Learn C# for Beginners Crash Course

Access free YouTube video resources linked in the next lecture that answer common questions about starting a programming career, like time to become a programmer, math skills, and career transitions.

Explore the C# language, focusing on variables, types, and the console class, and learn to read input, display results, and use Eliza and Hammurabi-style programs as examples.

Learn how to declare and use variables in C#, including int and string types, var inference, and naming rules, in a statically typed console app that builds a guess-the-number game.

Clarify when to use var versus explicit types in C#, showing how not assigning a value requires an explicit int and prompts via Console.WriteLine and Console.ReadKey.

Explore C# string concatenation with numbers using + in a simple guess the number game, building the answer from firstNumber and secondNumber and printing it.

Learn how variables, like a prompt, simplify updates and prevent bugs. Use the random class with randomNumber.Next() to generate values in a 2 to 10 range (2 to 9).

Learn to initialize the answer early in the C# beginners crash course, applying the guess the number game logic and ensuring printing happens after assignment.

Learn C# naming conventions, with classes and methods using PascalCase and variables in camelCase. Review Microsoft guidelines and avoid names that differ only by case to keep code readable.

Refactor the Doctor.cs code to align with established C# naming conventions and explicit types, fixing eight deviations to improve readability and code quality.

Tackle the naming conventions challenge in a Doctor.cs file by renaming variables for clear camel case and capitalization consistency.

Review variables in c# by declaring them before use, assigning explicit types such as int, and using camel case for variables and pascal case for classes and methods.

Learn to use the console class for input and output with ReadKey, ReadLine, and parsing numbers, and format output via Write, WriteLine, and string interpolation.

Learn to capture a single keystroke with Console.ReadKey, analyze ConsoleKeyInfo properties (Key, KeyChar, Modifiers), and build a simple coffee menu that shows the pressed key and its details.

Learn how ReadKey behaves across Windows, Mac, and Linux, especially with modifier keys like shift, and understand differences in key, KeyChar, and modifiers.

Implement and test user input in a C# console game using ReadKey and KeyChar. Learn to handle a yes/no prompt with input normalization and infinite loops in the HammerBitcoin project.

Learn to read user input with Console.ReadLine, prompt with Console.WriteLine, and convert the input from string to number using int.Parse, noting potential errors with invalid data.

Learn how to safely read and parse numeric input in a C# game using a GetNumber method with try-catch, looping until valid integers are entered, preventing crashes.

Learn how to display data with Console.WriteLine using string interpolation in C# 6, using the $ prefix and curly braces to embed variables like name and age for readable output.

Learn to format interpolated strings in C# by setting field widths to align columns, using positive widths for right alignment and negative widths for left alignment with fruit data.

Master C# string interpolation and format specifiers to display currency, decimals, and pi with control over alignment and expressions inside format strings.

Explains reading user input and displaying results with the Console class, using ReadKey for menus and ReadLine for text, plus Parse and basic error handling with ToString and string interpolation.

Explore C# types, including integers and floating-point types, and learn to choose the right type. See variables in numeric and boolean expressions, including and/or, and get an intro to classes.

Explore C# built-in primitive types like byte, sbyte, and short, learn their min and max ranges, and discover when to use them, plus notes on string immutability and type aliases.

Learn how int is the default 32-bit whole number in C#, with GetType() showing System.Int32, and long as the 64-bit alternative. Print the min and max values to compare ranges.

Explore float and double in C#, their min and max values, and precision differences—float 23 bits (~7 digits) versus double 52 bits (~15–16 digits); decimal is noted for later.

Learn how float and double differ in precision in C#, noting that the default type is double and that a float literal must end with f.

Learn how the C# decimal type uses 96-bit integers and a fixed decimal point to achieve 28–29 digits of precision and improve accuracy over double, including 0.1 eight times.

Understand floating-point accuracy issues from the IEEE 754 standard and learn to use decimal with an m suffix for exact financial calculations, despite slower performance.

Learn how C# expressions evaluate to a single value by combining decimals, literals, and variables, and see how assignments and operator rules shape dynamic calculations.

Master boolean expressions in C# by testing equality and inequality with == and !=, using !, and exploring >, <, >=, <= and the is operator for type checks.

Learn to test two or more conditions with and (&&) and or (||) in C# boolean expressions, using truth tables and price examples to ensure correct, readable logic.

Learn how to declare and use boolean variables of type bool (System.Boolean), evaluate true or false values, and apply and/or operators in conditional expressions.

Learn how booleans drive logic in the Hammered Bitcoin game by examining the BitcoinMiner play loop, with conditions like year <= 10 and still in office shaping the final score.

Provide a full code walk-through that counts boolean expressions in the bitcoinminer.cs file, showing how each boolean check drives game logic and user input.

