C# Resources

Here is my base collection of resources on C#. I'm putting this together so when I write articles or reply to e-mails, I have one central place to point people. This is a live post, which means I'll be updating it as needed. Feel free to make your own additions (in the feedback)!

• Visual Studio 2005 C# Express
  Currently free for the first year (till 11/06), then it will be $50. While not quite free (in the long term), it is a very moderate and reasonable price for the power you get.
• Visual Web Developer 2005 Express
  If your primary target is the web (with C# or any other .NET language), use this SKU. You can install both this and C# Express side-by-side. C# Express is geared toward Windows Application and this is for web sites, both support C#.
• Visual Studio 2005
  Again, currently free while in beta, and will be about $800/$560 when released.
• MSDN Subscription
  Various levels of access to all of Microsoft's operating systems and development tools for a year. MSDN Premium costs $1100 to $3200 per year and includes one of the Visual Studio 2005 Team System editions.

So you're starting out and would like my secret to success in C#? You've come to the right place! With you're passion, this is a sure-fire way to success in .NET:

• Get C#
  You can start with the free C# Express (for Windows Applications) or Web Dev Express (for Web Sites, Web Services, etc). Both contain the C# language. These contain great resources when you start them up on learning the language. Go through the tutorials and resources they present on the start screen.
• Study Books
  Particularly the first two or three I list below. Dig into these. Everyone I know who has grasped this content has done well. They teach solid fundamentals, as well as practical application, from which all else stems.
• Subscribe to Blogs
  Start reading on a daily basis the blogs I list below and find others that tickle your fancy. Using an aggregate reader like RSS Bandit is practically a must. Consider starting your own blog where you can post tidbits you learn. Doesn't matter how newbie you may be, others will learn from you. Some of the simplest blog posts are the most useful.
• Use Forums
  Browse through issues other devs are encountering, ask you own questions, and look for questions that you may be able to answer. The more you do so, the better you'll be able to articulate what you're doing, understand it yourself, and learn to help other. This is how I obtained my MVP award.
• Play Around
  The #1 way to really learn is to get in there and do it. Try creating your own projects. Think of cool little things to make and just do it on your own time, a photo slide show, an MP3 tag editor, a way to track friend's birthdays, your own contact's list, a personal website, a database of scrapbooking supplies. Come up with an easy idea, make it, then make it better. A passion of getting in and doing it is the #1 anyone learns (myself included).

Armed with a passion to learn, just by following these 5 steps, you too will quickly become a C# developer.

• MSDN
  Microsoft Developer's Network. The #1 dev resource for anything Microsoft.
• Visual C# Dev Center
  The official C# home site.
• .NET Class Library
  The entire .NET framework class library reference.
• .NET Framework Developer Center
  Microsoft's official development center for everything .NET.
• .NET Rocks! Internet Audio Talk Show
  This is the greatest online weekly talk show where everything .NET is discussed.

• Shared Source CLI
  This is the entire ECMA standard Common Language Infrastructure in C# source code. These are all the Base Class Libraries (BCL) that make up .NET in plain code. See how System, string, XmlDocument, etc is implemented. Extremely valuable educational resource!
• C# Team Downloads
  Many .NET code samples, tools, powertoys, etc from the C# team.
• .NET Downloads
  SDKs, Tools, Utilities, Sample Code all on .NET from MS

• Book: Visual C# .NET Step by Step
  A great place to start learning C# for both Windows and Web Apps. This is my first recommendation to new programmers.
• Book: Inside C#
  Quicker paced and more indepth, this book describes the insides of the language and class libarary more. Another must have.
• Book: Visual C# .NET (Core Reference)
  Various topics in C#, a great book once you understand the basics.
• Book: A Programmer's Introduction to C# (Second Edition)
  Written by Eric Gunnerson, a developer on the C# team.
• Magazine: MSDN Magazine
  The best periodical on .NET technologies. $35/year to subscribe to in the US.

• C# Team FAQ
  The official C# team spoutlet. Once can learn a lot of interesting things here.
• C# on #region Coad's Code
  C# posts on my blog.
• Cyrus' Blather
  Cyrus is a very vocal dev on the C# team and has some of the most lively C# discussions online.
• Eric Gunnerson's C# Compendium
  Eric is a developer on the C# team and one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on C#.
• jaybaz [MS] WebLog
  Jay is a lead developer on the C# team, and another of the most all knowing C# dudes.

• C# Forums
  Microsoft's official support outlet for C# developers. These forums will eventually replace the newsgroups all together.
• C# Newsgroup
  This is the old C# support newsgroup that will be replaced by the C# forum (above).
• .NET Usersgroups
  Find a local .NET support group in your area. They tyically consist of like minded developers, presentations, meetings, prizes, special events, and are a great way to meet other .NET developers face to face.
• GotDotNet
  A community run .NET site sponsored by Microsoft.

#1 place to go, the C# Forums.

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