C# Polyglot Notebooks are Here!

C# Polyglot Notebooks are Here!

by | Apr 4, 2023 | Tech News

Polyglot Notebooks now generally available in Visual Studio Code Marketplace

The Polyglot Notebooks extension, which allows developers to mix and match multiple programming languages within the same notebook, is now generally available in the Visual Studio Code Marketplace, according to a recent announcement by Microsoft. This feature enables a more flexible and streamlined way to write and share code across different contexts and purposes, without having to switch between separate tools or languages.

What are Notebooks and why they are useful

If you’re not familiar with notebooks, they are interactive computational files that support mixing executable code, visualizations, equations, and narrative text. Notebooks have code cells that allow code to be run in an incremental and segmented manner, unlike traditional scripts that need to be run in their entirety. Popularized by the open-source Project Jupyter, notebooks have become the de facto tool for data science and teaching, and can be used for a wide range of programming and prototyping tasks.

What are Polyglot Notebooks and why they are different

Polyglot Notebooks take the concept of notebooks to a whole new level. The philosophy behind this feature is that developers should always be able to choose the best language for the task at hand, and not be constrained by the limitations of a single language or tool. With Polyglot Notebooks, you can use multiple languages natively within the same notebook, with full language server support, and share variables between them to maintain a continuous workflow. This means you can connect to a database, run queries in SQL or KQL, create visualizations in JavaScript or HTML, and more, all within the same tool and the same notebook.

How Polyglot Notebooks work and what they support

Polyglot Notebooks in VS Code are powered by .NET Interactive, which is an innovative engine built using .NET technology that can run multiple languages and share variables between them. .NET Interactive can behave as a kernel in the context of notebooks, which means it can execute code in multiple languages, including C#, F#, PowerShell, JavaScript, HTML, Mermaid, SQL, KQL (Kusto Query Language), and more.

Key features of Polyglot Notebooks in VS Code

Some of the key features of Polyglot Notebooks in VS Code include:

  • Connecting to and querying Microsoft SQL Server databases and Kusto Clusters
  • Language server support such as autocompletion, syntax highlighting, and signature help for all languages
  • Variable sharing between different languages in the same notebook, for a continuous workflow
  • Ability to create interactive visualizations and narratives using multiple languages and data sources

How to get started with Polyglot Notebooks in VS Code

To get started with Polyglot Notebooks, you will need to install

Once you have these installed, you can create your first notebook by opening the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P in Windows, Cmd+Shift+P on iOS) and selecting “Polyglot Notebook: Create new blank notebook”, selecting “.ipynb”, and choosing the language you’d like to start with. To change the language of a cell being used, simply click on the language picker in the bottom right of the cell and choose your desired language.

Once they have all the necessary tools installed, they can create their first notebook by opening the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P in Windows, Cmd+Shift+P on iOS) and selecting “Polyglot Notebook: Create new blank notebook”, select ‘.ipynb’, and select the language they’d like to start with. They should see “.NET Interactive” in the top right as this indicates the kernel being used. To change the language of a cell being used, simply click on the language picker in the bottom right of the cell and choose your desired language.

Feedback

If developers would like to provide any feedback, file any bugs, or request any features, they can file an issue on the .NET Interactive GitHub repository. To learn more, they can visit the Polyglot Notebook Documentation.

Conclusion

Polyglot Notebooks in VS Code are an excellent tool for developers who want to work with multiple languages natively within the same notebook with full language server support. It allows them to share variables between different languages to maintain a continuous workflow. With its innovative engine built using .NET technology that can run multiple languages and share variables between them, Polyglot Notebooks in VS Code is definitely worth trying out for developers who work with multiple languages.

 

Source: Microsoft Blog

Why C#?

Why C#?

by | Apr 4, 2023 | C#

What is C#?

C# is a high-level, object-oriented programming language that was developed by Microsoft. It was first introduced in 2000 as part of the .NET framework and has since become one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.

C# is designed to be a simple, modern, and type-safe language that is easy to learn and use. It’s often used to develop Windows desktop applications, video games, mobile applications, and web applications.

Why is C# a great starting language?

There are many reasons why C# is a great language for beginners. Here are just a few:

Object-oriented programming

C# is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, which means it’s designed to model real-world objects and concepts. This makes it easier to understand and organize complex programs. OOP also makes it easier to reuse code, as objects can be reused in different parts of a program.

Large community and support

C# has a large and active community of developers who are constantly creating new libraries, tools, and frameworks. This means that if you run into a problem while learning C#, you’re likely to find a solution online. There are also many tutorials, guides, and forums available to help you learn the language.

Versatile

C# is a versatile language that can be used for a wide range of applications. Whether you’re interested in desktop applications, video games, mobile applications, or web applications, C# has a library or framework that can help you get started.

For example, if you’re interested in desktop applications, you can use the Windows Forms or WPF frameworks to build graphical user interfaces (GUIs). If you’re interested in video games, you can use the Unity game engine and the MonoGame library. If you’re interested in web applications, you can use the ASP.NET framework.

Career opportunities

Learning C# can open up many career opportunities, as it’s widely used in many industries. C# is used by many companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Intel. It’s also used in a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, and education.

According to the TIOBE Index, C# is currently the fifth most popular programming language, after Java, C, Python, and C++. This means that there is a high demand for C# developers.

Getting started with C#

If you’re interested in learning C#, there are many resources available to help you get started. Here are a few steps you can take:

Install Visual Studio

Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that is widely used for C# development. You can download Visual Studio from the official website at https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/community/. Once you’ve installed Visual Studio, you can use it to write and run your C# code.

Learn the basics

Once you’ve installed Visual Studio, you can start learning the basics of C#. There are many online tutorials and courses available, such as Microsoft’s C# tutorial, that can help you get started as well as tutorials right here on Learn Code Today!

Practice, practice, practice

The key to learning any programming language is to practice writing code. You can start by writing simple programs, such as a program that prints out the numbers from 1 to 10 or a program that asks the user for their name and greets them.

As you become more comfortable with the language, you can move on to more complex programs, such as video games or web applications. Just remember to never give up, pace yourself, and reward yourself every step of the way.

Join a community

As mentioned earlier, C# has a large and active community of developers. Joining a community can be a great way to get support and learn from others who are also learning the language. You can join online forums, such as Reddit’s r/csharp or Stack Overflow, or attend local C# meetups.

Build projects

One of the best ways to learn C# is to build projects. Projects can help you apply what you’ve learned and give you a sense of accomplishment. You can build projects in a wide range of areas, such as desktop applications, video games, mobile applications, and web applications.

Here are a few project ideas to get you started:

  • Build a Windows desktop application using the Windows Forms or WPF frameworks. A great starter project is a todo app or a small weather application using a free API.
  • Build a video game using the Unity game engine and the MonoGame library. Starting off with a 2d platformer is a great way to have fun and learn the language.
  • Build a mobile application using Xamarin or the Unity game engine.
  • Build a web application using the ASP.NET framework.

Conclusion

C# is a great starting language for beginners who are interested in learning programming. It’s simple, modern, and type-safe, and has a large community of developers. Learning C# can open up many career opportunities, as it’s widely used in many industries.

If you’re interested in learning C#, there are many resources available to help you get started. Install Visual Studio, learn the basics, practice writing code, join a community, and build projects. With time and practice, you can become proficient in C# and use it to build amazing things.

Pin It on Pinterest