C# (pronounced as C Sharp) is Microsoft’s home technology and the brainchild of Anders Hejlsberg. This multi-paradigm programming language is known for its easy learning curve, versatility and flexibility, object-oriented programming disciplines, its strong typing, meta-programming and a multitude of other useful features and tools. C# is usually used with the .NET framework, which is another home technology of Microsoft and all applications and programs created in C# run on top of the framework.
C# has an expressive syntax and is quite similar to other popular object-oriented languages. According to an article in Visual StudionMagazine, it stands at number 6 in the list of most popular programming languages, the first five being JavaScript, Python, Java, C/C++ and PHP. A lot of third-party applications present on Windows’ app store are written in C#. So having a good grasp of this general-purpose language can open windows of opportunities for you.
Its multi-functional capabilities permit programmers to mold it the way they want to and use it to build some amazing applications. Starting from simple web applications to complex business apps, C# can help you get almost anything. Here, we have listed five amazing things that you can create with C#.
5 amazing things that you can create with C#
Desktop Applications
A good and adept desktop application is one that can have a smooth conversation with the hardware. It’s true that users today prefer to go for web apps and mobile apps but for the ones which require interaction with the hardware like creating high quality videos, editing music, or graphing calculators, desktop applications are the favoured ones.
C# is used to build feature-rich desktop apps, especially for Windows. The good news is that the C# codebase can be utilized to make desktop apps run on Mac too. Some classic examples of desktop apps created with C# are Photoshop, Microsoft Office (the whole suite including PowerPoint, Word and Excel) and Skype.
Gaming Applications
We all know about how crazy gamers get while playing their favorite games on gaming consoles, and Xbox happens to be one of the most popular consoles. There are two things – first, since Xbox again is a Microsoft product, using C# definitely gives an advantage and second, since Unity is the platform mostly used by developers for developing 3D games, C# again proves to be a valuable asset.
This is because running C#-written gaming apps is easy in the Unity environment. However, you can also use C# to build intuitive gaming applications for Android, macOS and iOS. Some cool games create in Unity by using C# are Rust, Bastion, Shadowrun Returns and Wasteland 2.
VR and AR Apps
Many of you can raise eyebrows on this one as it can be surprising that C# can be used as a potential language for the development of virtual reality and augmented reality applications. Microsoft’s HoloLens has proven itself to be a strong contender in the VR market and once again, the preferred language here for app building happens to be C#.
Furthermore, C# is the language that is easy to use on one of the most widely used VR development platforms, Unity. Most of Unity’s abilities are rendered by C#, and hence the language. C# makes the development of VR apps easier for Unreal Engine too, which uses C++. Though its syntax has lesser consistency than C#, one can use the blueprints of the latter and use it to build a good one in C++ from scratch.
Cross-Platform Mobile Applications
By combining the tools and technologies of C#, .NET framework and Visual Studio, developers can create highly productive cross-platform mobile applications. They can even notch up their development by creating a powerful graphical application by simply installing Visual Studio tools for Unity. Doing so will enable them to utilize the powerful features of both platforms since they’re good at being worked with C#, and they can create stunning graphical mobile applications.
In case you are aiming to create a mobile app for iOS, Windows and Android with a single codebase, you will need to install Visual Studio for Xamarin as it will enable you to share codes, images and even user interfaces. An added advantage of using Visual Studio is that it lets you connect to services of Azure App and Microsft 365 while designing and developing your app. Some classic examples of mobile apps developed with C# are Aviva, Pinterest, The World Bank and Tableau.
Client Web Apps with Blazor
Blazor is yet another revolutionary technology of Microsoft which enables the development of innovative web applications by using C#. This gets better for the fact that Blazor is a part of the many good features provided by ASP.NET, another popular Microsoft development framework with libraries to build feature-rich web applications.
By using Blazor, developers can build great and interactive web user interfaces. Blazor applications come with reusable UI components which can be implemented with C#, and since both client and server-side codes are in C#, it becomes easy for developers to share libraries and codes. To sum it up, you can use Blazor and use C# to build robust client web applications.
Take Away
Since its introduction in 1999, C# has come a long way and has evolved to become a powerful, flexible and extremely resourceful programming language. Today, C# web development is a thriving discipline and holds seamless opportunities. Developers can use it to display their coding skills by building some remarkably innovative apps, but it can also turn out to be advantageous for people who are looking to make their way into the web world with groundbreaking apps.
The different types of applications mentioned here (when done right) can help you to make an impressive mark. But apart from the above-mentioned categories of applications, C# can also be used for creating the following apps and services:
- REST APIs and web services
- Controllers and components
- Cloud-based business applications and native Windows applications
- Apps developed with bleeding-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Machine Learning and Internet of Things
So if you intend to invest in C# web development, now is definitely a good time to do so.
