.NET Beginner Series Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker: Cloudo
• Topic: Overview of .NET

What is .NET?

• Definition:
  • Free and open-source cross-platform development platform.
• Key Features:
  • Free: No charges to use .NET.
  • Open Source: Code is publicly visible; community can contribute via pull requests (PRs).
  • Cross-Platform: Runs on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows.
  • Development Platform: Includes programming languages and libraries to build applications.

Supported Languages and Tools

• Languages:
  • C# (recommended for beginners)
  • F# (functional programming language)
• Tools:
  • Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) such as Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code.

Recommended Starting Point

• For beginners, it is recommended to start with C# using Visual Studio Code.

What Can You Build with .NET?

• Almost anything, including:
  • Web applications and services
  • Mobile and desktop applications (with a single codebase)
  • Cloud-native applications
  • IoT applications
  • APIs

.NET vs .NET Framework

• .NET Framework:
  • First version, only runs on Windows.
  • Source code available but does not accept community contributions.
  • Regular updates for security and reliability.
• Modern .NET:
  • Supports multiple operating systems (Linux, Mac OS, Windows).
  • Open-source with community contributions.
  • Recommended for all new development.

Important Versions

• Versions 4.8.1 or lower: .NET Framework
• Versions 5 and above: Modern .NET (latest is .NET 8)

Additional Resources

• .NET Website
• Documentation (includes downloads and "Hello World" tutorial)

Next Steps

• Upcoming video: Installation of .NET and setup with Visual Studio Code using C#.