Build your first C# program that shows welcome messages on the screen. (Ages 8-18)
HelloCoderDojo/
├── .git/
├── HelloCoderDojo.csproj
└── Program.cs
- What to do: Go to https://github.com/PhillyCoderDojo/HelloWorldCSharp → Click "Fork" button in top right → Then open GitHub Desktop → Click "Clone a repository from the Internet" → Select your fork → Choose a location on your computer → Click "Clone"
- Where we're working: Making your own copy of our starter project, like getting your own LEGO set that matches the teacher's
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: This gives you your own version of the project to change without affecting the original, just like saving a game to your own memory card
- Git command:
git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/HelloWorldCSharp.git - Documentation Link
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Find and open the folder you just created for your repository
- Where we're working: Looking inside your new project home
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: We need to see where our code will live
- Git command:
cd HelloCoderDojo - 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Find Rider in your Start Menu/Applications folder and open it
- Where we're working: Starting up our coding tool
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: We need our coding workshop to start building
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Click "New Solution" on the welcome screen
- Where we're working: Setting up our coding project
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: This is like starting a new LEGO set with instructions
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Select "Console Application" → Name it "HelloCoderDojo" → Choose your repository folder as location → Select .NET 8.0 → Click Create
- Where we're working: Creating the blueprint for your program
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Tells the computer what kind of program we're making
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: In your project folder, create a new file named ".gitignore"
- Where we're working: Making a special list that tells Git which files to ignore
- Code snippet:
# Build results
[Dd]ebug/
[Dd]ebugPublic/
[Rr]elease/
[Rr]eleases/
x64/
x86/
[Bb]in/
[Oo]bj/
[Ll]og/
[Ll]ogs/
# Visual Studio / Rider files
.vs/
.idea/
*.suo
*.user
*.userosscache
*.sln.docstates
*.userprefs
# .NET Core
project.lock.json
project.fragment.lock.json
artifacts/
# NuGet Packages
*.nupkg
*.snupkg
**/[Pp]ackages/*
!**/[Pp]ackages/build/
# MSTest test Results
[Tt]est[Rr]esult*/
[Bb]uild[Ll]og.*
# Files built by Visual Studio
*_i.c
*_p.c
*_h.h
*.ilk
*.meta
*.obj
*.pch
*.pdb
*.ipdb
*.pgc
*.pgd
*.rsp
*.sbr
*.tlb
*.tli
*.tlh
*.tmp
- Why it matters: Keeps your project clean by not tracking files that your computer creates automatically
- Git command: None yet
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Go back to GitHub Desktop → Review changes → Enter "Initial project setup" as commit message → Click "Commit to main"
- Where we're working: Saving your project's starting point
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Like taking a snapshot of your LEGO creation so far
- Git command:
git add . && git commit -m "Initial project setup" - 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: In Rider, look at Solution Explorer (usually on the left side)
- Where we're working: Looking at all the pieces of your project
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Finding all the parts we need to build with
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Double-click on Program.cs in Solution Explorer
- Where we're working: Opening the main file where we'll write our code
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: This is your blank canvas for writing instructions
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Delete any existing code and type these three lines
- Where we're working: Writing in the Program.cs file
- Code snippet:
Console.WriteLine("Hello, Philly CoderDojo!");
Console.WriteLine("Welcome to C# programming!");
Console.WriteLine("Today is Saturday, June 14, 2025");- Why it matters: Telling the computer what words to show on screen
- Git command: None yet
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Click the green
▶️ button at the top or press Ctrl+F5 - Where we're working: Testing your program to see if it works
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: See your program come to life!
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Go to GitHub Desktop → Review changes → Enter "Add welcome messages" as commit message → Click "Commit to main"
- Where we're working: Saving your progress in the magical notebook
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Taking another snapshot of your work
- Git command:
git add Program.cs && git commit -m "Add welcome messages" - 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Change the messages to include your information
- Where we're working: Changing the words in Program.cs
- Code snippet:
Console.WriteLine("Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME]");
Console.WriteLine("I am [AGE] years old");
Console.WriteLine("I want to learn programming because [REASON]");- Why it matters: Making the computer say things about YOU
- Git command: None yet
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Click the green
▶️ button again to see your changes - Where we're working: Testing your personalized program
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Making sure your changes worked correctly
- Git command: None
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: Go to GitHub Desktop → Review changes → Enter "Add personal information" as commit message → Click "Commit to main"
- Where we're working: Saving your personalized version
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Taking a snapshot of your customized program
- Git command:
git add Program.cs && git commit -m "Add personal information" - 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- What to do: In GitHub Desktop, click "Push origin" to upload all your commits
- Where we're working: Sending your project to the internet cloud
- Code snippet: None
- Why it matters: Backing up your code so it's safe forever
- Git command:
git push origin main - 📸 SCREENSHOT:
- Click the green
▶️ button in Rider or press Ctrl+F5 - You should see your messages appear in the console window
- Common Error: If you see red underlines, check for missing semicolons (;) at the end of each line
- 📸 SCREENSHOT:
Make your program ask for the user's name and say hello to them!
Hint:
Console.Write("What is your name? ");
string name = Console.ReadLine();
Console.WriteLine($"Hello, {name}!");-
📸 SCREENSHOT:
-
Git command:
git add Program.cs && git commit -m "Add interactive name prompt"
All images below are stored in fwdhelloworldctutorial/.
- Rider/GitHub Desktop: the tutorial images in the steps above (hosted via GitHub attachments).
- Visual Studio: the local captures below.