Explore the basics of object-oriented programming by defining classes and objects in C#, with the Console class handling input and output through methods like ReadLine and WriteLine, and using colors.

Create a new C# project, add a Car class in program.cs, define Accelerate and Brake, instantiate Car objects with new, and call methods to demonstrate basic object usage.

Learn C# for beginners crash course introduces fields as class members, showing how speed stores per-instance state, updated by accelerate and break methods, with per-instance speeds and constructors forthcoming.

Learn how C# class constructors initialize objects by setting a name field and wiring constructor arguments to methods that print the car’s name.

Explore why private and public modifiers matter by turning Accelerate from public to private, introducing a private showSpeed helper, and weighing when methods should be public for reuse.

Explore built-in primitive types in c#, compare max and min values for byte, int, long, float, double, and decimal, and review numeric and boolean expressions, classes and objects.

Explore C# flow control by mastering loops and conditionals, then learn to use the Visual Studio debugger to examine code line by line.

Explore how to use the Microsoft language reference to master the for loop in C#. Learn about the initializer, the condition, and the iterator, and leverage documentation for deeper learning.

Master the for loops in C# by learning initialization, condition, and iteration, then print i values using Console.WriteLine and inspect with the Visual Studio debugger.

Discover how to use the Visual Studio debugger to fix and understand C# code by setting breakpoints, stepping through for loops, and inspecting locals, call stacks, and console output.

Learn to use for loops in C# by incrementing and decrementing i, adjusting initialization and conditions, and observing values with the debugger through practical loop challenges.

Master nested for loops in C# by printing a 10 by 10 grid using inner and outer loops. Learn how console.write versus console.writeLine affects line breaks and debug with breakpoints.

Master debugging the HammerBitcoin project using breakpoints, stepping over and into, and analyzing the locals to understand BitcoinMiner instances, constructors, and constants.

Explore for loops in a real program using the Eliza is silly project, set breakpoints, step through code with the debugger, and learn pattern matching and dictionary-based responses.

Analyze how a C# program matches user input against a phrases list using index of, then selects a random response from a corresponding responses list, guided by breakpoints during debugging.

Master while loops and do while in C# by building a menu-driven program that reads key input, handles lowercase and uppercase q, and repeats or exits.

Move the while loop to run after the menu so it prints once, then format the document and test handling of valid options.

Explore how to compare code approaches in C# by weighing readability and performance, using side-by-side loop comparisons and input handling without altering user data.

Learn how the do-while loop in C# ensures the code executes at least once by testing the condition at the end, unlike a while loop that may run zero times.

Convert a while loop to a do-while in C#, moving the condition to the loop end, removing initialisation and defining input as string with a semicolon after the condition.

Master for loops with initializer, condition, and iterator using the Microsoft language reference, and compare while and do-while loop behavior with the Visual Studio debugger.

Learn how to make decisions in C# with if statements, switch statements, and the ternary operator. Know when to use each and apply concise value assignments in your code.

Create a rock paper scissors game in C# to learn if statements with constants for rock, paper, scissors. Map player input with string equals method and print choices and values.

Learn to optimize C# if statements by using else if and else, map the player's choice to a number, validate input, and prepare for switch usage in rock-paper-scissors.

Master complex conditions in c# using if, else if, and logical operators to determine draws and wins in a rock-paper-scissors game, with modulus operator covered later.

Apply if/else to assign the computer's string choice from a numeric value in a rock paper scissors game. Print both player and computer choices using string interpolation in C#.

apply conditional logic to determine the computer's rock, paper, or scissors choice with if, else if, and else, and add a play-again loop using GetYesOrNo and a while or do-while.

Implement a repeatable game loop in C# using a do-while structure and a GetYesOrNo input check to keep playing until the player quits.

Learn to implement a C# switch statement to route a user’s choice through case sections, using break to prevent fall-through in a vending machine style example.

Learn how the default keyword handles unmatched switch cases in C# and how placing the default section at the end avoids confusion, with a returning coins example.

Group case '1' and case '2' to reuse the same code for multiple switch options in C#. Note how case order evolves and when clauses may appear in later versions.

Master the break statement in C# for beginners, using a for loop to terminate a search early when a match is found in a list.

Use the continue keyword in a loop with a switch to skip remaining code and loop again, preventing coffee from dispensing on invalid options in the SimpleMenu project.

Learn how break and continue work inside loops and switches in C#. See how break exits a switch or loop, and how continue advances to the next iteration.

Explore the goto statement in C#, why it can create spaghetti code, and when not to use it. Compare goto with switch and if/else, and note the turnery conditional operator.

Learn how the ternary conditional operator simplifies if/else logic in C# and serves as an alternative to if/else for simple flow control scenarios.

