Next to VB.Net, C# is probably the most popular .NET language. It is much easier to learn than the C or C++ language. In my last few years of consulting, C# was the language of choice by several major corporations.
Any .NET language has full access to the .NET libraries. One example of these libraries are System.IO which allows you read/write files and to list the files in a directory. Another is System.Text for dealing with large stirngs or running regular expressions.
Don’t be worried about the cost of the software. The .NET framework is free! But instead of writing your programs in Notepad, you probably also want to download the Visual Studio Express edition (which is also free). The professional and team editions will cost money, but the express edition is enough to get anyone started.
Attending an instructor-lead course is one way to kick start learning C# and Visual Studio. A 5-day intro course typically costs around $2400. Microsoft has authorized training center in most major cities.
If you have experience programming in other languages, you might just want to dive in head first, and try writing some simple programs. If you are already a programmer, you just need to learn some basics such as how to define variables, how to if statements work, how loops work, and how to read/write from the screen or a Windows form.
Learning C# is technically different than learning Visual Studio. Visual Studio is an interactive development environment (IDE). You actually download the C# compiler and .NET framework for free, then write you programs in “NotePad” then compile and run them. But the IDE provides a smoother development environment, and includes things like “Intellisense” or auto-completion, so that when you start to type a variable or library name, the system will help you fill in the rest of the name.
Watching videos is a great way to learn a new language. You can watch code being written on the screen while the trainer provides an explanation. You can even see the mistakes, and learn from them. Videos also give you an idea of the nuances of the IDE.
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