Are there resources for learning C# sans Visual Studio?

Question

Are there resources for learning C# sans Visual Studio?

Irritated and desperate 1

I have been trying to learn C# for years, but a huge road-block for me has been that I can't find any resources for learning coding with C# that is not unique to visual studio. I have tried visual studio, and it was simply unusable, and only left me baffled as to why THAT would be the basis of all C# training resources. I have tried following lessons (specific to Visual Studio, of course) in my own choice of coding program, but it's impossible because the lessons always make visual studio do things that are unique to that program and they never explain how to achieve that same result through only the code itself, which is obviously what anybody trying to learn the language needs.

I reeeeeally need to learn C#. It's a huge part of a narrow and fleeting window into a chance of freedom for me and if you know of such a resource you could share with me, you could change my life dramatically. Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.

Irritated and desperate 1 Reputation point

2022-06-16T14:44:33.867+00:00

One small edit, I just want to add that I have already tried simply reviewing keyword references and trying to learn more on my own that way, but I was unable to get anywhere. Coding is a sort of thing that really does need structured explanations and guidance, I can't just look at it and automatically know what to do with it.
AgaveJoe 30,126 Reputation points

2022-06-16T18:35:23.277+00:00

I can't find any resources for learning coding with C# that is not unique to visual studio

This statement is similar to complaining you can't write a novel because you do not understand how to use a word processor.

but it's impossible because the lessons always make visual studio do things that are unique to that program

Like what? Can you provide an example? It will help us help you if we can understand why Visual Studio is a problem.

It is possible to write C# in any text editor; notepad.exe, notepadd++, etc. You'll have to build the source, you might not have intellisense, and debugging might a challenge but it very doable. I think the experience will be unsatisfactory though.

Anyway, the C# programming guide has everything you need to learn C# and without any dependence on Visual Studio.

C# programming guide
Irritated and desperate 1 Reputation point

2022-06-17T02:17:05.937+00:00

Hi AgaveJoe, thanks for commenting. I think there is a misunderstanding. It isn't that I "don't understand how to use" visual studio, it's that it is useless, garbage program that's impossible to be productive with. It takes 5-10 minutes to load and then crashes 10-20 seconds later, unless it was frozen for a couple minutes in between. I wrestled with it for about a week before I gave up. In a few rare moments of stability, I noticed it is also a mess of other problems, such as saying there are coding errors when there aren't, and sometimes missing real errors before compiling. I gave up and went back to NPP, which is an excellent program for generally everything related to text and code. It does everything you need and has none of VIsual Studio's problems. My difficulty in writing my novel is not in not knowing how to use a word processor, but in failing to find any resources for learning to write that can be followed without an etchasketch. Because, the etchasketch is a terrible instrument for teaching someone how to write, and the alphabet will have been made obsolete by the time I get anywhere with it.
Irritated and desperate 1 Reputation point

2022-06-17T02:24:00.43+00:00

I'm looking now at that C# guide you shared. Thanks very much for that, I'm hoping it will prove to be a breakthrough for me.
Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2022-06-17T05:17:09.823+00:00

it's that it is useless, garbage program that's impossible to be productive with.

VS is the best tool for decades to build Windows (or other) apps, used by the biggest companies in the world

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Irritated and desperate 1 Reputation point

2022-06-16T14:44:33.867+00:00

One small edit, I just want to add that I have already tried simply reviewing keyword references and trying to learn more on my own that way, but I was unable to get anywhere. Coding is a sort of thing that really does need structured explanations and guidance, I can't just look at it and automatically know what to do with it.
AgaveJoe 30,126 Reputation points

2022-06-16T18:35:23.277+00:00

I can't find any resources for learning coding with C# that is not unique to visual studio

This statement is similar to complaining you can't write a novel because you do not understand how to use a word processor.

but it's impossible because the lessons always make visual studio do things that are unique to that program

Like what? Can you provide an example? It will help us help you if we can understand why Visual Studio is a problem.

It is possible to write C# in any text editor; notepad.exe, notepadd++, etc. You'll have to build the source, you might not have intellisense, and debugging might a challenge but it very doable. I think the experience will be unsatisfactory though.

Anyway, the C# programming guide has everything you need to learn C# and without any dependence on Visual Studio.

C# programming guide
Irritated and desperate 1 Reputation point

2022-06-17T02:17:05.937+00:00

Hi AgaveJoe, thanks for commenting. I think there is a misunderstanding. It isn't that I "don't understand how to use" visual studio, it's that it is useless, garbage program that's impossible to be productive with. It takes 5-10 minutes to load and then crashes 10-20 seconds later, unless it was frozen for a couple minutes in between. I wrestled with it for about a week before I gave up. In a few rare moments of stability, I noticed it is also a mess of other problems, such as saying there are coding errors when there aren't, and sometimes missing real errors before compiling. I gave up and went back to NPP, which is an excellent program for generally everything related to text and code. It does everything you need and has none of VIsual Studio's problems. My difficulty in writing my novel is not in not knowing how to use a word processor, but in failing to find any resources for learning to write that can be followed without an etchasketch. Because, the etchasketch is a terrible instrument for teaching someone how to write, and the alphabet will have been made obsolete by the time I get anywhere with it.
Irritated and desperate 1 Reputation point

2022-06-17T02:24:00.43+00:00

I'm looking now at that C# guide you shared. Thanks very much for that, I'm hoping it will prove to be a breakthrough for me.
Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2022-06-17T05:17:09.823+00:00

it's that it is useless, garbage program that's impossible to be productive with.

VS is the best tool for decades to build Windows (or other) apps, used by the biggest companies in the world

Answer 1

A good path Pluralsight which I highly recommend (see also)

Subscribe to Pluralsight, use their AI to assist the best path to take.
Work with Microsoft documentation when using Pluralsight
Many of the courses use Visual Studio Code

Although the following is shown in Visual Studio, same can be done in Visual Studio Code. Create classes specific to what you are learning an work through them with console projects then when comfortable learn how to unit test.

When working in Visual Studio Code (an editor as appose to an IDE) you will need to work more and with that unsure why you had issues with Visual Studio as it makes life easier. Eventually (soon) there will be GitHub Copilot which is in technical preview (I'm part of it) and looks promising) along with Visual Studio Code for the web, press . in a GitHub repository to edit.

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Are there resources for learning C# sans Visual Studio?

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