C# 3.0 Language Enhancements

I am trying to summarize some of the most visible new C# 3.0 new language features. Here they go…

Automatic properties

Create properties in a single line

public string FirstName { get; set; }

• No internal field required
• Similar to property interface definition
• Easy to upgrade when logic is required

Object initialisers

Quickly initialize properties on new objects

User user = new User { FirstName=”JD” };

• Provides short hand object creation

Collection Initialisers

Similar to object initialisers

List<User> users = new List<User>
{
new User(),
new User()

};

Extension methods

Add new methods to existing types

public static bool ReturnTrue(this string s)
{
return true;
}

• Specific to a given namespace
• Potential upgrade path issues

Implicit types

Infer a type

var number = 600;

int number = 600;

Type is defined at compile time (statically type)

Partial Methods

• Methods in partial classes
  • One with implementation
  • One without implementation
• Primary designed for code-gen

partial void MyMethod();

partial void MyMethod()

{

//method body

}

Lambda Expressions

• Powerful addition for querying
• Lambda calculus
• Introduces the => operator

U => U.FirstName.Length > 5

• Requires value on variable creation
• Required for anonymous types

LINQ

• Language INtegrated Query
• Provides new syntax for querying using Lambda Expressions

If you know any more interesting features then put them in your comments here.