Beginning Visual C# 2010

Chapter 1. Introducing C#

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CHAPTER

• What the .NET Framework is and what it contains

• How .NET applications work

• What C# is and how it relates to the .NET Framework

• What tools are available for creating .NET applications with C#

Welcome to the first chapter of the first section of this book. This section will provide you with the basic knowledge you need to get up and running with C#. This chapter provides an overview of C# and the .NET Framework, including what these technologies are, the motivation for using them, and how they relate to each other.

First is a general discussion of the .NET Framework. This technology contains many concepts that are tricky to come to grips with initially. This means that the discussion, by necessity, covers many new concepts in a short amount of space. However, a quick look at the basics is essential to understanding how to program in C#. Later in the book you will revisit many of the topics covered here, exploring them in more detail.

After that general introduction, the chapter provides a basic description of C# itself, including its origins and similarities to C++. Finally, you look at the primary tools used throughout this book: Visual Studio 2010 (VS) and Visual C# 2010 Express (VCE).

WHAT IS THE .NET FRAMEWORK?

The .NET Framework (now at version 4) is a revolutionary platform created by Microsoft for developing applications. The most interesting thing about this statement is how vague it is—but there are good reasons for this. ...