Introduction to C#

Raimonds Rudmanis
Senior Consultant
Microsoft Baltic
Session Prerequisites
This session assumes that you
understand the fundamentals of
Object oriented programming
This is a Level 200 Session
What Will Be Covered Today
Brief introduction to the
.NET framework
C# language overview
Agenda
Hello World
The .NET Framework
Design Goals of C#
Language Features
Hello World
DEMO 1: Hello World

using System;

class Hello
{
static void Main() {
Console.WriteLine("Hello world");
}
}
Agenda
Hello World
The .NET Framework
Design Goals of C#
Language Features
The .NET Framework
Overview
VB C++ C# JScript

Common Language Specification

Visual Studio.NET
ASP.NET: Web Services Windows
And Web Forms forms

ADO.NET: Data and XML

Base Class Library

Common Language Runtime

The .NET Framework
Common Language Runtime
VB C++ C# JScript

Common Language Specification

Visual Studio.NET
ASP.NET: Web Services Windows
and Web Forms Forms

ADO.NET: Data and XML

Base Class Library

Common Language Runtime

The .NET Framework
Common Language Runtime
New Runtime Environment Common
Language Runtime
Language Interoperability
Common Classes for all Languages
Common Types for all Languages
Runtime Controls Compilation to Machine
Code
Assemblies
Application Domains
The .NET Framework
Common Language Runtime
Simplified development
XCOPY deployment
Scalability
Rich Web clients and safe Web hosting
Potentially multi-platform
Multiple languages (cross inheritance)
Increases productivity
Robust and secure execution environment
.NET Framework and CLR
CLR Execution Model
Source VB C# C++
code
Unmanaged
Compiler Compiler Compiler
Component

Managed Assembly Assembly Assembly

code IL Code IL Code IL Code

Common Language Runtime

JIT Compiler

Native Code

Operating System Services

The .NET Framework
.NET Framework Services
VB C++ C# JScript

Common Language Specification

Visual Studio.NET
ASP.NET: Web Services Windows
and Web Forms Forms

ADO.NET: Data and XML

Base Class Library

Common Language Runtime

The .NET Framework
.NET Framework Services
ASP.NET
Separation of code and presentation
Compiled
Web Forms
Web Services
Windows Forms
Framework for building rich clients
ADO.NET, Evolution of ADO
New objects (e.g., DataSets)
XML support throughout
Agenda
Hello World
The .NET Framework
Design Goals of C#
Language Features
Design Goals of C#
The Big Ideas
The first Component Oriented
language in the C/C++ family
Everything really is an object
Next generation robust and
durable software
Preserving your investment
Design Goals of C#
A Component Oriented Language
C# is the first Component Oriented
language in the C/C++ family
Component concepts are first class
Properties, methods, events
Design-time and run-time attributes
Integrated documentation using XML
Enables one-stop programming
No external files like header files, IDL, etc.
Can be embedded in ASP pages
Design Goals of C#
Everything Really Is an Object
Traditional views
C++, Java: Primitive types are magic
and do not interoperate with objects
Smalltalk, Lisp: Primitive types are objects,
but at great performance cost
C# unifies with no performance cost
Deep simplicity throughout system
Improved extensibility and reusability
New primitive types: Decimal, SQL
Collections, etc., work for all types
Design Goals of C#
Robust and Durable Software
Garbage collection
No memory leaks and stray pointers
Exceptions
Error handling is not an afterthought
Type-safety
No uninitialized variables, unsafe casts
Versioning
Pervasive versioning considerations in all
aspects of language design
Design Goals of C#
Preserving Your Investment
C++ Heritage
Namespaces, enums, pointers (in unsafe
code), unsigned types, etc.
No unnecessary sacrifices
Real-world useful constructs
foreach, using, switch on string
decimal type for financial applications
ref and out parameters
Millions of lines of C# code in .NET
Short learning curve
Increased productivity
Design Goals of C#
Interoperability

.NET Languages XML/SOAP

VB.NET
COM
MC++ C# OLE Automation

JScript P/Invoke and unsafe code

... Dynamic Link Libraries

Agenda
Hello World
The .NET Framework
Design Goals of C#
Language Features
Language Features
Program Structure
Namespaces
Contain types and other namespaces
Type declarations
Classes, structs, interfaces, enums,
and delegates
Members
Constants, fields, methods, properties, indexers,
events, operators, constructors, destructors
Organization
No header files, code written in-line
No declaration order dependence
 Language Features
Program Structure
using System;
namespace System.Collections
{
public class Stack
{
Entry top;
public void Push(object data) {
top = new Entry(top, data);
}
public object Pop() {
if (top == null) throw new InvalidOperationException();
object result = top.data;
top = top.next;
return result;
}
}
}
Language Features
Type System
Value types
Directly contain data
Cannot be null
Reference types
Contain references to objects
May be null
int i = 123;
string s = "Hello world";
i 123

