QuickStart C#

Learning to Program in C#
Amy Roberge & John Linehan
November 7, 2005
Applied Computing Technology Laboratory

The C# Programming Language

Developed in 2000
Created by Microsoft as part of their .NET platform to
unite programming languages for web based usage
Microsoft chose the chief programmer of Delphi,
Anders Hejlsberg, to lead the development of C#
Based on C++ and Java. More of an extension of
existing languages than a new one.
The name C# is supposed to be a progression of C++
and the # contains four + symbols
.NET is proprietary. Mono is an open source project
led by Novell to make a compatible set of .NET tools
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C# vs. Java

Similarities

Require a virtual
machine
Similar syntax
Automatic garbage
collection
Object oriented
Large class library

C# over Java

Allows structs
Switch statements can
be applied to strings
(vs. characters or
numbers)
Support for output
parameters, allowing
multiple values to be
returned

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C# Advantages
Only

allows single inheritance, but can

implement any number of interfaces
Provides a balance of C++, rapid
development, Visual Basic, Delphi, and
Java
Automatic garbage collection

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C# Disadvantages
Requires

the .NET Runtime Environment

to run
More

overhead

Doesnt

have true multiple inheritance

Unsafe code is required to manage
memory directly and can be very
complex and difficult to debug

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C# Specification

Available from MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network):

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/programming/language/
Current as of 3/2005, C# 2.0

Explains:

Grammar
Structure
Generics
Types, values, variables, iterators
Type conversions and promotions
Classes, methods
Arrays, exceptions, execution, blocks, statements,
expressions, declarations, interfaces, arguments

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C# Grammar

Available on MSDN web site

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/enus/csspec/html/vclrfcsharpspec_c.asp

Example:

Type:
Identifier [TypeArguments]{ . Identifier [TypeArguments]} {[]}
BasicType
TypeArguments:
< TypeArgument {, TypeArgument} >
TypeArgument:
Type ? [( extends | super ) Type]
Identifier:
IDENTIFIER
BasicType:
byte | short | char | int | long | float | double | boolean

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Reserved Words
abstract

as

base

bool

break

byte

case

catch

char

checked

class

const

continue

decimal

default

delegate

do

double

else

enum

event

explicit

extern

false

finally

fixed

float

for

foreach

goto

if

implicit

in

int

interface

internal

is

lock

long

namespace

new

null

object

operator

out

override

params

private

protected

public

readonly

ref

return

sbyte

sealed

short

sizeof

stackalloc

static

string

struct

switch

this

throw

true

try

typeof

uint

ulong

unchecked

unsafe

ushort

using

virtual

void

volatile

while

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Step 1: Getting Started

Download

& install .NET Framework

SDK 1.1:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9b3a2ca6-3647-4070
-9f41-a333c6b9181d&displaylang=en

Double-click

on file to run installer

Follow all the defaults

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Step 2: SharpDevelop
Opensource

IDE
Download & install SharpDevelop from:
http://www.icsha`rpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/Download/

Run

the installation and launch

SharpDevelop

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Step 3: Write a simple program

File->New->Combine
Select

C# category and new Console

Application template and click Create
Name project Hello World
SharpDevelop recognizes the Hello
World name and automatically produces
the code
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Hello World
using System;
namespace Hello_World
{
class MainClass
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");
}
}
}
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Step 4: Run the program

Click

Build
Select Build Combine
View the console at the bottom for
progress
After the file is compiled, select Debug
and then click Run.
Watch the command prompt window
open and display the output
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Learning more about C#

Visit

the QuickStart Languages web site

Visit

the Microsoft Developer Center

http://actlab.csc.villanova.edu/quickstart
Visit C# Station
http://www.csharp-station.com/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/
Find

Helpful C# tools

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/programming/tools/

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp
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