1. Introduction to .NET MAUI with C# & XAML - Getting started with C#

1. Introduction to .NET MAUI with C# & XAML - Getting started with C#

Welcome to the world of C# programming. C# is beginner friendly which makes it an excellent language to start with if you are interested in learning to program. There is also a high demand for C# developers and opportunities for career growth.

Let’s begin by having a closer look at C# and XAML before going step by step through how to write your first C# program.

What is C#?

C# (C-Sharp) is a general purpose, powerful, object-oriented programming language that is structured and easy to learn. It was developed by Microsoft in 2000 and runs on the .NET Framework and can be compiled on a variety of computer platforms. C# is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world and is used to develop web apps, desktop apps, mobile apps and games etc.

It has roots from the C family and has similarities to languages like C++ and Java. It was designed to be a more modern version of C/C++ and is based on the syntax of C++ but has some differences. Systems developed in C/C++ could be translated and modernised with C#.

Here is an example of what a C# program looks like:

A C# program has the following:

Programs: declare types, which contain members and can be organised into namespaces.

Namespace: this is a collection of classes.

Class: this is how objects are defined. A class is a data structure that combines fields and methods in a single unit. A class provides definitions for instances of the class, also know as objects.

Class methods: this is code that identifies an objects behaviour.

Class attributes: a descriptive characteristic of the class.

Main Method: the entry point for the class.

Statements and expressions

Comments: text that is not part of the program. Used to explain what the code does.

References:

Get Started with C# ([w3schools.com](file:///C:/Users/louis/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml))

A tour of C# - Overview - C# | Microsoft Learn

C# | Modern, open-source programming language for .NET ([microsoft.com](file:///C:/Users/louis/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml))