Greetings,
I am writing to review the EdX.org course DEV204x – Programming with C# …
(https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-v1:Microsoft+DEV204x+2T2016/info)
First, let me say, that at the time I began taking this, I had completed my Front-End Development Certificate through freeCodeCamp.com. Upon finishing that, I attempted to learn React through the facebook.github tutorials however, I struggled early and, for personal/career reasons, chose to begin looking for Back-End training.
So, why then, did I choose C# and Visual Studio over the freeCodeCamp Back-End curriculum which focused on Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB? Basically, I work in Geospatial Information Systems and am looking to be a developer in that field. In that field, a lot of data and applications are done on legacy systems that were built within the .Net framework or, interact with the .Net framework (SQL server).
I had a conversation with a young Back-End developer, probably in his mid-to-late twenties who–after looking at the fCC curriculum–said that the fCC curriculum uses a lot of technologies which are newer and utilized more by development shops and startups. C# and the .Net framework would be employed by more Fortune 500 companies and government clients. It was an interesting conversation and I do intend to return to complete the fCC Back-End and Data Visualization certificates.
Moving on, I am in module 3 of 12 and, I can tell you, that it is a pretty decent course. I’m hit some frustrating points however, I believe that is due to my comfort and familiarity with fCC and this, just being something different, has me a bit rattled early. It is frustrating also, to return to “Hello World” material after completing the Simon Game.
What I find most surprising though, is that within the writing and videos, there are these snippets of information that seem to piece together concepts and ideas I had come across in fCC that never really clicked or, they simplify something with a definition that just resonates across languages.
Case in point: In a video on Methods and Exception Handling, a definition for methods is given which turned on a light bulb for me, it may not prove too exceptional for you, but I’m sure something else will.
It is in cases like this that I feel I am getting the most out of this course beyond learning the (relatively minor) nuances in syntax and structure of C# versus say, JavaScript.
Beyond that, the exposure to Visual Studio and the powers and problems which come along with that have been very frustrating, and I can say, beneficial. It’s not like learning to drive a new car, it’s like driving a car versus a submarine. You’ll learn, just keep in mind it is waaaaaaaay more complicated and you can’t actually see where you’re going.
Well, thank you very much for reading this far. If you get a chance please drop me a line here or on gitter. I am @DanielMW34.
Ciao.
P.S. “Methods are fundamental to object oriented programming. They allow us to encapsulate behavior and functionality with the Objects we create. In C#, we can create our own methods, we can call those methods-passing in information that the method needs to perform its functions. And, we can return data from those methods as well.”
