Introduction to C#: Where to Start Learning in 2025

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

C# (pronounced "C sharp") is a modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft. In 2025, it not only maintains its position but is actively evolving. Thanks to the release of .NET 9 and continuous performance improvements, C# remains one of the best choices for creating web applications, desktop programs, mobile apps (via Xamarin/MAUI), and even games on Unity.

Many beginners ask: "Is it worth learning C# in 2025?" The answer is definitely yes. The language is in the top 5 of the TIOBE and Stack Overflow rankings, and the demand for .NET developers is consistently high. Additionally, C# combines the power of Java with the simplicity of Python, making it ideal for starting a professional development career.

In this article, we will break down where to start learning C# in 2025, which tools to install, and write our first programs.

Step 1: Installing Tools and Setting Up the Environment

Before writing code, you need to prepare your workspace. In 2025, the best choice for a beginner is Visual Studio 2022 Community (free version) or the lightweight Visual Studio Code with C# extensions.

What to install:

• .NET SDK — download the latest version (9.0 or 8.0 LTS) from the official website dotnet.microsoft.com. This is the core of the platform.
• Visual Studio 2022 Community — a full-featured IDE with support for all project templates.
• Or VS Code + the C# Dev Kit extension — a lightweight editor for a quick start.

After installation, open the terminal and check the version:

dotnet --version

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

Step 2: First Program "Hello, World!"

The tradition of starting with "Hello, World!" works in 2025 as well. Let's create a console application.

In the terminal, run:

dotnet new console -n MyFirstAppcd MyFirstAppcode .

The editor will open. Find the file Program.cs. Its content will look like this:

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

Note: in modern versions of .NET (6+), the template has become minimalistic. No extra classes — just one line. This is done to simplify learning.

Run the program:

dotnet run

In the console you will see:

Hello, World!

Congratulations! You have written your first program in C#.

Step 3: Basic Syntax — Variables, Data Types, Conditions

Now let's look at the basic constructs. C# is a strongly typed language, so each variable has a specific type.

Variables and Types

int age = 25;                // integerdouble price = 99.99;        // floating-point numberstring name = "Anna";        // stringbool isStudent = true;       // boolean value

// You can use var for automatic type inferencevar city = "Moscow";         // the compiler will determine string itself

Conditional Statements

int temperature = 30;if (temperature > 25){    Console.WriteLine("It's hot!");}else{    Console.WriteLine("It's cool.");}

Loops

// For loopfor (int i = 0; i < 5; i++){    Console.WriteLine($"Iteration number {i}");}

// Foreach loopstring[] fruits = { "Apple", "Banana", "Orange" };foreach (string fruit in fruits){    Console.WriteLine(fruit);}

Note the $ before the string — this is interpolation, allowing you to insert variable values directly into the text.

Step 4: Program Structure and Methods

In real projects