s "Hello world"
Language Features
Type System
Value types
Primitives int i;
Enums enum State { Off, On }
Structs struct Point { int x, y; }
Reference types
Classes class Foo: Bar, IFoo {...}
Interfaces interface IFoo: IBar {...}
Arrays string[] a = new string[10];
Delegates delegate void Empty();
Language Features
Predefined Types
C# predefined types
Reference object, string
Signed sbyte, short, int, long
Unsigned byte, ushort, uint, ulong
Character char
Floating-point float, double, decimal
Logical bool
Predefined types are simply aliases for
system-provided types
For example, int = System.Int32
Language Features
Classes
Single inheritance
Multiple interface implementation
Class members
Constants, fields, methods,
properties, indexers, events,
operators, constructors, destructors
Static and instance members
Nested types
Member access
Public, protected, internal, private
Language Features
Structs
Like classes, except
Stored in-line, not heap allocated
Assignment copies data, not reference
No inheritance
Ideal for light weight objects
Complex, point, rectangle, color
int, float, double, etc., are all structs
Benefits
No heap allocation, less GC pressure
More efficient use of memory
Language Features
Classes and Structs
struct SPoint { int x, y; ... }
class CPoint { int x, y; ... }

SPoint sp = new SPoint(10, 20);

CPoint cp = new CPoint(10, 20);

10
sp
20

cp CPoint
10
20
Language Features
Interfaces
Multiple inheritance
Can contain methods, properties,
indexers and events
Private interface implementations
interface IDataBound
{
void Bind(IDataBinder binder);
}

class EditBox: Control, IDataBound

{
void IDataBound.Bind(IDataBinder binder) {...}
}
Language Features
Enums
Strongly typed
No implicit conversions to/from int
Operators: +, -, ++, --, &, |, ^, ~
Can specify underlying type
Byte, short, int, long

enum Color: byte

{
Red = 1,
Green = 2,
Blue = 4,
Black = 0,
White = Red | Green | Blue,
}
Language Features
Delegates
Object oriented function pointers
Multiple receivers
Each delegate has an invocation list
Thread-safe + and - operations
Foundation for framework events

delegate void MouseEvent(int x, int y);

delegate double Func(double x);

Func func = new Func(Math.Sin);

double x = func(1.0);
Language Features
Unified Type System
Everything is an object
All types ultimately inherit from object
Any piece of data can be stored,
transported, and manipulated with no
extra work
object

Stream Hashtable int double

MemoryStream FileStream
Language Features
Unified Type System
Boxing
Allocates box, copies value into it
Unboxing
Checks type of box, copies value out
int i = 123;
object o = i;
int j = (int)o;
i 123

o System.Int32
123
j 123
Language Features
Unified Type System
Benefits
Eliminates wrapper classes
Collection classes work with all types
Replaces OLE Automation's Variant
Lots of examples in .NET framework
string s = string.Format(
"Your total was {0} on {1}", total, date);

ArrayList al = new ArrayList();

al.Add( new Customer() );

al.Add( 1 );
al.Add( "test" );
Language Features
Component Development
What defines a component?
Properties, methods, events
Integrated help and documentation
Design-time information
C# has first class support
Not naming patterns, adapters, etc.
Not external files
Components are easy to build and
to consume
Language Features
Properties
Properties Are Smart Fields
Natural syntax, accessors, inlining
public class Button: Control
{
private string caption;

public string Caption {

get {
return caption;
}
set {
caption = value;
Repaint(); Button b = new Button();
} b.Caption = "OK";
} String s = b.Caption;
}
Language Features
Indexers
Indexers are smart arrays
Can be overloaded
public class ListBox: Control
{
private string[] items;

public string this[int

index] {
get {
return items[index];
}
set { ListBox listBox = new
items[index] = value; ListBox();
Repaint(); listBox[0] = "hello";
} Console.WriteLine(listBox[0]);
}
}
Language Features
Creating and Firing an Event
Define the Event signature
public delegate void EventHandler(object sender,
EventArgs e);

Define the Event and firing logic

public class Button
{
public event EventHandler Click;

protected void OnClick(EventArgs e) {

if (Click != null) Click(this, e);
}
}
Language Features
Handling an Event
Define and register Event Handler
public class MyForm: Form
{
Button okButton;

public MyForm() {
okButton = new Button(...);
okButton.Caption = "OK";
okButton.Click += new EventHandler(OkButtonClick);
}

void OkButtonClick(object sender, EventArgs e) {

ShowMessage("You pressed the OK button");
}
}
Language Features
DEMO 2: Creating an Event Handler
Define an Event Handler for a button in a
Windows Forms application
Language Features
Attributes
Associate information with types
and members
Documentation URL for a class
Transaction context for a method
XML persistence mapping
Traditional solutions
Add keywords or pragmas to language
Use external files, e.g., .IDL, .DEF
C# solution: Attributes
Language Features
Attributes
public class OrderProcessor
{
[WebMethod]
public void SubmitOrder(PurchaseOrder order) {...}
}

