What I’ve Learned in C# and How It Applies to Python

I learned C# in a module of my master’s degree in Mobile Apps and Wearables. Some aspects of C# feel similar to Python. Both C# and Python are supported by a range of powerful IDEs and editors, such as Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and PyCharm.

Personally, I use Visual Studio Code for C#, but for Python, I use PyCharm because some experts recommended it.

1. Core Programming Concepts

Variables and Data Types

In both C# and Python, you use basic data types like integers, floats, strings, and booleans. C# needs you to specify the type of each variable, while Python figures it out on its own.

  int x = 10;
  double y = 3.14;
  string name = "Jern";
  bool isActive = true;

Python:

  x = 10
  y = 3.14
  name = "Jern"
  is_active = True

Control Flow

Control flow in both languages is managed through similar constructs. You use if, else if/elif, and else for decision-making, and for and while loops for iteration.

Conditionals:

if (x > 10) {
    Console.WriteLine("x is greater than 10");
} else if (x == 10) {
    Console.WriteLine("x is 10");
} else {
    Console.WriteLine("x is less than 10");
}

Python:

if x > 10:
    print("x is greater than 10")
elif x == 10:
    print("x is 10")
else:
    print("x is less than 10")

Loops:

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    Console.WriteLine(i);
}

int count = 0;
while (count < 5) {
    Console.WriteLine(count);
    count++;
}

Python:

for i in range(5):
    print(i)

count = 0
while count < 5:
    print(count)
    count += 1

2. Functions and Methods

Both C# and Python support functions for organising code into reusable blocks.

  public int Add(int a, int b) {
      return a + b;
  }

  int result = Add(3, 4);
  Console.WriteLine(result);

Python:

  def add(a, b):
      return a + b

  result = add(3, 4)
  print(result)

3. Object-Oriented Programming

Both languages support OOP principles, such as creating classes, defining methods, and managing object properties.

  public class Person {
      public string Name { get; set; }
      public int Age { get; set; }

      public void Greet() {
          Console.WriteLine($"Hello, my name is {Name} and I am {Age} years old.");
      }
  }

  Person p = new Person { Name = "Jern", Age = 31 };
  p.Greet();

Python:

  class Person:
      def __init__(self, name, age):
          self.name = name
          self.age = age

      def greet(self):
          print(f"Hello, my name is {self.name} and I am {self.age} years old.")

  p = Person("Jern", 31)
  p.greet()

4. Exception Handling

Error handling with try-catch in C# and try-except in Python follows similar principles.

  try {
      // code that may throw an exception
  }
  catch (Exception ex) {
      Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
  }

Python:

  try:
      # code that may throw an exception
  except Exception as ex:
      print(f"Error: {ex}")

5. Data Structures

Both languages offer comparable data structures for storing and manipulating collections.

Lists/Arrays:

List<int> numbers = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4 };

Python:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]

Dictionaries/Maps:

Dictionary<string, int> ages = new Dictionary<string, int> {
    { "Soju", 30 },
    { "Judy", 25 }
};

Python:

ages = {"Soju": 30, "Judy": 25}

6. Libraries and Frameworks

Using libraries is a common practice in both languages, though the syntax for including them differs.

C#: Uses using directives.

  using System.Collections.Generic;

Python: Uses import statements.

  import math

7. File I/O

Reading from and writing to files is straightforward in both languages.

  using System.IO;

  File.WriteAllText("example.txt", "Hello, World!");
  string content = File.ReadAllText("example.txt");

Python:

  with open("example.txt", "w") as file:
      file.write("Hello, World!")

  with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
      content = file.read()

8. Asynchronous Programming

Handling asynchronous tasks with async and await is supported in both languages.

  async Task<string> FetchDataAsync() {
      await Task.Delay(1000); // Simulate async work
      return "Data";
  }

Python:

  import asyncio

  async def fetch_data():
      await asyncio.sleep(1)  # Simulate async work
      return "Data"

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