Introduction to C# in 2025: Where to Start and How Not to Give Up

Introduction to C#: Why This Language Is Relevant in 2025

C# (pronounced "C Sharp") is one of the most powerful and versatile programming languages in the world. Developed by Microsoft in the early 2000s, it continues to actively evolve and holds leading positions in the TIOBE and Stack Overflow rankings. In 2025, C# is not just a language for Windows applications. Thanks to the .NET platform (formerly .NET Core), you can write C# code for any operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux.

With C#, you can build websites (ASP.NET Core), desktop applications (WPF, MAUI), mobile apps (Xamarin/MAUI), games (Unity), and even cloud services (Azure). If you want to enter IT in 2025 and are looking for a stable, well-paid, and logical language, C# is an excellent choice. In this article, we will break down where a beginner should start learning C# and write your first program.

Step 1: Installing the Development Environment and .NET SDK

Before writing code, you need to set up your workspace. You will need two components:

• .NET SDK — a set of tools for compiling and running code.
• IDE (Integrated Development Environment) — the program where you will write code.

Recommendation for 2025: use Visual Studio Community 2025 (free version) or, if you have a low-end PC, Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit plugin. Both tools support autocomplete, debugging, and syntax highlighting.

How to Install .NET SDK (Step by Step)

1. Go to the official website dotnet.microsoft.com/download.
2. Download the latest version of the .NET SDK (e.g., .NET 9 or .NET 10 — the current version for 2025).
3. Run the installer and follow the instructions (just click "Next").
4. After installation, open a terminal (command line) and check the version with the command:

dotnet --version

If you see a version number (e.g., 9.0.100), everything is ready.

Step 2: Writing Your First C# Program

Traditionally, we start with "Hello, World!". Let's create a simple console application.

Creating a Project via the Terminal

1. Open a terminal (command line or PowerShell).
2. Create a folder for projects and navigate into it:

mkdir CSharpProjectscd CSharpProjects

3. Create a new project with the command:

dotnet new console -n HelloWorld

This command will create a folder HelloWorld with the file Program.cs.

4. Navigate to the project folder and open the file Program.cs in your IDE.

By default, it will contain the following code:

// See https://aka.ms/new-console-template for more informationConsole.WriteLine("Hello, World!");

This is a minimal C# program. It outputs a string to the console.

Running the Program

Go back to the terminal (while in the HelloWorld folder) and execute:

dotnet run

In the console, you will see:

Hello, World!

Congratulations! You have just written and run your first C# program.

Step 3: C# Syntax Basics for Beginners

Now that the environment is set up, let's break down the key elements of the language. C# is a strongly typed language, meaning every variable has a clear type.

Variables and Data Types

C# has several basic types:

• int — an integer (e.g., 42)
• double — a floating-point number (e.g., 3.14)
• string — a text string (e.g., "Hello")
• bool — a boolean value (true or false)

Example