Anyone recommend a good C# learning CD?

[purbeast0]

First let me tell you my history ...

I'm a CS major and have been doing C++ work for a little over 4 years now. I'm trying to make the transitio nto Java or C# and find a new job, for a variety of reasons.

I came accross tihs Java "class on CD" that a coworker let me borrow, and it refreshed me a lot about Java, little simple tihngs that I had forgotten. I did some advanced Java in college but that's about my extent of Java knowledge. But tihs CD has helped me remember some of it, and I tihnk w/my C++ and OOP knowledge that I have a pretty good foundatioun for Java.

Now my question is, does anyone know of one of these types of "classes on CD" for C#?

The reason I'm asking more about a class on CD instead of a book, is that in general I just learn better this way. I have trouble sitting down and readin a big book to learn, and these interactive CD's help me learn better, as I experienced from this Java disc.

So does anyone have one they recommend?

 

[Markbnj]

I don't absorb a lot from reading thick tomes either, but I haven't used any CD classes such as you describe. I would suggest just downloading Visual Studio Express Edition for C#, point your browser at msdn.microsoft.com, or forums.microsoft.com/mdsn and start trying to write something. There are a ton of tutorials out there on various forums and websites.

 

[Crusty]

I agree with Markbnj. You're already familiar with Java syntax and know C++, picking up the C# syntax will be a cakewalk. It's just about learning the .NET framework, which is similar to the Java framework in many ways(go figure 😉). To learn that, the best way is to just dive in and start coding. VC# Express is a good tool to use as well, plus it's free!

Instead of just buying a CD, make your own content by coding something in C# and learning the language as you go. I find it's easy to take a small application you already wrote in one language and make the equivalent in C# and go from there.

 

[chronodekar]

Since you have experience with C++, I also say that you just download the express edition and start coding something. It's the fastest way to get things started.

🙂


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Remember if you want links to C# based tutorials on-line have a look at,

The Official Free References Thread

And if anyone has any links/suggestions feel free to post up recommendations !!

 

[JasonCoder]

There are a good many tutorial vids on channel9.msdn.com & even youtube of all places. It was actually on a youtube video (yeah I know - watching geek vids on youtube - I'm getting help for it) where I learned how the code accelerators work. For instance in C$ you type "prop" and hit tab to get a nice property code block with getters and setters.

 

[Ken g6]

Being a guy who learned Java in college and then had to learn C# later, I found the biggest problem to be getting into their MSDN library.

First, you must have high-speed internet (or be dialed up all the time). You can't download the documentation like you can with Javadocs. (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Next, start here. That's the root page for .NET 3.5 classes, equivalent to the home page for Javadocs. There are several levels above that because Microsoft decided to combine documentation for all their versions of (I think) all their languages into one giant tree. From there, scroll the tree down to where the System entries start. System is basically equivalent to java.lang; except all the builtin classes for most C# stuff are under the System.* namespace. Oh, and System.Collections == java.util.

From there, do what everyone else suggests - look at a tutorial or two and try coding something. Once you know where to look stuff up, it shouldn't be too different from Java.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Ken g6
Being a guy who learned Java in college and then had to learn C# later, I found the biggest problem to be getting into their MSDN library.

First, you must have high-speed internet (or be dialed up all the time). You can't download the documentation like you can with Javadocs. (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Next, start here. That's the root page for .NET 3.5 classes, equivalent to the home page for Javadocs. There are several levels above that because Microsoft decided to combine documentation for all their versions of (I think) all their languages into one giant tree. From there, scroll the tree down to where the System entries start. System is basically equivalent to java.lang; except all the builtin classes for most C# stuff are under the System.* namespace. Oh, and System.Collections == java.util.

From there, do what everyone else suggests - look at a tutorial or two and try coding something. Once you know where to look stuff up, it shouldn't be too different from Java.

MSDN Library for VS2008 SP1

2.2 gig download :Q

 

[purbeast0]

well thanks for all the replies guys, it sounds like it would be better for me to just go a different route than I had initially planned 🙂

i do have a little app that i wrote for personal use in C++ using the .NET framework, and maybe converting that to C# will be a good start.