C# Learning C#

[HaloMaster2610 1]

Hi All

 

Well I have decided to start programming with c#. I have touched programming with vb but I stopped learning and forgot most of it. I am now starting from scratch learning programming with C#. I was wondering if any of you guys have any good learning resources. I have come across many tutorials on youtube and non of them are really that good that I have seen. Also I have had a look at some books in amazon and I am unsure what book to buy. I was just looking for your personal opinion on what to book to buy and what videos to watch that are really good and help with learning C#.

 

Thanks in advanced. 

 

 

[bfixer117 247]

C# is kinda like vb so i would start with simple programs like a text editor or calculator to start

But buying a book might help like u said u were looking into

[WaeV 38]

Is there any particular reason you've decided to learn C#? I think it's a good language, but if C# is all you use it's easy to become dependent on Visual Studio.

 

Do you have any projects in mind?

[p0iz0n 154]

Is there any particular reason you've decided to learn C#? I think it's a good language, but if C# is all you use it's easy to become dependent on Visual Studio.

 

Do you have any projects in mind?

HaloMaster, when you are starting out stick to C#, even though I have been 'starting out' for about 4 years or so lol.

C# is a great language, and it can be as basic and beginner as you want, or it can be advanced, its just the way you use it, I use it all the time.

When you are comfortable with C# you can start expanding (Java is great for a second language as it has a lot of similarities with C#)

As bfixer said start out with the basics. The best tutorials are the ones that have you write the code yourself and explain everything so you understand, if you find yourself just copying and pasting code, then it might be best to find a new tutorial.

That's about all the advice I can think of off the top of my head.

Good Luck

[HaloMaster2610 1]

C# is kinda like vb so i would start with simple programs like a text editor or calculator to start

But buying a book might help like u said u were looking into

Okay thankyou for the info. Would you have any books in mind that are good?

 

Is there any particular reason you've decided to learn C#? I think it's a good language, but if C# is all you use it's easy to become dependent on Visual Studio.

 

Do you have any projects in mind?

Yes. I was thinking about starting with console applications and doing basic things with that and then move onto programming involving a GUI. Would you happen to know any like programs I could start with doing this?Also would you know of any video tutorials that are good?At first I wanted to do c# but then I was sorta convinced by the interwebs to do c++ as I am not just stuck to windows. But it also put me off people saying it was hard and challenging and that starting with an easier'ish language will help. Therefore I went with c#.

 

HaloMaster, when you are starting out stick to C#, even though I have been 'starting out' for about 4 years or so lol.

C# is a great language, and it can be as basic and beginner as you want, or it can be advanced, its just the way you use it, I use it all the time.

When you are comfortable with C# you can start expanding (Java is great for a second language as it has a lot of similarities with C#)

As bfixer said start out with the basics. The best tutorials are the ones that have you write the code yourself and explain everything so you understand, if you find yourself just copying and pasting code, then it might be best to find a new tutorial.

That's about all the advice I can think of off the top of my head.

Good Luck

Okay thank you very much for the advice . You say the best tutorials are were you code yourself. So do I start with like books and video tutorials and then mess around with the basic code they have given me there?If you happen to know of any good books or vids I could take a look at that would be great. 

 

 

Thanks all for the great replies and advice also thanks in advanced again to anyone else that replies.

Edited April 25, 2013 by HaloMaster2610

[p0iz0n 154]

Well I learnt just off of internet text tutorials. I find those the best as I can understand them much more easily, plus they're free There are a ton of great ones out there.

BTW I started with GUI application, just involving drag and drop, rather than programatically adding GUI.

[HaloMaster2610 1]

Well I learnt just off of internet text tutorials. I find those the best as I can understand them much more easily, plus they're free There are a ton of great ones out there.BTW I started with GUI application, just involving drag and drop, rather than programatically adding GUI.

Okay thanks. Could you guide me to any text tutorials that you find good?

[p0iz0n 154]

Okay thanks. Could you guide me to any text tutorials that you find good?

This gives you a lot of information on the .NET framework itself, I don't know that much about it never need it, but it also shows you how to set up for coding. Chapter 3 is where you start actually coding an application:

http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/anandnarayanswamy/CSTutorial1AN11282005015140AM/CSTutorial1AN.aspx

Here's a list of some other good tutorials to get you started:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa288436%28VS.71%29.aspx

(Some are more advanced than others, I recommend starting with the Hello World App)

And this is great for absolute beginners:

http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk/csharp/csharp.html

(This goes into super basics, which may seem patronising, but trust me you will feel a lot more comfortable coding if you actually know how everything works and why it works like that, than if you just knew how to do it, hard to explain but you'll understand eventually)

There ya go

[WaeV 38]

(Edit: Based on the types of projects you sound interested in, as well as Python's general merits as a language) I recommend starting with Python more than C#, but it's not a life or death decision.

 

"The hard way" tutorials which make you copy + type out all the code are really good. Typing out code really is the best way to learn, especially when you're getting started.

 

http://programming-motherfucker.com/become.html

Edited April 26, 2013 by WaeV

[p0iz0n 154]

I recommend starting with Python more than C#, but it's not a life or death decision.

 

"The hard way" tutorials which make you copy + type out all the code are really good. Typing out code really is the best way to learn, especially when you're getting started.

