Best Compilers for C#

Question

I am starting to learn to program in C# and I was wondering what is currently the best compiler and what IDEs have built-in C# compilers. I am 11 years old and starting to learn to program and need to choose a compiler.

I know about the MS Visual Express ones, but I want to know what are there good and bad things about it.

Also, is there a way that I can download Visual C# Express Offline? I can't use the web installer.

Solution 1

It sounds like your question is more like, "which IDE should I learn with?".

I would suggest MS Express editions for C, C++, and C#. It's high quality, free, has an intuitive interface, and has a very large community for support.

Solution 2

I have found Compilr which is a online IDE and is free for 3 projects and includes a number of langues.

Solution 3

C# / .NET

Visual C# Express 2010 should give you everything you need to learn to program in C#.

If you really want to learn, especially on your own, you'll need interesting projects.

I don't think you should overlook doing some Windows Phone 7 Development to get familiar with the language and libraries in a fairly constrained environment.

If your high school allows it, see if you can set yourself up on DreamSpark.com and get yourself the XNA stuff, which (last time I checked) included a free membership that will allow you to develop stuff for the Xbox 360.

Microsoft's Coding4Fun blog might also be inspiring, although it seems to me that a lot of the projects are so esoteric that they probably won't teach very much, nor will they be interesting unless you have that specific piece of hardware.

C

Learning C is probably best done on a Unix-like environment as this is where the language has its origins. A modern GNU/Linux distribution will give you everything you need (you may have to install the development packages yourself) which is basically:

1. a text editor (choose one; many like Emacs, Vim and Scite)
2. a C compiler (GCC)
3. a debugger (GDB)

Any distribution should have packages for these available.

Challenges

Try solving the problems from Project Euler in whatever languages you are trying to learn. Solving these will help you think analytically as well as teach you language constructs and certain library features. Ask your mathematics teacher for help if you are stuck with the maths side of those problems.

Best of luck!

Comments

[kubal5003]

For C/C++ VS 2008 (not 2010!).For C# VS 2010. For C/C++ you can also check Netbeans IDE which uses gcc as a compiler(AFAIR).

[Benjamin Lindley]

@kubal5003: Why do you say that? (referring to your insistence not to use vs2010 for C and C++)

[Travis Gockel]

@kubal5003: In my experience, VS2010 has significantly better support for programming in C++...it is closer to standards compliance (including lots of C++0x stuff) and the error messages are generally more helpful.

[In silico]

Note that programs created using the express editions of Visual Studio have no licensing restrictions. That is, you can make commercial products with the express editions. They use the same compilers found in the non-free visual studio editions.

[Rup]

What IDE does Ubuntu bundle - is it any good?

[Dhaivat Pandya]

It doesn't bundle an IDE, and that's exactly the benefit. Using IDE's when you're still learning is not a good way to learn, instead write code using the terminal and say gedit (comes default), then, once you get better, you can get a proper IDE. There are many devs who despite programming for 10 years, still use gedit and a terminal window. For C#, there's monodevelop. Also, for learning C, make sure you get K&R (its a book)

[Benny]

sorry I can't use Ubuntu at the momment :(

[kubal5003]

@Travis "In my experience, VS2010 has significantly better support for programming in C++" Yes, you're right. I discovered today that pure C++ has all the support in VS 2010, however C++/CLI doesn't which is why I wrote about 2008 not 2010. I just wasn't aware of the difference.

[Dhaivat Pandya]

VirtualBox maybe? Believe me, its worth the initial effort :)

[Admin]

One thing that should be taken into account is that with Visual Studio Express, developers may not be able to release their programs to the public because of the user agreement. That's the problem I had with VC++, so I never used it.