C Sharp
Introduction to C# .NET and the .NET Platform
In this chapter, you will
• Learn about the .NET Framework
• Become familiar with the .NET languages
• Discover the environment surrounding C# .NET
• Compile your first C# program
• Learn the basics of the C# language
• Be introduced to object-oriented programming
• Learn to use abstraction and encapsulation
• Learn to differentiate between instance data and class data
If you have been around the programming world for a while, you may have some experience with languages such as Visual Basic, C++, or Java. These languages commonly provide desktop solutions, and over the years have had to expand their reach to include
“enterprise” development. In order to accommodate the concepts of distributed programming, reusable software, and platform independence, languages were extended and programming structures were put into place. These additions include such things as Component Object Model (COM), Distributed Component Object Model
(DCOM), Transaction servers and Application servers. Microsoft was quick to notice that a shift in development practices began with the introduction of Internet programming.
The Internet necessitated some kind of common interface to be placed in front of the user. The software languages were struggling to provide scripted or interpreted environments that could run in a browser on every kind of platform. If you have ever had to work with plug-ins, browser incompatibility, slow scripted languages, or out-of-date runtime environments, you will understand the difficulties that developers faced over the past five years.
You will also appreciate the excitement over Microsoft’s latest offering to the world— the .NET platform. This platform means different things to different people. For the world of network administrators, it means new service applications, such as Microsoft
Exchange 2000 Server, Microsoft SQL 2000 Server, and the soon-to-be-released
Microsoft .NET Servers.
3
In this chapter, you will
• Learn about the .NET Framework
• Become familiar with the .NET languages
• Discover the environment surrounding C# .NET
• Compile your first C# program
• Learn the basics of the C# language
• Be introduced to object-oriented programming
• Learn to use abstraction and encapsulation
• Learn to differentiate between instance data and class data
If you have been around the programming world for a while, you may have some experience with languages such as Visual Basic, C++, or Java. These languages commonly provide desktop solutions, and over the years have had to expand their reach to include
“enterprise” development. In order to accommodate the concepts of distributed programming, reusable software, and platform independence, languages were extended and programming structures were put into place. These additions include such things as Component Object Model (COM), Distributed Component Object Model
(DCOM), Transaction servers and Application servers. Microsoft was quick to notice that a shift in development practices began with the introduction of Internet programming.
The Internet necessitated some kind of common interface to be placed in front of the user. The software languages were struggling to provide scripted or interpreted environments that could run in a browser on every kind of platform. If you have ever had to work with plug-ins, browser incompatibility, slow scripted languages, or out-of-date runtime environments, you will understand the difficulties that developers faced over the past five years.
You will also appreciate the excitement over Microsoft’s latest offering to the world— the .NET platform. This platform means different things to different people. For the world of network administrators, it means new service applications, such as Microsoft
Exchange 2000 Server, Microsoft SQL 2000 Server, and the soon-to-be-released
Microsoft .NET Servers.
3