README.md

🚀 C# Hello World Project

Lesson Snapshot

Build your first C# program that shows welcome messages on the screen. (Ages 8-18)

Folder & File Map

HelloCoderDojo/
├── .git/
├── HelloCoderDojo.csproj
└── Program.cs

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1. Fork and Clone the Repository ✅

• 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:

2. Open Repository Folder ✅

• 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:

3. Launch JetBrains Rider ✅

• 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:

4. Create New Project ✅

• 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:

5. Set Up Console App ✅

• 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:

6. Create a .gitignore File ✅

• 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:

7. First Commit ✅

• 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:

8. Explore Your Project ✅

• 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:

9. Find Program.cs ✅

• 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:

10. Write Welcome Messages ✅

• 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:

11. Run Your Program ▶️

• 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:

12. Commit Your Changes ✅

• 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:

13. Make It Personal ✅

• 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:

14. Run Again ▶️

• 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:

15. Commit Personal Changes ✅

• 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:

16. Push to GitHub ✅

• 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:

Run & Test ▶️

• 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:

Bonus Challenge 🔥

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"

IDE Screenshots

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.