How to Learn .Net Programming

.NET programming allows you to work with an expansive, secure, and compatible framework with various projects. You can take many approaches to learn it, and it may feel overwhelming when you’re beginning your studies. The best approach for you will depend on your learning style and preferences; you can use books, video tutorials, classes, and other useful resources. This guide will discuss methods to teach you .NET programming to help you make informed decisions. 

What is .NET Programming?

.NET programming is an extensive framework consisting of 32 programming languages and many resources. Microsoft created it in the 1990s to increase the usability of its projects. While Microsoft privately used it for a long time, it eventually became adapted into .NET Core, an open-source tool released in 2016. Since then, it’s become a staple resource for coders who complete projects with C#, C++, F#, and many other programming languages.

It’s good to know .NET programming because of its versatility. Many combine it with other programming skills to create new libraries and frameworks. For example, people who use Python can combine it with .NET Core’s resources to create a Python.NET library. With this skill under your belt, you’ll be able to mesh it with your other talents and use it to your advantage.

Read more about what .NET programming is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with .NET Programming?

.NET programming is especially prominent in the gaming industry, which has become a $197 billion business as of 2022. Unity is one of the most popular game-making resources on the internet, and its programming language is C#. This programming language is also one of the most commonly-used languages within .NET Core. C# helps power popular games like Among Us, Beat Saber, Hollow Knight, Fall Guys, and Pokemon Go, and many solo developers and AAA game creators use it as their games’ backbone. 

.NET is also common in applications for websites and mobile devices, making web development, mobile development, and iOS app development excellent industries to explore if you have these skills. Why not combine these two uses into one? Mobile games have grown in popularity and are only expected to grow in the future. If you have app development skills, you can work in any industry because every business would love an app to accompany their products, tools, and services. Learn these skills and pick a field that piques your interest—that will take you far into your career, and you’ll work with something you enjoy. 

In-Person .NET Programming Training

Most people are familiar with in-person classes because they experience them throughout their elementary and high school education. You may already be aware of the perks of in-person courses, such as a distraction-free environment and the social benefits of building a network. The drawbacks are more prominent in adulthood since time constraints and commutes can interfere with responsibilities and leave little room for free time. This option is worth considering if you have time to travel to a physical location daily. 

Many of the concepts for .NET programming are covered in web development, and there are plenty of in-person web development classes that provide knowledge in the front end and back-end topics used for .NET programming. You can find in-person classes near you through the Classes Near Me search engine by Noble Desktop. If you’re local to Manhattan, New York, you can also sign up for in-person classes from Noble Desktop. Other in-person class providers also include DevMountain, Ironhack, and Epicodus. Live online courses are another solid choice if you can’t find an in-person class near you.

Live Online .NET Programming Training

Live online courses are the best choice for anyone with a tight schedule who enjoys working with people in real time. The biggest perk of this training format is that you can learn from anywhere, whether in your office, bedroom, or another place unrelated to your typical routine. Some challenges you might face include creating a distraction-free environment, but the good news is that if you cannot focus in your workspace one day, you can always move to another one. 

If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to creating your distraction-free environment, you can always look into how to learn online. Once you’re comfortable with your work set-up, it’s time to search for live online classes. Noble Desktop has an excellent selection of courses related to .NET programming. Other live online venues include Wild Code Schools, Code Fellows, Strive School, and NexGen Bootcamp. Any option you choose will take you one step closer to your programming goals.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Are you still deciding whether to start taking full certificate programs or bootcamps? That’s understandable, especially if this is your first time exploring .NET programming. Most people find that watching a free online tutorial first gives them a sense of the topics and what they need to learn. 

.NET programming can seem complicated if you dive into it without learning its prerequisites. You might find that introductory videos—such as the Intro to Front End Web Development, Intro to JavaScript, or Intro to Python Fundamentals tutorials—will make things easier. Watching the online tutorials in these areas will give you an overview of each and help you decide where to start. 

