MSDN .NET Documentation

C# is a modern, object-oriented, and type-safe programming language developed by Microsoft. It is widely used for building a broad range of applications on the .NET platform, including web applications, desktop applications, mobile apps, cloud services, and games.

Key features of C# include:

• Object-Oriented Programming: Supports classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.
• Type Safety: Helps prevent common programming errors by enforcing type constraints.
• Asynchronous Programming: Built-in support for async and await for efficient handling of I/O operations.
• LINQ (Language Integrated Query): Provides a powerful and concise way to query data from various sources.
• Generics: Allows for the creation of reusable components that can work with any type.

For in-depth information, refer to the official C# Language Specification.

Visual Basic .NET is an event-driven programming language that is part of the .NET Framework. It's known for its readability and ease of use, making it a popular choice for rapid application development, especially for Windows desktop applications.

Key aspects of VB.NET:

• Developer-Friendly Syntax: English-like syntax that is easy to learn and understand.
• Event-Driven Model: Ideal for building user interfaces where code responds to user actions.
• Compatibility: Fully interoperable with other .NET languages.
• Rich IDE Support: Excellent integration with Visual Studio.

Discover the capabilities of VB.NET for your next project by visiting the Visual Basic .NET documentation.

F# is a functional-first, general-purpose programming language that runs on the .NET platform. It emphasizes immutability, strong typing, and a concise syntax, making it excellent for complex data analysis, machine learning, and building robust, concurrent systems.

Key characteristics of F#:

• Functional Programming: Encourages writing code in a declarative and immutable style.
• Type Inference: Reduces boilerplate code by automatically inferring types.
• Pattern Matching: A powerful control flow mechanism for deconstructing data.
• Interoperability: Seamless integration with C# and the .NET ecosystem.

Learn more about the functional paradigm and F#'s features in the F# documentation.

Web Development with .NET

The .NET platform provides robust frameworks for building modern web applications. While not a distinct language, ASP.NET is a key technology that integrates seamlessly with C#, VB.NET, and F#.

ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is a high-performance, open-source framework for building web applications and APIs. It's cross-platform and can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Key features:

• Cross-Platform: Deploy applications anywhere.
• High Performance: Optimized for speed and efficiency.
• Modular Design: Build applications with only the components you need.
• Razor Pages and MVC: Flexible approaches for building web UIs.
• Blazor: Enables building interactive client-side web UIs with .NET.

Explore ASP.NET Core documentation for details on building web applications.

Data Access with .NET

Entity Framework Core

Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is a modern object-relational mapper (ORM) for .NET. It allows developers to work with databases using .NET objects and LINQ, abstracting away much of the complexity of direct database interaction.

Key benefits:

• Simplified Data Access: Map .NET objects directly to database tables.
• LINQ Support: Query your database using familiar LINQ syntax.
• Migrations: Manage database schema changes effectively.
• Cross-Platform: Works with various database providers.

Get started with EF Core by checking out the Entity Framework Core documentation.