Learning C# as a first language

Wondering how people on here learned C#, was it your first language and how did you learn, book based, classroom based, what books did you read and can you recommend?

I started with Atari Basic, around second or third grade. If I had to suggest a language to start with it would probably be either javascript or python. Either way, there is plenty of leaning material freely available on the internet.

-Josh

C# convert here from working with VB for years...

As has been said plenty of materials for free but if your willing to pay; www.learnvisualstudio.net is amazing. I learnt more watching Bob than reading three or four books, worth every penny and opened the door for me at my spankingly cool new job >.<

hth

First language? Can't count Commodore 64 basic as I never got that to compile. But really Modula-2 (a variant of Pascal). Never understood why a type was mutable. When you := it should stick.

As far as learning C# the first language try small basic. http://smallbasic.com/ It's nearly as fun as creating core dumps in C. Then you can move on to C#. Unless you have a project you want to create, then it's even harder to write and learn C# first up.

One more thing, find a mentor. You will need the continued help.

Hard to say what my first "language" was. BAT files? JavaScript? VB5?    

If I was going to teach someone how to program today I would absolutely use C# via Visual C# 2010 Express since it is free and the UI really makes it so the only thing you have to worry about is writing C# its self.   

Here is a set of free videos getting you started: 
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/gg278409 

Started on BBC Micro Basic, moved on to GW-Basic (a 'modern' basic without line number and with functions similar in many ways to Visual Basic), then to C and Pascal together, then C++ and then C#. Mostly self-taught, by reading books and just getting on and writing something.

Herbie

Thanks for the feedback, so far Ive been learning from http://www.csharpcourse.com/

@CaRDiak thanks those look good, ill have a go

x86 and 8051 assembly (when you could actually step backwards in the debugger), ZX Spectrum Basic, Pascal, C, C++, C#, ARM assembly.

Also mostly self-taught.

COBOL and basic, then dBase/FoxBase/Foxpro, then Visual Basic, (desktop then asp.net based). then MS.Net /VB.Net and C#.  Mostly C# now.

A few courses and books along the way but mainly self taught (is there any other way?)

Started out with QuickBasic 4.5, then I learned Pascal in school, followed by C and C++. I eventually bought the book Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Step By Step to learn C#.

@iainsnotes:

You can also look into Mono C# Shell. It lets you play around with snippets of C# code much easier IMO.

I recommend you try formal training that is classroom based, that should allow you to determine the "type" of developer you want to be.

A lot of people make the mistake of trying to run before they can crawl, or choosing a technology that is just too specific and they end up hating it.

With Apple and Android also making inroads, be sure to learn something that will allow you to develop for the platform you want to.

Sinclair ZX80 basic, AppleSoft Basic, UCSD Pascal, Fortran, C, Turbo Pascal (v2+), VB, PHP, Java, JavaScript, C#. A tiny bit of Python, COBOL, Ruby here and there

Sinclair ZX Spectrum basic (10 years old), C64 basic (11 years old), C64 assembly (12 years old), Z80 assembly (15 years old), VB 6.0 (18 years old), VB.Net (21 years old), C#.Net (21,1 - 31 years old), still can't talk to people tho.

Pet Basic 2.0, 6502/808x/680x0 assembler, Pascal, COMAL, Fortran, Cobol, Finac, C, C++, VB, VB.NET, C#.  Throw in the various web variants and the list keeps growing.

I think taking few classes from a community college is the quickest and safest way to learn if you have to programing background at all. It is good to learn by yourself. But, it is faster when the instructor can validate what you learn and emphisize important mistakes  that you may have to learn the hard way if you are by yourself.

I have a tiny 200 pages colored C# book myself. I usually just read MSDN though. This can only be done if you have prior experience with other similar languages.

As a kid: Commodore Pet Basic, AppleSoft Basic, TI-99-4A Basic, TRS80 Basic  (I'm sure these are all derivations of the some Microsoft Basic with extensions for each platform. Making the TI talk via voice synthesizer was fun), 6502 machine & assembly, and Pascal.

As an "Adult": DBase, FoxPro, TSQL, VB6, C#, XAML, Java 

For me no classes - ever; it all depends on the person. I was very fortunate to live in Silicon Valley as a kid when personal computing took off. Reading is good to start; building something is better. You've got a wealth of resources on the Internet -- sure beats my monthly computer magazine as a kid.

Good luck!