Good online (free) .NET/C# tutorial?

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suszterpatt

Senior member
Jun 17, 2005
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One of our college courses requires us to make apps in C# that manage databases. The problem is that they don't really teach any of this, so I need to teach myself. I'm completely new to the entire .NET thing, I know C++ but not C#, and I know some very basic SQL, but not how MS SQL Server interfaces with .NET or any of that.

What's the best online resource that kind of walks me through this jungle of a framework step by step?
 
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Train

Lifer
Jun 22, 2000
13,599
90
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www.bing.com
I dont like high level tutorials when it comes to a language.

If your like me, you'll read something that says "this is how to do loops in C#... this is how to do conditionals in C#..... this is how to use the DB connectors in C#...." and be like umm ya, ok, got it :roll:. But not really retain anything.

IMO the only way to truly learn a new language, and make it stick, is to force yourself to go from point A to point B. Point B being a program that does something simple. Perhaps just like a C++ program you've written before... but figuring out what you need to know to get to point B is where the real learning happens. After you've reached your first goal, choose something else that would require you to use a part of C# you dont know yet, plan out your app, then research what you need to know to get to the next "point B".

 
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Apathetic

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2002
2,587
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Here's a C# tutorial from Microsoft.

This is one of my favorite .NET code sites. Not really a tutorial, but there is TONS of code samples/projects that you can download.

Dave
 
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suszterpatt

Senior member
Jun 17, 2005
927
1
81
Originally posted by: Train
I dont like high level tutorials when it comes to a language.

If your like me, you'll read something that says "this is how to do loops in C#... this is how to do conditionals in C#..... this is how to use the DB connectors in C#...." and be like umm ya, ok, got it :roll:. But not really retain anything.

IMO the only way to truly learn a new language, and make it stick, is to force yourself to go from point A to point B. Point B being a program that does something simple. Perhaps just like a C++ program you've written before... but figuring out what you need to know to get to point B is where the real learning happens. After you've reached your first goal, choose something else that would require you to use a part of C# you dont know yet, plan out your app, then research what you need to know to get to the next "point B".
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That's kind of how the course works, and while it's good enough with simple stuff like C++ or even Qt, I personally find it highly ineffective when dealing with something as complex as DB connections in .NET. Basically a class consists of a 45min slideshow of "click here, drag this there, go through this wizard and select these options", after which you end up with pages of generated code that you have absolutely no idea what it really does.

I did write programs with this method in C# before, and while it did familiarize me with the details like what you can do with a picturebox and whatnot, I still lack the general overview of the entire framework. To me, writing stuff this way kind of feels like alchemy, where you put in the ingredients and magically get the desired result, without really knowing why or how you got there. I'd prefer to move from alchemy to chemistry if you know what I mean, and I'm now looking for a good chemistry textbook. :)
 
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Aberforth

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2006
1,707
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Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I love this site

Edit - whoa, didn't realize it was a pay site. I found about 30 videos on Microsoft's ASP.net website about SQL server which were awesome and they were free. I was going to check out the VB.net stuff but don't think I'll pay for it. Here's a link for some of their vids.
Click to expand...

That's a very good site, I have an account there, it has saved me more than twice when I needed to accomplish something very quickly. I am waiting for them to post .NET 3.5 videos but I already got my MCTS .net 3.5 so I'll just download for the sake of collection. btw www.asp.net is cool too
 
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