1️⃣ C# Getting Started – Learn How to Set Up and Run Your First C# Program

C# is a modern, powerful, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft. Whether you’re building web apps, desktop software, cloud APIs, or Unity games, learning how to get started with C# is your first step into the world of .NET development.

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🧲 Introduction – Why Start with C#?

C# is designed for productivity, scalability, and type safety. Its integration with the .NET platform makes it one of the most versatile languages for modern development. With strong IDE support and an active community, it’s a great language for both beginners and professionals.

🎯 In this guide, you’ll explore:

• What C# is and where it’s used
• How to set up your development environment
• The structure of a basic C# program
• Compilation tools and online compilers
• Running C# on local servers and cloud platforms

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📘 Topics Covered

Subtopic	Description
🏠 C# Home / Introduction / Overview	Language history, purpose, and use cases
🚀 Getting Started with C#	Tools needed and a simple “Hello, World!” example
🖥️ Environment Setup	Installing .NET SDK and choosing your IDE
🧱 C# Program Structure	Syntax, entry point, and layout
⚙️ C# Compiler / Online Compiler	Local and cloud-based compilation options
🌐 C# Server Setup	Running C# apps on localhost or cloud infrastructure

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🏠 1.1 C# Home / C# Introduction / C# Overview

🧩 Definition:

C# (C-Sharp) is a modern, type-safe, object-oriented language built by Microsoft in 2000 as part of the .NET framework. It is ideal for a wide variety of applications—from enterprise systems to mobile and game development.

🧠 Core Highlights:

• Developed under the .NET Framework by Anders Hejlsberg
• Follows key OOP principles: encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism
• Runs on the .NET CLR (Common Language Runtime)

📌 Usage Areas:

• 🌐 Web Development (ASP.NET Core)
• 🎮 Game Development (Unity Engine)
• 📱 Mobile Apps (Xamarin, .NET MAUI)
• ☁️ Cloud Services (Azure Functions, APIs)
• 💻 Desktop Applications (WinForms, WPF)

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🚀 1.2 C# Get Started

🧩 Definition:

Getting started means configuring your system to write, compile, and run basic C# applications.

🛠️ Tools You Need:

Tool	Purpose
Visual Studio	Full-featured IDE for .NET development
VS Code	Lightweight editor with C# extensions
.NET SDK	Compiler and runtime engine (v6–v8)

🔤 First Program – Hello World

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
    }
}

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🖥️ 1.3 C# Environment Setup

🧩 Definition:

Set up your system with an IDE and the .NET SDK to begin building and running C# projects.

🧪 Steps to Set Up:

1. 💾 Download .NET SDK from dotnet.microsoft.com
2. 💻 Install an IDE:
   • Visual Studio (best for Windows/macOS)
   • Visual Studio Code (lightweight, cross-platform)
   • JetBrains Rider (cross-platform and feature-rich)
3. ✅ Verify installation:
   Run dotnet --version in terminal or CMD.

📁 Typical Folder Structure:

MyApp/
├── Program.cs
└── MyApp.csproj

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🧱 1.4 C# Program Structure

🧩 Definition:

A C# application is composed of namespaces, classes, and the Main() method which serves as the program’s entry point.

📐 Example Structure:

using System;

namespace HelloWorldApp
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Welcome to C# Programming");
        }
    }
}

🔎 Components:

• using – Imports namespaces (like System)
• namespace – Logical grouping of code
• class – Encapsulates data and behavior
• Main() – The starting point of execution

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⚙️ 1.5 C# Compiler / C# Online Compiler

🧩 Definition:

The C# compiler translates human-readable .cs code into Intermediate Language (IL), which the CLR then executes via JIT or AOT.

⚙️ How to Compile:

• 🖥️ Locally: dotnet build
• 🌐 Online Compilers:
  • 🎯 .NET Fiddle
  • 🌐 Replit (C#)
  • 🧪 Try .NET

📌 Compilation Flow:

C# Code → IL → CLR (JIT/AOT) → .dll / .exe

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🌐 1.6 C# Server Setup

🧩 Definition:

Deploying or testing C# web applications requires a server environment capable of running ASP.NET Core apps.

🔧 Popular Hosting Options:

Server	Description
🌀 Kestrel	Default cross-platform server for .NET Core
🧱 IIS	Windows-based full-featured web server
🐳 Docker	Containerized deployment for microservices
☁️ Azure / AWS	Cloud hosting platforms for .NET apps

🛠️ Basic Localhost Setup:

dotnet new webapp -o MyWebApp
cd MyWebApp
dotnet run

✅ This spins up a local server at https://localhost:5001 by default.

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📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps

C# is a powerful and versatile language built for modern development. From setting up your IDE to running your first program and understanding compilers and servers, you’ve just taken the first step in becoming a confident C# developer.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• C# is modern, cross-platform, and part of the .NET ecosystem
• Start with Visual Studio and the .NET SDK
• Understand the structure and compilation flow of C# programs
• Use Kestrel, IIS, or Docker for running server-based C# applications

⚙️ Real-World Relevance:

• Web apps, desktop tools, mobile apps, game development, and cloud APIs

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❓ FAQs

❓ Do I need Windows to run C#?

✅ No, you can run and compile C# on Linux and macOS using .NET SDK and Visual Studio Code.

❓ Is Visual Studio Code enough for C#?

✅ Yes! With the right extensions (like C# by OmniSharp), VS Code is fully capable of compiling and running C#.

❓ Can I run C# in the browser?

✅ You can use online compilers like .NET Fiddle or use Blazor to run C# in WebAssembly.

❓ What’s the easiest way to test C# code without installing anything?

✅ Use dotnetfiddle.net or replit.com for browser-based testing.

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