Got it 👍.
Let’s build a **structured C# learning plan** that’s practical for a
junior developer, with a focus on making them job-ready as a .NET engineer. I’ll
break it into **phases** (fundamentals → intermediate → advanced → applied
learning) with suggested **duration**, **topics**, **hands-on practice**, and
**resources**.
---
# 🧩 C# Learning Plan for a Junior Developer
### **Phase 1: Foundations of C# (2–3 weeks)**
**Goal:** Understand C# syntax, structure, and core programming concepts.
**Topics:**
* Setting up the environment: Visual Studio / Rider / VS Code
* Basics: `Hello World`, data types, variables, operators
* Control structures: `if`, `switch`, `for`, `while`, `foreach`
* Methods & parameters (pass by value vs reference)
* Arrays & collections basics (`List<T>`, `Dictionary<TKey, TValue>`)
* Exception handling (`try`, `catch`, `finally`, custom exceptions)
**Hands-on practice:**
* Write a small console app (e.g., Calculator, To-Do List)
* Implement simple input/output apps
**Resources:**
* Microsoft Docs: [C#
Fundamentals](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/)
* Book: *Head First C#* (easy, beginner-friendly)
---
### **Phase 2: Object-Oriented Programming in C# (3–4 weeks)**
**Goal:** Master OOP, the foundation of C#.
**Topics:**
* Classes, objects, constructors
* Properties, fields, methods
* Encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction
* Interfaces vs Abstract classes
* Static members & constants
* Access modifiers (`public`, `private`, `internal`, `protected`)
* Structs vs Classes
* Enums
**Hands-on practice:**
* Model a real-world problem (e.g., Library System, Bank Account Management)
* Use inheritance & interfaces in projects
**Resources:**
* Microsoft Learn: OOP in C# modules
* YouTube: Tim Corey’s C# OOP tutorials
---
### **Phase 3: Intermediate C# (3 weeks)**
**Goal:** Build confidence with real-world language features.
**Topics:**
* Generics (`List<T>`, `Dictionary<K,V>`, custom generics)
* Delegates, Events, Func/Action/Predicate
* LINQ (query syntax & method syntax)
* Lambda expressions
* Extension methods
* Nullable types
* DateTime & TimeSpan
* File I/O (StreamReader, StreamWriter, File class)
**Hands-on practice:**
* Build a Student Record System using LINQ queries
* File-based mini projects (log readers, CSV processors)
**Resources:**
* *C# in Depth* by Jon Skeet (reference for deeper understanding)
* LINQPad (excellent tool to practice LINQ queries)
---
### **Phase 4: Advanced C# (4–5 weeks)**
**Goal:** Learn features used in enterprise-grade systems.
**Topics:**
* Async/Await & Task Parallel Library (TPL)
* Multithreading basics
* Dependency Injection basics
* Attributes & Reflection
* Memory management (GC, `IDisposable`, `using`)
* Records & Tuples
* Pattern Matching
* Error logging (e.g., Serilog, NLog)
**Hands-on practice:**
* Async web calls (simulate API requests)
* Write a logging system with custom attributes
**Resources:**
* Pluralsight Courses on Async Programming
* Microsoft Docs on .NET Memory Management
---
### **Phase 5: Applied Learning with .NET (6–8 weeks)**
**Goal:** Apply C# in real-world application development.
**Topics:**
* .NET CLI & project structure
* Unit testing (`xUnit`, `NUnit`, `MSTest`)
* Entity Framework Core (EF Core) basics
* REST API with ASP.NET Core Web API
* MVC & Razor Pages overview
* Configuration & dependency injection in ASP.NET Core
* Error handling & middleware in Web API
**Hands-on practice:**
* Build a REST API (e.g., Bookstore API with CRUD operations + EF Core + SQL
Server)
* Add logging, DI, and unit tests
* Deploy locally using Docker (optional advanced step)
**Resources:**
* Microsoft Learn: [ASP.NET Core
Tutorials](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/?view=aspnetcore-7.0)
* Tim Corey’s ASP.NET Core series
---
### **Phase 6: Real-World Project (4–6 weeks)**
**Goal:** Get project-ready by combining all concepts.
**Project Ideas:**
* **E-Commerce Backend API** (Products, Orders, Customers, Payments)
* **Task Management System** (multi-user with authentication & authorization)
* **Expense Tracker App** (EF Core, API, unit tests, logging)
**Expectations:**
* Use OOP, async, LINQ, DI, EF Core
* Write unit tests
* Properly structure project (layers: API, Business, Data)
* Document code (XML comments, README)
---
✅ **Tips for Success:**
* Spend at least **1–2 hours daily coding**, not just reading
* Maintain a **GitHub repo** with all projects
* Do **code reviews with seniors** to get feedback
* Follow best practices (naming conventions, SOLID principles, clean code)
---
Would you like me to also **layer this plan with a weekly schedule** (e.g., Week 1:
Variables + Control Flow + Exercises), so the junior developer can follow step by
step like a timetable?
