Getting Started with C#

1. Getting Started with C##

Every program you write runs on a physical machine, is written in a language with rules, and is built by a developer using specific tools. This chapter sets the context: what computing is, how C# fits in, and how to set up a working environment.

Hardware and software: Programs run on physical machines through layers of abstraction.
Compilation: A compiler translates C# source code into machine-runnable code.
Development tools: The .NET SDK, terminal, editor or IDE, debugger, and Git work together to help you build, run, test, and track C# programs.
Program structure: Every C# program follows a predictable structural template.

Jumping straight into syntax without context leads to confusion later. Understanding the big picture of hardware, software, compilers, and IDEs gives you a mental model that makes every later topic clearer.

Video

Getting Started with C# & .NET in VS Code (Official Beginner Guide) by Visual Studio Code.

This video remains hosted on YouTube and is the property of its original creator or rightsholder; it is embedded here via YouTube’s official player for educational reference only.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

Explain how source code becomes a running program through compilation or interpretation
Identify the parts of a basic C# program, including the namespace, class, and Main entry point
Install and verify a working .NET SDK and VS Code development environment
Create and run a C# console application from the command line
Use basic Git commands to track and commit changes to your code

Chapter Flow

Glossary

#	Term	Explanation
1	IPO Model	The Input-Process-Output model describing how a program takes input, transforms it, and produces output.
2	SDLC	Software Development Life Cycle; the stages a program moves through from planning to maintenance.
3	Algorithm	A precise, step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task.
4	Expression	A piece of code that evaluates to a value.
5	Compilation	Translating source code into machine-runnable code before the program runs.
6	Interpretation	Executing source code directly, line by line, without a separate compile step.
7	Compiler	A tool that translates source code into an executable program.
8	Interpreter	A tool that reads and executes source code directly.
9	Exception	An unexpected condition that disrupts a program’s normal flow at run time.
10	.NET SDK	The Software Development Kit that provides the tools needed to build and run .NET/C# programs.
11	.NET Runtime	The environment that executes compiled .NET programs.
12	Terminal / Shell	A text-based interface for running commands on your computer.
13	IDE	Integrated Development Environment; a tool that combines editing, building, and debugging.
14	VS Code	A free, cross-platform code editor commonly used for C# development.
15	REPL	Read-Eval-Print Loop; an interactive environment (like csharprepl) for trying out code one expression at a time.
16	Git	A version control system for tracking changes to code over time.
17	Commit	A saved snapshot of changes in a Git repository.
18	Merge Conflict	A situation where Git can’t automatically combine changes from two sources.
19	.NET Template	A starter project structure generated by the `dotnet new` command.
20	Console App	A program that runs in a terminal window rather than a graphical window.
21	Program.cs	The default file name containing a C# program’s entry point.
22	Top-Level Statements	A modern C# feature that lets you write a program’s entry-point code without an explicit `Main` method wrapper.
23	Solution	A container (`.sln`) that groups one or more related C# projects.
24	Project	A `.csproj`-defined unit of code that compiles into an app or library.
25	Code Block	A group of statements enclosed in curly braces `{ }`.