 

http://programming-motherfucker.com/become.html

I would have to disagree. If he's just starting out, he shouldn't really jump straight into the deep end. Learning the hard way isn't really for total beginners to programming in general. Starting out slow and easy can be really beneficial while tutorials that really make you grind can turn away new programmers, and make it quite easy to give up.

[WaeV 38]

I think you misunderstand "The Hard Way" tutorials.
 

The best tutorials are the ones that have you write the code yourself and explain everything so you understand, if you find yourself just copying and pasting code, then it might be best to find a new tutorial.

This is what "The Hard Way" tutorials do - it's about typing code out yourself and having it explained to you.
 

The Hard Way Is Easier
The title says it's the hard way to learn to write code; but it's actually not. It's only the "hard" way because it's the way people used to teach things using instruction. This book instructs you in Python by slowly building and establishing skills through techniques like practice and memorization, then applying them to increasingly difficult problems.

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/intro.html

 

The name is making fun of all those "Learn X in 24 Hours" books you find everywhere. Ultimately, the "easy" ways all  suck. It's like the dark side -- taking the quick and easy path leads to failure.

Edited April 25, 2013 by WaeV

[p0iz0n 154]

I think you misunderstand "The Hard Way" tutorials.

 

This is what "The Hard Way" tutorials do - it's about typing code out yourself and having it explained to you.

 

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/intro.html

Sure, they are great tutorials. But what I am getting at is, they are probably not what is best for an absolute beginner to all types of programming. I am guessing that Halo Master doesn't have a proper understanding of variables etc.

Also, I am not sure if he is interested in Python right now anyway, he was asking for C#...

[WaeV 38]

they are probably not what is best for an absolute beginner to all types of programming.

I'm not sure what makes you think that.

 

In any case, HaloMaster, this page will help you get a Python environment set up (Mac, Windows, or Linux).

And here is the Table of Contents.

 

You'll start with a very simple program, then learn about comments and variables. By the end, you'll start working on simple games and some web programming.

 

No matter which language you start learning, I recommend listening to Zed's "Advice From an Old Programmer" (here's a snippet)

 

What I discovered after this journey of learning is that it's not the languages that matter but what you do with them. Actually, I always knew that, but I'd get distracted by the languages and forget it periodically. Now I never forget it, and neither should you.

 

Which programming language you learn and use doesn't matter. Do not get sucked into the religion surrounding programming languages as that will only blind you to their true purpose of being your tool for doing interesting things.

Edited April 25, 2013 by WaeV

[HaloMaster2610 1]

Okay thank you for the comments and advice I have been given

 

I'm not sure what makes you think that.
 
In any case, HaloMaster, this page will help you get a Python environment set up (Mac, Windows, or Linux).
And here is the Table of Contents.
 
You'll start with a very simple program, then learn about comments and variables. By the end, you'll start working on simple games and some web programming.
 
No matter which language you start learning, I recommend listening to Zed's "Advice From an Old Programmer" (here's a snippet)
 

So do you think I should start with a different language and in this case python?Will it help. I have looked at the internet and it is said also that if you start with a harder language which they(the people on this forum)said that C++ for example it is easier to learn a harder/more challenging languge first and then moving onto other languages will be a whole lot easier. 

 

Sure, they are great tutorials. But what I am getting at is, they are probably not what is best for an absolute beginner to all types of programming. I am guessing that Halo Master doesn't have a proper understanding of variables etc.
Also, I am not sure if he is interested in Python right now anyway, he was asking for C#...

I have some understanding as I did some vb. But it is all the basics like you said variables, data types and all that. I have read through some of the links you gave me. The mdsn one has all these tutorials which say simple by the side of them and I am having trouble understand what command line arguments actually are. I am not sure if I a missing anything there or in any of the tutorials?any help for this? 

 

 

Thanks in advanced to any further posts and replies

[WaeV 38]

Zed's advice is really important, I think - languages don't matter much, except when you get too hung up on them (which is bad).
 
For that reason, I don't want to try too hard to convince you to learn Python, because it doesn't really matter. On the other hand, I will try to convince you not to become dependent on Visual Studio or too attached to a language like C++ as being the end-all-be-all (no language is).
 
Many things in C++ are fiddly, annoying, frustrating, and inconsistent. A large part of programming is trying to keep things simple and avoiding unnecessary complexity. 3D graphics engines written by teams of 30+ people are written in C++ because it is unavoidable, not because it is a pleasant or productive language. C# is a more pleasant and productive language than C++, but if you learn it first it will be difficult to leave the womb-like comfort of Visual Studio when it is time for you to learn a second language. There are many good alternatives, and Python is one I believe is a very strong choice for a learning programmer.

 

 

A good beginner's tutorial will teach you important concepts which will serve you well in all languages, such as a clean, readable programming style. You should learn basic data structures and algorithms, including a few sorting algorithms. You will learn to read and write from files, and to prompt for user input at the command line. You will also learn recursion. Later, in addition to writing command-line programs you will also branch out into GUI (windowed) applications and/or web applications. From there, the world is your oyster. Keep learning and keep branching out! Also, make sure to invest your time in fun projects! I always liked implementing some sort of dungeon-crawler game.

 

If you're interested in some reading, Eric S. Raymond's How To Become A Hacker is one of the best articles on becoming a good programmer, but I think he would agree that the best way to get started is to... get started! Go forth and make something!