C#.NET Programming

C#.NET Getting Started

By Hafeez Mohammed

Introduction

C# is a simple but powerful programming language intended for writing enterprise applications.

The C# language is an evolution of C and C++. It uses many C++ features in the areas of statements, expressions, and operators.

C# introduces considerable improvement and innovations in areas such as type safety, versioning, events, and garbage collection.

C# provides access to the common API styles: .NET Framework, COM, Automation, and C-style APIs. It also supports unsafe ("The unsafe keyword denotes an unsafe context, which is required for any operation involving pointers") mode, where you can use pointers to manipulate memory that is not under the control of the garbage collector.

Why use C#.NET

C# is an elegant, simple, type-safe, object-oriented language that allows enterprise programmers to build a breadth of applications.

C# also gives you the capability to build durable system-level components by virtue of the following features:

• Full COM/Platform support for existing code integration.
• Robustness through garbage collection and type safety.
• Security provided through intrinsic code trust mechanisms.
• Full support of extensible metadata concepts.

You can also interoperate with other languages, across platforms, with legacy data, by virtue of the following features:

• Full interoperability support through COM+ 1.0 and .NET Framework services with tight library-based access.
• XML support for wWeb-based component interaction.
• Versioning to provide ease of administration and deployment.

C#.NET will be big business.

So What is C# Anyway

Now this .NET Framework essentially sits on top of the operating system. And it handles everything from memory management to rendering a user interface.

When you program in C#.NET, you're dealing with this framework thing. And that framework thing brings with it a bunch of 'classes' that provide you with a heap of functionality – from a function to reverse a string through to procedures that really take you to the heart of the operating system, perhaps procedures that had never before been available to VB developers.

In addition, the framework allows you to forget about memory management. It's incredibly scalable and even brings an end to the infamous 'DLL Hell' by getting rid of GUIDs, registration and all that automatically.

It's the framework that allows you to create in C#.NET everything from DOS-style console applications through to Web sites – in just the same way as you would any regular desktop application!

But what is this framework? Is it a program? Is it an operating system? What?

It's actually all of those things. It's an 'upgrade' if you like – an add-on to Windows. It's incredibly useful and it will soon be bundled by default with every Microsoft operating system. In the meantime, you'll find it on the Windows Component Update CD that ships with Visual Studio.NET.

Remember– you need the .NET Framework before you can run any program created in a .NET language.

Let me guess what you are thinking!

Which is better VB.NET or C#.NET?

Every .NET language code gets compiled to IL code (Intermediate Language or MSIL) which then runs on the .NET Platform. Infact all languages on the .NET produce the same IL code. It does not matter if you use VB.NET, C#, COBOL.NET, Perl.NET or any other language on the .NET they ALL PRODUCE THE SAME IL CODE. So now on the .NET all languages have the same efficiency and power. Its just the developers choice to choose the language whose syntax he is most comfortable with. 

Is C# better than Java?

The argument of C# vs Java has no base, its like debating on why you like apples while I like oranges! but since the question had arised here's my 2 cents on which is better.

The main debate should be between the .NET Platform and the Sun Java VM (virtual machine). All languages on the .NET gain their powers from the .NET Platform.
If you stay in touch with the news then you would know that it was Microsoft who had made the fastest Java VM. They could achieve it by tweaking the VM to give a better performance over Intel platforms. Although due to the legal problems this project along with the VJ++ project has been discontinued.

Just to tell you how serious Microsoft is about the .NET Platform, they have spent 4 billion dollars and more in the research and development of .NET and have pledged to devote 80% of their R&D in the year 2001-02 on the .NET Platform.

We have already see how Microsoft has ambitiously taken over the market in the past when Windows gained popularity over Macintosh (which people still think is a superior OS). Also the Netscape and IE war was won by Microsoft despite Microsoft's late entry into the browser market.
When such a ambitious company is spending so much resources it sure has to have a strong strategy and product!

Microsoft had developed the fastest Java VM which reports say is 5x faster than the Sun VM. They have learned a lot from their previous ventures. The Sun Java VM does not perform any CPU specific optimizations. Although I have heard about the new HotSpot VM from Sun, but its just a code caching mechanism.

Microsoft on the other hand is perusing much ahead in the CPU specific optimizations. Be sure these optimizations are made to the JITer and has not effect on the code you compile and this does not make your code Platform Dependent. What these optimizations do? Say Microsoft finds that a particular instruction performed on a Intel P-III gives a higher performance and the same instruction should be performed in a different way on a AMD Durathon, it tweaks the JIT'er for the specific CPU so that it optimizes the performance of your applications according to your CPU. Such optimizations helps you to utilize the true power of the CPU. 
If you go the Java way, a Java program would more or less perform the same on a Intel 1hz or a AMD 1hz without taking into consideration the special features of the CPU. The .NET Platform will provide different JIT'ers for the Intel as well as AMD CPU's so that it can utilize all the special instruction sets which the 2 CPU's have allowing you to realize the value of the money you have invested in buying a specific processor. 

Is C#, C+++ ( a new version of C++)?

C# is not a upgrade to C++. C# is a totally new Object oriented programming language. You could say its much more easier and Object oriented than C/ C++.

Where do I go to get C# Compiler?

The C# compiler is not distributed as a separate entity yet. You will need to download the .NET SDK (131 Mb) from http://msdn.microsoft.com/net . The SDK contains the C#, VB.NET, JScript Compilers and full documentation and its Free for download.

How easy is it to learn C#?

If you are a Java programmer then you will find it very easy to migrate to C#. Also if you are a C / C++ programmer then you will find much similar syntax of C#.

Is C# Platform Independant?

C# applications cannot run without the .NET runtime. At present the .NET platform has been released for Win98/ME and Win NT/2000/XP. Microsoft plans to release the .NET runtime for other platforms soon. Now if, a .NET runtime has been released for your platform then all the .NET programs will run on your platform.

This is quite similar to the working of SUN Java which is considered to be Platform Independent. In the case of Sun Java you need to install a Java Virtual Machine on your Platform to run Java programs. If your platform does not have a Java VM then it cannot run Java programs. So, conceptually Java VM is similar to the .NET Runtime Environment(not literally though).

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