Autor: 02.12.2022
Junior C# Developer: How To Start?
C# is a popular programming language with a multitude of applications. It’s used to create web applications, mobile apps, games and desktop applications, among others. Tt is also used in fields such as banking, insurance and logistics. C# is a universal, tried and trusted, widely used programming language.
With great popularity - of course - come great opportunities for professional development. C# is not a bad choice at all if you’re thinking about a programming career. The language, besides many usages, also has a solid documentation, countless tools to help your workflow and good prospects for the future.
What you need to know
Now the real question comes up: what do you need in order to start a job as a C# developer? At the beginning everyone starts with the position called Junior Developer. Such person is a beginner programmer, who has a good grasp on the basics and is able to do simple tasks on their own. Sounds just right for the first “real” job.
The basics
A solid start would be to master C# basics. It’s simple - you can't go very far if you don't know the language’s syntax and its essential mechanics.
Don't be stingy about the time you spend learning loops, functions, data types and conditional expressions. These are the fundamental blocks that make up every program - just work hard and you will get there.
OOP
C# is an object oriented language. That’s why you need to know the key rules of Object Oriented Programming (OOP for short). Learn and understand topics like classes, constructors, fields, methods, interfaces etc. After all, those are the base elements you will be seeing all around you.
Generics, collections
Generic types and the most important collections and data structures are another elements vital to C#. You may not need an immaculate awareness of these particular topics, but you could always use some basics. Spend some time getting to know generic classes and generic interfaces. It’s also worth learning about the most frequently used collections: queues, stacks and lists.
Practice is key
Practice is everything. It’s a simple notion, but oh, how accurate. This is why, from the very start, you should try to use all your new theoretical knowledge in your own coding.
Think of a simple program and try to write it on your own. The more effort you put into it, the better - that way you will get a deeper understanding of the problems and their solutions. Don't stop after just one project either - the moment you finish one, start another. Programming is a practical field and you need to be able to achieve tangible results.
Further development
The way forward depends on the line of work you pick. If you’re into Web Development then you should definitely get acquainted with SQL databases and LINQ queries.
You might also want to consider the .NET platform, as it is a very important part of the C# ecosystem. The platform provides a set of ready-to-use classes that can greatly speed up your work on creating applications. Familiarity with this technology is often required if you’re interested in the C# Developer position. Check a couple of job listings and you’ll surely find a few with a “C# .NET Developer” in their title.
Prospects for C# Developers
The career prospects of C# Developers are looking very decent. We’ve mentioned before that this is a widely used language with a lot of various applications, and this trend doesn’t seem to be anywhere near its end.
Summary
If you want to fully utilize the potential that C# offers and become a C# Developer, here’s how to go about it:
1. C# basics - syntax, data types etc.
2. Object-oriented aspects - classes, methods, interfaces, inheritance etc.
3. The most important generic types
4. The most important data structures
The next steps you might want to take after you gain steady footing in the basics:
Once again, practice is the most important thing. Exercise the most you can and try to write your own projects - that is where the key to success is.