Replace the if/else with the ternary operator in the CountNewHires method of the HammerBitcoin project's BitcoinMiner.cs to optimize hiring logic when employees are starved versus when resources allow hiring.

Refactor the CountNewHires method by replacing the if-else with a ternary operator, assign newEmployees using the same condition and calculation, and test for correctness.

Master C# conditionals recap: if/else, switch, and the ternary operator, with constants for readability and improved efficiency by reducing condition checks and using break and continue in loops.

Explore declaring methods, using parameters and arguments, returning values in c#, compare by value and by reference with ref, and minimize global variables, class fields, and side effects through scope.

Understand how calling public methods Accelerate and Brake moves execution between code blocks, and use the debugger to trace the call stack, stepping into and over.

Learn how methods call other methods in C#, how return addresses are stored on the stack, and how debuggers use step over and step into.

Explore how method parameters work by adding an amount parameter to the accelerate method, using arguments to control speed, and extend braking with a brake parameter to prevent negative speeds.

Implement a parameterized braking approach by defining a Brake method with a speedReduction parameter, test with four and fifteen mph reductions, and ensure the car's speed never drops below zero.

Explore three ways to prevent negative speed in a C# coding challenge by using if statements and a ternary operator, ensuring the car's speed never drops below zero.

Develop a text-based driving game in C# by turning the car speed into a public property, using constants for controls and inserting the car symbol into the road string.

Learn how public and private access modifiers control method visibility, using the ShowSpeed example to access speed from outside the class while explaining internal versus public scope.

Create a bool StillOnTrack method to return true when the car stays on the road and false if it crashes, using top-down programming with position and road.

Learn to eliminate duplicate code by extracting crash handling into a dedicated method, ensure proper loop termination, and improve maintainability in a C# game project.

Refactor C# code by extracting duplicated logic into a new method and passing speed and position as arguments. Return values manage control flow and help resolve code-path errors during refactor.

Explore value versus reference in C# method calls by showing why carPosition stays 15 when passed to the drive method and how to pass by reference to modify it.

Learn how to pass by reference in C# with the ref keyword to modify variables inside methods, and compare value and reference types.

Refactor a C# car game by adding a directional parameter to the drive method, enabling left, straight, and right moves, while removing duplicated code in the straight and right sections.

Add a direction parameter to the Drive method to enable multi-direction movement (left, straight, right). Refactor by introducing directional constants such as DirectionLeft, DirectionStraight, and DirectionRight, test the left direction to confirm the Drive method works, and consider replacing them with an enum for clarity.

Explore variable scope in a C# class by examining fields, their private vs public access, and how passing parameters by reference affects side effects and maintainability.

Learn to eliminate side effects in C# by removing ref parameters and returning the number of computers to buy. Update the call site to adjust cash accordingly, improving maintainability.

Explore variable scope, global variables, and ref parameters in C# by refactoring methods to remove side effects and global state, with challenges on SellComputers, PayEmployees, and MaintainComputers.

Refactor a bitcoin miner project in C# by turning void methods into int returns, passing cash by reference, and updating buy, sell, and pay employees logic with incremental testing.

Refactor the maintenance method to return an int and pass cash by reference, updating quantity maintained locally for clarity. Practice passing arguments by value and by reference while testing thoroughly.

Master flow control with for, while, do loops, use if-else and switch for conditionals. Learn methods, parameters and arguments, public/private access modifiers, top-down programming, and value versus reference passing.

Master the arithmetic operators in C# and learn operator precedence as the lesson reviews code from real projects and prepares you for upcoming string method topics.

Learn how C# arithmetic operators work and how operator precedence determines evaluation order, with examples showing multiplication before addition and how parentheses control results.

Explore C# primary operators, including member access, method invocation, and Math.PI usage, and compare post-increment with pre-increment using x examples.

Understand why the post and pre increment operators can produce unexpected results in C#. Avoid using ++ and -- in expressions; rewrite code so increments occur as clear statements.

Learn how arithmetic and unary operators behave in C#, analyze precedence and the effect of parentheses, and distinguish floating point vs integer division, including modulus.

Explore practical uses of the C# remainder (modulus) operator by testing divisibility, checking even/odd numbers, and computing the next month with a circular 1-12 sequence using a for loop.

Apply the remainder operator to determine the winner in rock, paper, scissors, and refine the game logic with an else-if condition while addressing operator precedence and parentheses.

Master relational and conditional operators in C#, grasp how boolean expressions, operator precedence, and parentheses shape logic, and explore assignment operators and short-circuit evaluation.

Master short-circuit evaluation in C# using the && and || operators to skip the second operand when the result is clear, preventing divide-by-zero errors and null pointer exceptions.

Learn how assignment operators in C# combine arithmetic with assignment, using +=, -=, and *= with practical examples, and understand why avoiding expressions with side effects improves maintainability.

