C# Learning Curve

Dan -- KC4GO

I have taken on the task of learning C# and playing with the API. This is mostly for knowledge not looking to pin a major application. Some getting started advise would be great. My background is self taught VB6 and several software packages for the Cellular industry in the 90's. Currently taking the online course @ https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/ .
Thanks and Happy Holidays 
Dan --- KC4GO
kc4go@arrl.net

Mark_WS7M

Hi Dan,

I will be glad to help in anyway I can.  You can ping me on email with questions: ws7m@arrl.net and I'll do what I can to answer.

As far as advice here is what I have:

1) Don't try to learn all of C# and .NET at once.   Try to figure out what you need to do based on your application desires and needs.

2) Use google.  Try to formulate what it is you are needing into a question and search for it.  There are tons of examples out there on the net.  And don't hesitate to ask me or someone on this forum.  In my opinion there is no **** question.

3) I'd also recommend pluralsight.com.  They have video based learning courses that are really very good.

4) Lastly, break everything down into the smallest possible piece you can and write a test program or code to try and solve that piece.  IE to build say a Flex control application using the API I'd think if you ended up with 10 or 20 little test programs that started first with radio discovery and ramped up to the point where one of them was actually controlling the radio, that's far better than trying to do everything in one code base.  After you've gotten through them then you start on your real code pulling from your tests.

Just my 2c

Mark - WS7M

James Whiteway

I think using the training courses at Microsoft is a very good idea. I'm not certain, but, I think there is one to help you learn your way around Visual Studio as well. That makes using tutorials much easier. The latest version 2015, is very nice, but can be a bit intimidating to use if you have not used earlier versions of Visual Studio. As Mark suggested, start simple and work your way up slowly to whatever your ultimate goal might be. It's fun and very addicting too! (not to mention frustrating at times) James WD5GWY

Nigel

Hey Dan, good luck in your endeavors.  If you have not used API's i would probably be tempted to try a smaller system to get to grips with C.  I would suggest and Arduino board for starters.

Trouble with jumping in to API programming or usage is not knowing what you should already know and probably more important what to ask.

But hey we all had to start somewhere. 

Props,
Nigel - G0JKN