Microsoft 0-7356-1725-2 Net Compact Framework Guide

The Microsoft .NET Compact Framework Guide (ISBN 0-7356-1725-2) is a comprehensive developer reference aimed at building applications for mobile devices and resource-constrained hardware using Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework. Written for intermediate to advanced developers, it walks through the full spectrum of mobile application development — from creating GUI elements with Web Forms to transferring data via XML Web services and managing local and remote data sources. Each technique is illustrated with code samples in both Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET, making it accessible regardless of language preference.

A particularly valuable section addresses disconnected application operation, a critical concern for mobile devices that may not always have network access. The guide also tackles the practical challenge of migrating existing full-framework .NET applications to the Compact Framework's more constrained environment. A quick reference appendix comparing the Compact Framework to the full .NET Framework helps developers quickly identify API differences and limitations. While the .NET Compact Framework has been superseded by modern platforms, this book remains relevant for teams maintaining legacy mobile applications or for developers interested in understanding the foundations of Microsoft's mobile development strategy.