Discover how C# strings represent Unicode and remain immutable. Learn to create and combine strings with concatenation, interpolation, composite formatting, use a for loop to index and print characters.

Learn zero-based indexing in C# and how to use square brackets to access characters in strings, arrays, and lists, with practical examples from a course name and extracting beginner.

Learn to safely index strings and lists in C# by using Length and Count properties in a for loop, avoiding IndexOutOfRangeException and using IndexOf.

Learn how the IndexOf method finds substrings in a lowercased input and how a found index maps to a corresponding response, highlighting case sensitivity in searches.

Discover how to locate a substring in a string using C# IndexOf with ordinal and current culture comparisons, applying OrdinalIgnoreCase and CurrentCultureIgnoreCase for case-insensitive searches.

Discover how to find all substring matches in C# by using LastIndexOf and IndexOf with extra arguments, and implement a do-while loop to collect every match position.

Learn to manipulate c# strings by inserting and removing substrings with a custom ReplaceByIndex method. Compare this single-occurrence approach to the built-in replace and see it applied to courseName.

Learn how to navigate the .NET documentation for the C# string class and use common methods like contains, startswith, endswith, trim, join, and split, plus string equality.

Learn how to compare strings in c# using == and .Equals(), why Equals is preferred for strings, and how to perform case-insensitive comparisons with StringComparison.

Explore value and reference types in C#, examining how integers and strings behave. Understand string immutability, reference equality, and copy-by-value versus copy-by-reference.

Discover how strings are immutable in C#, with Remove and Insert creating new strings and equality checks with == and .Equals, plus StringBuilder for efficient modifications.

discover how the stringbuilder class enables mutable string manipulation in c# and why it avoids creating new string objects, contrasting it with immutable strings and memory efficiency.

Explain mutable reference types in C# by comparing string and stringbuilder behavior; removing characters creates a new string, while stringbuilder updates the same object, and == and .Equals reflect that.

Explore value versus reference equality in C#, comparing objects with == and .Equals, focusing on string and StringBuilder behavior and when to use value equality.

Explore StringBuilder properties like length, capacity, and max capacity, and learn append and clear operations in C#. Discover how method chaining returns the same instance for fluent appends.

Learn how the Clear method returns a reference you can compare to the original StringBuilder to verify sameness with if and Object.ReferenceEquals, demonstrating method chaining with Clear and Append.

Explore the remaining StringBuilder methods, including AppendFormat, AppendLine, and AppendJoin, with examples using a, b, and c, noting CopyTo is rare and AppendLine handles line endings.

Learn how C# uses method overloading with StringBuilder, focusing on Append and AppendJoin overloads, and how the compiler selects the right version for int, double, and char.

Discover how to search text in stringbuilder via its ToString conversion, and study the stringbuilder append overloads and ToString usage in the .NET source for culture-specific formatting.

Explore object-oriented programming concepts in C#, including classes, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, and learn how to model systems like airports and malls for flexible design.

Plan the airport model before coding, then build a set of C# classes for airport, runways, terminals, and Room, illustrating the design decisions behind the model.

Install and use the Visual Studio class designer to generate and view a class diagram from your airport model, helping you visualize class relationships and quickly jump to code.

Explore how C# classes use fields, properties, methods, and constructors, including overloading and nested types, to encapsulate data and support validation.

See how the car constructor initializes the name field from a parameter and uses new to create an instance. Use private readonly to prevent changes after initialization.

Explore how C# uses properties to access data, comparing private fields with getter and setter logic and showing how auto properties simplify code while preserving encapsulation.

Learn why using properties in C# improves code quality by encapsulating fields, controlling access with a private setter, and enforcing a max speed through the property logic.

Apply the single responsibility principle in C# by separating speed reporting from display, preserving the API contract while allowing unit switching (mph or km/h) without breaking existing code.

Expose data safely by using properties backed by fields, learn backing fields and auto-implemented properties, and use private set or read-only properties with underscore-prefixed fields to protect state.

Learn to use enums to restrict speed units with a SpeedUnits enum (Mph, Kph, Knots), switch Car.Units to SpeedUnits, and rely on IntelliSense and ToString for clear output.

Fix the car class so max speed stays consistent across units by converting maxSpeed to the active unit (mph, kph, or knots) and comparing it using SpeedUnits.Kph or SpeedUnits.Knots.

Explore implementing unit-aware speed checks in C# by defining mphToKph and mphToKnots constants, adding conversion logic in Car class, and using SpeedUnits to compare maxSpeed across mph, kph, and knots.

Regular updates keep this C# beginners crash course growing, with a file listing upcoming topics. Stay tuned as content expands to help you become a proficient, productive C# programmer quickly.