Programming for noobs section (C#).

DrTeeth

I have never programmed in my life as a) there are *many* people who do it better than I ever could and b) I have never felt I needed to learn how to do it as I had a need for a program that was not met by somebody else.

That has changed with the Flex. I do not have a "big idea®" but I do have the urge to dabble.

To that end, so as to reduce the 'noise' to the main forum sections, I would like to put forward an idea for a section for programming newbies, preferably focussed to one main language. From what I have read, I would suggest that that language be C#. This would also keep the haunt(s) of the more experienced programmers amongst us clear of simplistic chatter.

Kirk

Guy,

I agree and think your idea a good one.  The only thing I'd like to see and in addition is, what ever AP is generated be useable in Linux.  I use Linux (Debain) almost all of the time and look forward to the day when the 6XXX OS is directly usable in Linux without going through an emulator. 
Kirk, K6KAR

John

Good idea, I dabbled in c++ years back and did a course. I would be interested in my old age to dabble a bit more., However, it would be back to "hello world" again.

Dan -- KC4GO

John,
        The last programming I did was VB6 and VBA. Took a couple of the online how to's for C# and within a couple of weeks I was connecting to the radio I can now discover the radio and read the info. Not sending command yet but with some help from others I have the code and know how to.  I'm 70 and it's still fun to dabble go for it if it sounds like fun. 

Dan -- KC4GO

John

Well that reminded me of a little vb6  I did a while back, but am too **** to get an app I wrote onto my cell phone. I still run the vb6 software from time to time as I do with the c++ compiler, but that's as far as I get. I now prefer to buy software and save my grey hairs for a rainy day...

DrTeeth

@ John. You are lucky to have hairs, let alone grey ones.

@ Everybody else. Saying you like the idea is not sufficient, you *need* to click on the 'LIKE' button on the top right of the page. So far only two people have done so, and one of those is me.

Ken - NM9P

About 9 months ago I played with the Processing language in order to fine tune William's excellent software for the Behringer CMD Micro and PL1 Midi Controllers.  It was fun, but I would like to learn enough C# to port it over to that language. (Why?  I don't know.)  I also started playing with C# and Visual Studio 2013 (or was it 2015) when it was released for Free.  I didn't get very far because I found William's program and "Processing." THen I got stalled on my tower project.  I have an excellent tutorial book that was recommended here on the community.  Now that winter is here, I might like to start up again in my "spare" time!

I think a generic "C# for Flex API" section would be a great idea.  We could also begin sections on "waveform programming" etc .

I would really like to see a simple, comprehensive list of commands that can be sent via the API, such as used by William's software, and another one for the FlexLib.  I have traced down a bunch of them using wireshark, but it would be nice to have a general list with instructions, required & recommended parameters, syntax rules, and examples, like the help files on old MS-DOS....(still available via the Windows "Command" line editor.  I am aware that this would pose a challenge because the command set is constantly changing with every update, but at least a list of the "stable" and usual command set would be very helpful.

Ken - NM9P

James Whiteway

Guy, what you are looking for, C# programming how-to, already exists. While not directed towards Flex programming, it is a great resource. It's called, Microsoft Developer's Network(MSDN). There are several fourms dedicated to those just learning C# as well as those dedicated to using Visual Studio.
Also, there are a ton of videos on MSDN and elsewhere, dedicated to helping folks learn C# (and other languages) and learning their way around Visual Studio. It's all free.
The Smart SDR API forum here can help with questions related to Flexlib. I doubt Flex Radio has the time to set up a forum for learning C#. Or having someone to moderate it and answer questions related to learning a language like C#. MSDN would be a much better resource and people are there 24/7 offering help to new programmers.
James
WD5GWY

DrTeeth

James, many many thanks for those suggestions. I have a fair collection of sites that will be helpful and I have ordered a book to get me going. I like learning and reading from books rather than a screen but still use the latter.

The forum would be a great place to ask those silly and little questions for which an answer cannot be found. It is like when I first started computing as a hobby...I knew a program could do something, but because I did not actually know what the feature was called, I could not find or look up anything about it. I do not envisage the proposed forum as a 'one stop shop'.

The talent available here is awesome and it would be a shame not to be able to use it in a small corner of this site just to help us programming novices over a few hurdles.