Web Development with Blazor: A practical guide to start building interactive UIs with C# 11 and .NET 7 2nd ed. Edition

Background - I'm a self-taught programmer of 8+ years in various frameworks/engines/languages, mostly sticking with C# but fluent in many other notable languages. I suppose I'd be considered a life-long learner. I've recently been diving into web development to create a project I've been tossing around in my brain for a few months and have been consuming many books the last several months.This is the easiest 5 Star review I've given to a book for the last 6 months or so and has been added to my top 10 list of "Books You Need to own".With all that in mind, this is simply a must-have to ANYONE who is interested in web development and/or the Blazor framework. The book goes through everything you need to know to make your own web site from the very beginnings of a project and, throughout the book, construct a fully-functioning blog website ending in deployment and even tips on how to move from an existing site to Blazor.The first chapter explains Blazor in depth, including the differences between Server and Web Assembly, explaining how each one operates and even went so far as to creating a chart showing the differences in download size for single-page applications from large companies in comparison to a blazor sample setup.The second chapter gets into the creation of a new project. Everything is well documented and should leave no questions. There's SO much additional information here than what I am accustomed to when reading similar 'project creation' chapters from past books. It demonstrates the use of using the developer console through a browser to review file size transfer speeds, explaining EXACTLY what files are being sent and why. There's also CLI options Jimmy explains, which was much appreciated for me, being a Linux user. He then goes through each file created by a new project and covers exactly what each file does.From here on out, each chapter will introduce new concepts and you continue to build upon a blog web site using both Blazor Web Assembly and Server. Most notably are the chapters on Razor, two chapters on Blazor's component system, diving far into depth with all the features available to this, validation and forms (complete with admin panel), authentication, and so much more.Later chapters go way above and beyond what I would expect. It goes into advanced topics like browser storage, using a javascript interop to not only read js code in, but even go from .NET to JS or JS to .NET.Basically, I came into this book with the expectation I would use Blazor to build a blog page. What I WASN'T expecting was the amount of depth Jimmy goes into with exactly how everything works and why you would want to use it. Sprinkled through this read was things I didn't even know possible and it opens the door to a lot more experimentation / research.Buy this. You won't be disappointed.

Jimmy Engstrom's "Web Development with Blazor, Second Edition" is a friendly and approachable guide that'll take you on a fun and insightful ride into the world of Blazor. This book is perfect for web development enthusiasts of all skill levels, from newbies to seasoned pros, as it covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques. The second edition is updated with the latest bells and whistles in the world of Blazor, making it a must-have resource for anyone looking to create amazing web applications.Jimmy kicks off the book with a crystal-clear intro to Blazor, giving you the lowdown on its history, why it was created, and what sets it apart from other web development frameworks. He then gets you up to speed with the essential building blocks of Blazor, like Razor components, component parameters, and event handling. This section is a lifesaver for beginners and a great refresher for experienced developers.After laying the groundwork, Jimmy takes you on a deep dive into more advanced topics like Blazor Server, Blazor WebAssembly, and working with JavaScript Interop. In these chapters, you'll learn how to tackle the different hosting models of Blazor, optimize your app's performance, and make the most of existing JavaScript libraries within your Blazor application. Plus, the book covers crucial topics like authentication, authorization, and state management, complete with practical examples and real-world scenarios.What really sets this book apart is its extensive coverage of testing and debugging. Jimmy walks you through a variety of testing techniques, like unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing, explaining the tools and libraries you'll need for each. The debugging section is chock-full of valuable insights and best practices that'll help you quickly identify and fix issues in your applications."Web Development with Blazor, Second Edition" also comes with a bunch of hands-on projects and exercises that give you a chance to put your newfound knowledge to the test. These projects, ranging from simple to-do lists to more complex applications, help reinforce the concepts you've learned and let you apply your skills to real-world situations.Jimmy's writing style is warm, clear, and engaging. He has a real talent for breaking down complicated concepts into easy-to-digest bites, making even the trickiest topics a breeze to understand. The code examples are well-organized, simple to follow, and accompanied by super helpful explanations.The only tiny hiccup in the book is that some sections can feel a bit repetitive, particularly for experienced developers. However, this repetition can actually be helpful for hammering home important concepts and ensuring you've got a rock-solid understanding of the material.All in all, "Web Development with Blazor, Second Edition" by Jimmy Engstrom is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to learn or expand their knowledge of Blazor. With its clear explanations, practical examples, and hands-on projects, it's a must-have addition to any web developer's bookshelf.

Like many books of this type, it's not written for beginners to the platform and assumes you already have experience using these tools in practice and pretty much know what the author knows. I bought this for work as I am transitioning from Framework to .NET Core 7. I got a couple tidbits of information and a little direction on what questions to ask, but this book is hardly a complete guide to understanding the basics. A few extra pages here and there of exposition and explanation in terms of context and structure would have really improved this book.