[XmlRoot("Order", Namespace="urn:acme.b2b-schema.v1")]
public class PurchaseOrder
{
[XmlElement("shipTo")] public Address ShipTo;
[XmlElement("billTo")] public Address BillTo;
[XmlElement("comment")] public string Comment;
[XmlElement("items")] public Item[] Items;
[XmlAttribute("date")] public DateTime OrderDate;
}

public class Address {...}

public class Item {...}

Language Features
Attributes
Attributes can be
Attached to types and members
Examined at run-time using reflection
Completely extensible
Simply a class that inherits from System.Attribute
Type-safe
Arguments checked at compile-time
Extensive use in .NET framework
XML, Web Services, security, serialization,
component model, COM and P/Invoke interop,
code configuration
What Is A Web Service?
HTML = user-to-machine
XML/SOAP = machine-to-machine
Leveraging the Web
Same infrastructure
Same programming model
Anyone can play

Truly scalable distributed applications

Stateless and loosely coupled
Both Internet and intranet
How Does It Work?
Find a Service
http://www.uddi.org
Link to DISCO or WSDL document UDDI

Discovery
http://myservice.com
Web
Service HTML or XML with link to WSDL
Consumer
How do we talk? (WSDL)
http://myservice.com?wsdl
Web
XML with service descriptions Service

Lets talk (SOAP)

http://myservice.com/svc1
XML/SOAP BODY
Web Services With .NET
The .NET framework provides
a bi-directional mapping
Application
Concepts Web Programs

Data XML Objects

Schema XSD Classes

Services WSDL Methods

Invocation SOAP Calls

Web Services With .NET
public class OrderProcessor
{
[WebMethod]
public void SubmitOrder(PurchaseOrder
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>order) {...}
} <soap:Envelope>
<soap:Body>
[XmlRoot("Order", Namespace="urn:acme.b2b-schema.v1")]
<SubmitOrder>
public class PurchaseOrder
<Order date=20010703">
{ <shipTo>Anders Hejlsberg</shipTo>
public string
[XmlElement("shipTo")]
ShipTo; Gates</billTo>
<billTo>Bill public string ShipTo;
public string
[XmlElement("billTo")]
BillTo; public
<comment>Overnight string BillTo;
delivery</comment>
public string
[XmlElement("comment")]
Comment; public string Comment;
<items>
PurchaseOrder
public Item[]po = new PurchaseOrder();
[XmlElement("items")]
Items; public Item[] Items;
<productId>17748933</productId>
po.ShipTo = Anders
public DateTime Hejlsberg";
[XmlAttribute("date")]
OrderDate;
public
<description>Dom DateTime OrderDate;
Perignon</description>
} po.BillTo =</items>
Bill Gates";
po.OrderDate = DateTime.Today;
</Order>
</SubmitOrder>
OrderProcessor.SubmitOrder(po);
</soap:Body>
</soap:Envelope>
Language Features
DEMO 3: Attributes
Create a Web service by using the
[WebMethod] attribute
Language Features
XML Comments
class XmlElement
{
/// <summary>
/// Returns the attribute with the given name and
/// namespace</summary>
/// <param name="name">
/// The name of the attribute</param>
/// <param name="ns">
/// The namespace of the attribute, or null if
/// the attribute has no namespace</param>
/// <return>
/// The attribute value, or null if the attribute
/// does not exist</return>
/// <seealso cref="GetAttr(string)"/>
///
public string GetAttr(string name, string ns) {
...
}
}
Language Features
DEMO 4: XML Comments
Show how the compiler can auto generate
documentation from the source code using
XML comments
 Language Features
Statements and Expressions
High C++ fidelity
if, while, do require bool condition
Switch statement
goto default
No fall-through, goto case or goto in_label;
switch( argwhile) ( i<100 )
Goto cant jumpstatic
into {blocks
short x = {32767; // Max short
static short
casey0: = in_label:
32767;
Foreach statement int i;case 1: i++;
Checked and try Console.WriteLine(Low);
}
unchecked foreachif{((string
i )goto
case //
2:error
break; case 2;
word in (myArray.words
ifz(=case
i>0 )2: while
checked i<100+ )y)); )
((short)(x
Console.WriteLine(Med);
statements { } break;
Console.WriteLine(Med);
{
Expression Console.WriteLine({0},
void Foo()
FileClass
catch file;{ ( j>50e)) word)
(OverflowException
default:
break; if
}
statements i == 1;
{ default: // error
Console.WriteLine(High);
goto out_label;
i =+ OpenFile()
j; // )
error
ifConsole.WriteLine(e.ToString());
}( file // error
Console.WriteLine(High);
}
must do work if}}( (file = out_label:
OpenFile()) != NULL )
Language Features
For Each Statement
Iteration of arrays
public static void Main(string[] args) {
foreach (string s in args) Console.WriteLine(s);
}

