How to become a C# Programmer
So you want to be a C# programmer? In this article, I will
try to answer your questions.
Before I start, let me emphasize that some people use terms such
as coder and developer for a programmer. In this article, I am talking about a
person who writes code.
Are you a programmer material?
Programming has to be in your blood. Not everybody is
programming material. You need to make sure you are that material.
Computer programming is not a rocket science but neither is
it an art
![CsharpProgrammer.png]()
Computer programming is about logic, analysis, solving
problems and finding the optimal solutions of problems. Problem solving is
directly proportional to your logical and analytical skills. If you have these
two skills, you are almost qualified to become a programmer.
Before you say, "Ahh .. Let's start programming today", you
really need to understand what it takes to become a good programmer.
Programming is problem
solving.
But I always believe in one more skill. That is dedication. If
you are fully committed to it and you have time, you will do well. Time is the
key though. Programming is not something you can learn quickly. It's just so
much to cover. Not only do you need to understand and speak (alright! at least
type) what computers speak but you also need to know how to create that
language for the problem.
Some people ask:
"How much time it will take me to learn C# programming?"
Answer: Nobody knows!
Nobody knows. There is no timeframe for learning
programming. You're never finished learning. I have seen programmers that have
been programming for 50 years and still learning.
So, if you are thinking, if I am finished with 2 years, I
will be done. Forget it. Programming is not for you. A programmer never stops
learning.
A good programmer needs to be persistent. Another word for
persistent is stubborn. All programmers become confused but a good programmer
does not give up. There will be times when you are very confused and you think
it is impossible to figure something out. When that happens, take a break. If
you are a good programmer, you will not give up. You will however return to the
problem and solve it.
You must enjoy thinking; not everyone does.
"A programmer must
enjoy thinking."
- Sam
Hobbs, Author C# Corner
Some programmers must be taught programming and related
skills. A good programmer can read books, documentation and other resources and
learn on their own.
I started programming in 1993 in college and am still
learning. Every year there is something new. There is always something to learn.
You must be prepared to read
documentation every day you program. Reading documentation can be frustrating
and you must understand that it takes time to learn things. I cannot emphasize
enough the requirement to read documentation and other resources.
Becoming a C# Programmer
If you are still reading this article, I assume you are
programming material. You have all the skills it needs to be a programmer and
on top of that, you have plenty of time.
Step 1: Download and Install Tools
To write your C# code, compile, build and run it, you need a
tool. There are several tools for this but the best tool is Visual Studio 2012.
Visual Studio Express 2012 is a free tool for students and
beginners. You can download it here:
Download
Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop
Step 2: Learning Material
Next, you need a very basic book. Here is a very basic book
that will teach you the basics of the C# language and help you learn to write
basic programs.
Here is a good article:
Books
are a good way to start programming.
Step 3: Pick a Track
Congratulations! After
finishing Step 2, you're officially a C# programmer. But just knowing the C#
language will not take you too far. You must know one of the technologies that
is used to build commercial applications.
There are three different tracks for you:
- Windows Desktop Applications
- Web Applications
- Windows Store Apps
Windows Desktop
Applications are traditional Windows applications and they run on your
local machine. Windows Desktop applications are built using two major
technologies – Windows Forms and Windows
Presentation Foundation (WPF). Windows Forms are an old technology and WPF is a
new technology. I would recommend using WPF. Some examples of Windows
applications are Outlook, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, Notepad, Internet
Explorer, Graphics tools and so on. You can get started with WPF
here >. It is always a good idea to buy a WPF book from your local
store. We have also listed hundreds of basic tutorials on various topics on WPF
in C# Corner.
Web Applications
are usually Websites that run on a Web Server and can be accessed from anywhere
in the world. Web Applications are built using ASP.NET, HTML 5, JavaScript and related technologies. Some
examples of Web applications are Facebook, C# Corner, Google, Yahoo,
TimesOfIndia.com, and your online banking. Here are good resources about
ASP.NET:
Universal Windows are a new technology that only runs on the Windows 10 operating system. You can
build Windows Store apps using C#/XAML or HTML 5/JavaScript combo. This is very
new and it does not have too much scope in the commercial world yet. I would
not recommend this for students or beginners.
Universal Windows Apps requires you understanding of C# and XAML.
Step 4: Wrap it up!
Congratulations Again!
Now you are on your own. You can start learning from a book. Come online on C#
Corner and read articles here. Work with some people on a project. Join a company
as an intern and put in more and more time.
Programming requires a lot of time and dedication. The more time
you spend, the better you get.
Good
Luck!
Authors
Sam Hobbs and Mahesh Chand
Author Note
This is an open-dialog article. Feel free to post your opinion about this
topic by clicking on Add your contents and source code to this article below.
More Readings
Here are some good readings