.NET Internationalization: The Developer's Guide to Building Global Windows and Web Applications

Author: Guy Smith-Ferrier
Publisher: Addison-Wesley
ISBN: 0321341384
Retail Price: $49.99 US, $61.99 CDN
Publication Date: August 2006
Softcover: 639 pages
Online information: Table of Contents, Sample chapter, Source Code, Errata, Updates
URL: http://www.awprofessional.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0321341384&rl=1
Author's Website: http://www.dotneti18n.com/

If you never built a multilingual application, you’re in for quite a surprise because it’s not as easy as it’s sound. Building this type of software has always been a challenge but thanks for the .NET Framework, it’s easier then ever. Still, there’s much too learn. “.NET Internationalization: The Developer's Guide to Building Global Windows and Web Applications” is a book targeted at developers that want to globalize their applications. The author is specialized in globalization and it shows. His book covers everything you want to know about the subject and then more. Techniques for the .NET Framework 1.1 and 2.0 are explained in details with code examples in C#.

In the first chapters, Smith-Ferrier explains the concepts behind developing multilingual applications then goes into specifics for Windows Forms and ASP.NET. He then discusses the challenges of Middle East and East Asian cultures and also machine translation. In the last chapters, the author goes deeper and you’ll learn about creating your own cultures and building your own resource managers.

Smith-Ferrier is a very generous author; he provided the source code (available for download) for some very cool helper apps he built. The writing style is also one of the best I’ve seen in a while for a technical book.

Basically, if you’re interested in internationalization, globalization and localization on the .NET platform, this is your Bible, period. High praises for “.NET Internationalization: The Developer's Guide to Building Global Windows and Web Applications”.