Iteration of user-defined collections

foreach (Customer c in customers.OrderBy("name")) {
if (c.Orders.Count != 0) {
...
}
}
Language Features
Parameter Arrays
Can write printf style methods
Type-safe, unlike C++
void printf(string fmt, params object[] args) {
foreach (object x in args) {
...
}
}

printf("%s %i %i", str, int1, int2);

object[] args = new object[3];

args[0] = str;
args[1] = int1;
Args[2] = int2;
printf("%s %i %i", args);
Language Features
Operator Overloading
First class user-defined data types
Used in base class library
Decimal, DateTime, TimeSpan
Used in the framework
Unit, point, rectangle
Used in SQL integration
SQLString, SQLInt16, SQLInt32,
SQLInt64, SQLBool, SQLMoney,
SQLNumeric, SQLFloat
Language Features
Operator Overloading
public struct DBInt
{
public static readonly DBInt Null = new DBInt();

private int value;

private bool defined;

public bool IsNull { get { return !defined; } }

public static DBInt operator +(DBInt x, DBInt y)

{...}

public static implicit operator DBInt(int x) {...}

public static explicit operator int(DBInt x) {...}
}
DBInt x = 123;
DBInt y = DBInt.Null;
DBInt z = x + y;
Language Features
Versioning
Overlooked in most languages
C++ and Java produce fragile base classes
Users unable to express versioning intent
C# allows intent to be expressed
Methods are not virtual by default
C# keywords virtual, override and
new provide context
C# can't guarantee versioning
Can enable (e.g., explicit override)
Can encourage (e.g., smart defaults)
Language Features
Versioning
class Base
class Base // version2 1
// version
{
{
} public virtual void Foo() {
Console.WriteLine("Base.Foo");
}
}

class Derived: Base 1

// version 2b
2a
{
public virtual
new public
overridevoid
virtual
voidFoo()
void
Foo(){{ {
Foo()
Console.WriteLine("Derived.Foo");
base.Foo();
} Console.WriteLine("Derived.Foo");
} }
}
Language Features
Conditional Compilation
#define, #undef
#if, #elif, #else, #endif
Simple boolean logic
Conditional methods
public class Debug
{
[Conditional("Debug")]
public static void Assert(bool cond, String s) {
if (!cond) {
throw new AssertionException(s);
}
}
}
Language Features
Unsafe Code
COM integration, P/invoke cover most cases
Unsafe code
Low-level code without leaving the box
Enables unsafe casts, pointer arithmetic
Declarative pinning
Fixed statement
Basically inline C
unsafe void Foo() {
char* buf = stackalloc char[256];
for (char* p = buf; p < buf + 256; p++) *p = 0;
...
}
Language Features
Unsafe Code
class FileStream: Stream
{
int handle;

public unsafe int Read(byte[] buffer, int index, int

count) {
int n = 0;
fixed (byte* p = buffer) {
ReadFile(handle, p + index, count, &n, null);
}
return n;
}

[dllimport("kernel32", SetLastError=true)]
static extern unsafe bool ReadFile(int hFile,
void* lpBuffer, int nBytesToRead,
int* nBytesRead, Overlapped* lpOverlapped);
}
Language Features
COM Support
.Net framework provides great
COM support
TLBIMP imports existing COM classes
TLBEXP exports .NET types
Most users will have a
seamless experience
Language Features
COM Support
Sometimes you need more control
Methods with complicated structures
as arguments
Large TLB only using a few classes
System.Runtime.Interopservices
COM object identification
Parameter and return value marshalling
HRESULT behavior
Language Features
DEMO 5: COM and C#
Call a COM component from C#
Language Features
DEMO 6: Visual Studio .NET
Windows programming with C#
C# And CLI Standardization
Work begun in September 2000
Submitted to ECMA (www.ecma.ch)
Active involvement by Intel, HP, IBM,
Fujitsu, Plum Hall,
Since December 2001
C#Language Specification
Common Language Infrastructure (CLI)
C# Books
C# Customers
More Resources
http://msdn.microsoft.com/
C# language specification
C# newsgroups
microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp
Questions?
 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.