Getting Started with Custom .NET Framework Applications

[StephenWong]

Where can I find information about getting started with ArcObjects and the .NET Framework for the purposes of building a completely custom application with no ESRI GUI components?

Are there any books or articles on this topic?

I'm having trouble even figuring out where the code samples and walkthroughs are after going to the SDK's documentation website (http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/arcobjects-net/conceptualhelp/).

As a final frustration, when I tried making a new project using the SDK's Visual Studio templates, I got the following code in my C# Main method:

            //ESRI License Initializer generated code.
            m_AOLicenseInitializer.InitializeApplication(new esriLicenseProductCode[] { esriLicenseProductCode.esriLicenseProductCodeBasic },
            new esriLicenseExtensionCode[] { });
            Application.EnableVisualStyles();
            Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
            Application.Run(new Form1());
            //ESRI License Initializer generated code.
            //Do not make any call to ArcObjects after ShutDownApplication()
            m_AOLicenseInitializer.ShutdownApplication();

That code gives me the impression that my program can only do ESRI-related stuff while starting up.