I have a few really simple questions regarding C#

1. Is bog standard C# and visual C# the same thing or is 
    there a difference.

2. If I wish to write programs in C# what exactly do I need to 
   load on my PC (I have got a dell system with XP pro)

3. Where does Microsoft.net fit in? Is this someting I need to 
   buy and load? Approximately how much will it cost? 

Cheers

Mongolia

Hi Mongolia,

1.  C# is a programming language.  Visual C# is a line of Microsoft
software products that support programming in the C# language.  C#
itself is not a product, and Visual C# is not a different language.

2.  To program in C#, you need at least a compiler, a linker, and some
libraries.  Generally, these are packaged together with a variety of
other software tools into a software development product such as
Visual C#.  If you install a product like this, you don't need
anything more.

3.  Depending on where you look, Microsoft .NET is a strategy, a
technology, a framework, or an architecture.  Microsoft's vision of
how applications can be connected with web services is embodied in
software components, and the term ".NET" is applied to the vision, the
design, and the components.  Everything you need to develop .NET
applications should come with your C# development system--you don't
need anything extra.  The system that will run the software you
develop will have to have .NET software installed, but it is free.


Additional Links

Microsoft Visual C# Developer Center
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/

Listing of free C# compilers from thefreecountry.com.
http://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/csharp.shtml

Article on how to program in C# using the free .NET Software
Development Kit without buying Visual C#, by Brian Jepson on
ONDotnet.com
http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2002/02/11/hackdotnet.html?page=1

Microsoft's answer to "What is .NET?"
http://www.microsoft.com/Net/Basics.aspx

Microsoft .NET Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.microsoft.com/Net/basics_faq.aspx


I hope this information is helpful.  If anything is not clear enough
or you need more information, please ask for a clarification.

--efn

If you want to write programs in C#:
Go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/default.aspx
and get:
- .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable
- .NET Framework Version 1.1 Software Development Kit (SDK)
- October 2003 .NET Framework 1.1 SDK Documentation Update

Then you can either buy Visual C# or get SharpDevelop from
http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/ which I prefer and which is
free.

------------

One free alternative is http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/default.aspx
but I have no experience with that and it is sill beta (not finished).

If you are writing C# applications specifically for the web, you can
find another free IDE at http://www.asp.net called ASP.NET Web Matrix.