Read about more free .NET programming videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand .NET Programming Classes

Suppose you’re planning to learn .NET programming but face time, responsibilities, and money restrictions. You might be making moves to make room for formal classes, but you have the drive to start learning now. Thankfully, on-demand classes are a practical option while you wait. 

These classes are known for their self-paced format, meaning you can pause, rewind, and restart the videos as you need. They’re also not affected by any schedule, meaning you can learn from them early in the morning, during your lunch break, or at night after your kids are asleep. The only limit is your willingness to start. 

On-demand classes for .NET programming are rarer because they have many components that require in-depth analysis to understand. Look into some on-demand web development classes to help you start and branch out from there. Remember that this is a temporary resource; you’ll eventually want to transition into classes that occur in real time. That way, you can ask your instructors questions as they arise and will be sure that you will receive an answer in a reasonable amount of time.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

Because .NET programming has many languages and uses, you can make many choices while learning it. You might feel unsure about where to start, and that’s okay. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with each learning method to see which one works best for you. Once you’ve had some practice with each one, you can pick and choose from your favorites, even if it’s not the ones your instructors prefer.

You know your schedule best, and it’s important to consider how you want to work your education into your schedule before signing up for classes. You might have a full-time job, family commitments, or other obligations that make traveling to a set location challenging every weekday. When that happens, you can use video tutorials and self-paced courses to guide your learning. Those who have more time—or have been able to adjust their schedule—can benefit from taking an in-person or live online course. 

Why Learn .NET Programming?

.NET programming has a plethora of tools to offer for many different purposes. C#, C++, and Visual Basic are the programming languages of choice for many video game developers, including those who make games with Unity, the popular game development resource. More than ¾ of all businesses use .NET Core in some capacity, which means learning how to work with it will give you an advantage in the coding industry. 

While it’s commonly associated with Windows products, you can easily combine it with other programming skills. For example, those who know Python can take their .NET skills and create a Python.NET framework. That’s only a small insight into how you can use .NET programming; because it consists of 32 programming languages and framework resources, there are dozens of ways you can approach it even with only basic knowledge.

Read more about why you should learn .NET programming.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

.NET programming has a wide range of skills to learn within the .NET framework, but you might be overwhelmed if you dive right into it without any coding experience. Most people feel it’s easier to start with a web development course since .NET uses front end and back end web development. JavaScript and Python are also helpful since they involve frameworks and object-oriented programming. Once you have skills in these areas, .NET programming will be a breeze. 

Read about how difficult it is to learn .NET programming and the .NET programming prerequisites. 

.NET programming is free and open source, meaning you won’t need to worry about copyright when you use tools from the .NET framework. Most of the prices you’ll find online are what people will pay .NET programmers to create their projects. You're ready to go as long as you plan to program your .NET projects yourself. 

Read about the costs of using .NET programming.

Learn Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

When you’re learning .NET programming, you’ll want to have mastery of the fundamentals, and all of those fundamentals can be exercised through learning web development. Since .NET programming covers front end and back end concepts, you’ll be well-suited to take a Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. Full stack covers both ends of web development and will lay down the groundwork you need to enter your first tech job before you even start exploring .NET programming. 

If you feel overwhelmed by learning web development at once, try taking a Front End Web Development Certificate course instead. Front end web development covers the easiest three programming languages available—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—and is the skill set of choice for beginners. If you’re up for a challenge and want to learn more coding skills beyond full stack, the Software Engineering Certificate program covers a broad range of topics, including web development, React, and Python. These topics have high usage in .NET programmer roles and will certainly be worth your while. 

You can find more web development classes that will enhance these skills and give you a solid foundation to work from when you explore .NET programming in further detail. The best part about these programs is that they take place in real-time, offer free retakes, and feature experts in the field. Noble Desktop has your back no matter where you decide to take your programming journey.

Key Insights

• The main styles of learning .NET programming are on-demand, in-person, and live online.
• On-demand classes can be done at your own pace and are a solid starting point for beginners.
• In-person is useful for building a network of professionals local to you.
• Live online classes are best for those who want to learn while skipping the commute. 
• You can receive comprehensive .NET programming training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.