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The First C# Code Snippets You Should Memorize (Visual Studio Code)

The First C# Code Snippets You Should Memorize (Visual Studio Code)

Code snippets are pre-written portions of code that you can summon with just a few keypresses. By automatically setting up much of the syntax required in common programming language structures, snippets speed up the mundane parts of coding.

Depending on the size of its content, a particular code snippet will save you anything from the small handful of keypresses it takes to set up the curly brackets of an if statement to the several lines of code it takes to write the skeleton of an entire class or method.

Plus, they are just plain fun to use. Look at all the code that I get “for free” here:

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Debugging with Deftness in Visual Studio Code

Debugging with Deftness in Visual Studio Code

Here’s a short list of keyboard shortcuts for debugging in Visual Studio Code. Right now, I don’t do a good job using many of these myself, but by writing them down for you I’m reminding myself to integrate them into my workflow. These hotkeys won’t shave hours off of your debugging sessions, but they may make the experience more enjoyable.

Inserting Print Statements

Sometimes all you really need in order to discover what your code is doing wrong is a simple print statement in the middle of a complex set of operations.

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Should You Learn a Powerful Editor like Vim or Emacs?

Should You Learn a Powerful Editor like Vim or Emacs?

You’ve probably heard of them. They’re the text editors that real programmers use. The powerful tools that will boost your productivity into outer space if you can ever master them.

I’m talking about Emacs and Vim.

Perhaps that isn’t the way you’ve seen these two text editors presented, but when I first heard about them, I had this perception that I absolutely had to use them if I wanted to be a cool and competent programmer. They were said to have a huge learning curve yet to offer equivalently incredible editing power. I had to learn how to use at least one of them!

So are these editors worth the learning investment they present?

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Why Write Code Faster?

Why Write Code Faster?

I don’t think anyone would object to being able to write code faster, but is text-editing really worth its own blog? I think it is.

Before I talk about why I’m interested in writing a blog about the merits of keyboard shortcuts and typing skills, let me try to convince you that text-editing is something you should care about.

I’m going to assume two things about you: First, I’ll assume that you either are a programmer or want to become one. Second, I’ll assume that you genuinely care about becoming the best programmer you can be.

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5 Text-Editing Shortcuts for New Programmers

5 Text-Editing Shortcuts for New Programmers

Beginning programmers have it tough. It’s not enough that you have to teach yourself to think and problem-solve in a manner that translates into computer instructions. You also have to memorize the specific rules, syntax, and commands of the particular programming language you are studying. Further complicating the matter is the fact that once you have come up with a solution, you must type it in to your computer exactly.

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