I recently moved to a new position where we're using the Microsoft stack - specifically .NET 4.5, SQL Server (w/ SSIS, SSRS), C#, and Entity Framework. I come from the open source world and am having a hard time finding valuable learning resources.<p>My company has a training budget and I've gone to a few classes, but I feel like there has to be more I can do in-between on my down time.<p>Where did you go (or what did you read) to learn the Microsoft stack?
I've moved stacks a few times. Here's what works for me.<p>Learning a new stack, is like baking bread. You can't just throw all your ingredients in at once. You have to start with a base, and then slowly fold in more as you're kneading the dough.<p>In software concentrate on the core language first. When I moved from .NET to Ruby, learning the language was pretty straight forward. Almost everything I knew in .NET is there in Ruby, just under a new name. I spent a few weeks getting really comfortable there. Then I started learning rails, then i started learning active record etc. Just fold in one framework at a time. After a while you'll have a good skeleton, and then you can start using your previous experience to ask more pointed questions.
If you like video-based training and your company's paying, Pluralsight has a <i>ton</i> of Microsoft-stack content, much of it with downloadable code you use to follow along with the author.<p>If you prefer books, anything published by Microsoft Press is usually very good.<p>StackOverflow is very .NET friendly for questions.<p>One of the things that Visual Studio and many platform components (like IIS) have going for them is discoverability via UI - spend some time opening menus, right-clicking things and poking around to see what you can do.<p>Linqpad is great for discovering C# and trying little things out quickly; I highly recommend it.
I would start off by getting more familiar with Visual Studio - <a href="https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/get-started/overview-of-get-started-tasks-vs.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/get-started/overview-of-g...</a>
Google "free microsoft ebooks" (no quotes) and you will see a bunch of links for official Microsoft sites - not pirated ones. Several years ago Microsoft started giving them away free to, I assume, encourage platform adoption.<p>Dig around and I'm sure you'll find a few that are useful.
I assume you're using MVC, so I have found the tutorials here extremely helpful:<p><a href="http://www.asp.net/mvc" rel="nofollow">http://www.asp.net/mvc</a><p>The tutorials will include a general intro to the Entity Framework.<p>Of course MSDN is the ultimate reference. So get comfortable referring to it. Just google the names of some of the classes you are using, for example "ActionResult MSDN."<p>I would also suggest keeping an open attitude (I'm referring to your use of the word "stuck"). I don't have a lot of experience developing outside of the MS framework, but I find reflexive distaste for MS to often be a case of "strong opinions, weakly held."
One of the features of the Microsoft stack is a robust market for traditional books targeted at diverse technical backgrounds. Amazon or a physical store is where I would start. Congratulations on the new job.<p>Good luck.
There's a lot of useful information about Microsoft technologies - API docs, sample code, etc. - at <a href="https://msdn.microsoft.com" rel="nofollow">https://msdn.microsoft.com</a>.
Coding is not a spectator sport.
Just write code.
C# is powered by an amazing CLR. .NET Framework has very comprehensive and highly optimised libraries. For most of the simple tasks you don't need any external libraries.<p>You don't have to bother fighting dependencies hell.<p>MSDN is an almost exhaustive documentation, proper documentation, for most of all available methods and objects inside .NET Framework in all available languages.<p>Visual Studio is years ahead most of the IDE in terms of productivity tools, speed, integrations with other tools, plugins and debugging.<p>Just write some more code.
That seems fine. C# is a <i>great</i> language and the Microsoft stack is becoming more and more open all the time. (E.g., products being open sourced, but also other products being released to multiple platforms like their new editor Code)