerful tools from the Microsoft arsenal within your Visual Basic solutions. Looking closely at LINQ, AJAX, a new Visual Studio and more, you'll be able to take lessons from this book and apply them to what you are doing today. You'll examine everything from the .NET Framework to the best practices for deploying .NET applications to database access and integrating with other technologies, such as COM and XML.

What you will learn from this book

• The core elements of VB 2008 as well as full syntax of all the new additions the language offers

• Ways that the Common Language Runtime (CLR) is responsible for managing the execution of code compiled on the .NET platform

• How VB is used in the creation, installation, running, and debugging of Windows® Services

• How to work with the new SQL Server 2008 along with your .NET applications

• The many features of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation

• Ways to take advantage of the abilities of LINQ

• The new web technology introduced by Silverlight

Who this book is for
This book is for experienced developers who are looking to transition to the latest version of Visual Basic.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.