5 Reasons Nearshore Developers Prefer C#

The programming language known as C# (or “C-sharp,” like the musical notation, not the hashtag) is a part of the Common Languages Infrastructure and one of the simplest to learn and most widely used languages today for the construction of web-based applications, desktop apps, games, and interactive software.

C# is an “object-oriented” programming language, which means the code contains both data and functions (i.e. the thing and the directions on what to do with the thing), so it’s more integrated and often faster than many “process-oriented” programming languages.

In this article, we explore the language’s origin, it’s a general use, reasons why it’s a popular and efficient language in today’s development landscape, ultimately explaining why it’s a preferred language by nearshore and on-site developers around the world.

#1 Origins and Flexibility

C# was developed at Microsoft by a team of programmers led by Anders Hejlsberg in 2000. It came about as part of the .Net Initiative, in a reaction to the Java language, which C# sought to emulate and ultimately replace (it succeeded at the first, but not the second). C# is also considered a hybrid between C language and C++, bringing them both into modern frameworks and contemporary usage.

While C# is the most popular language within the .Net framework, being a part of the .Net framework means C# can be used interchangeably and alongside other adjacent programming languages (Microsoft-developed and otherwise). Why does this matter? Because, unlike some more complicated languages, C# can be used instead of more demanding choices. That makes the ease of C# an asset, without limiting its desirability or applicability.

#2 Growing Uses

Not every programming language is ideally suited to the new, dynamic world of web-based applications. Yet, C# has proven its worth in the new age of dynamic online apps.

While C# has long been a preferred choice for developers building desktop apps (and especially for computers running Microsoft’s Windows Operating System, because of C#’s link to Microsoft), rising demand for OS-agnostic apps running directly by consumers in an online setting has risen significantly. Thus, C# -- as a dynamic and adaptive language -- is poised to remain and even gain importance in this new environment.

Also, C# is growing in popularity among developers creating mobile apps; this means we’ll likely see a significant increase in C# use as mobile applications are already in significant demand worldwide and only will continue to be more so.

#3 Unity and Games

Aside from its growing popularity with online apps, C# has also long been one of the most preferred languages developers use when creating video games.

Not only was the popular Unity game engine built in C# but, according to educativ.io, 33% of all games in development today use C# as their primary language -- which means C#-build games have been played by over 750 million game users worldwide.

Why do game devs use C# in such high numbers? There are several reasons, but one is that Unity is in high-demand with the new field of VR: 90% of all Samsung Gear and 53% of all Oculus Rift games are developed on Unity (which means they are written in C#). With this link to the fastest-growing new video game category, C# seems poised to remain a dominant language choice within the industry.

#4 Easy and Complex

Unlike other languages, C# is considered “easy to learn.” How so? Well, part of its design was to “abstract away” most of the most complex tasks, so that a programmer can forget all about them. Almost literally: memory is one such thing. Because .Net itself handles “garbage collection,” devs writing in C# don’t have to worry about this aspect at all, and can focus on more program-specific challenges.

Besides, an expansive code library exists for C#, which means developers of any experience level -- and even beginners -- can rely on already existing code to build basic infrastructure, something which isn’t available at the same degree for those writing in languages like Java or C++.

Another benefit of C# is that it’s “statically-typed”--which means all the language can be checked when the code is compiled, and not when the program is run, thus creating more opportunity to weed out and ultimately fix errors before it's too late. A great asset for those who are new to programming.

#5 Community and Learning

A final reason why developers prefer C# is because it’s a quick skill to pick up for those who already write key programming languages, and a vibrant community of users is standing by to help even the most extreme beginner pick up this in-demand language.

On StackOverflow, the C# community is the third largest, and one of the most active dev communities. This means over 1.1 million ongoing discussions of C# (on a site which itself was...built with C#!). In addition, 31% of all developers use C#, making it the fourth most popular coding language in the world. So even when you inevitably do get stuck, there’s bound to be someone around who can help you out.

And if you inevitably get stuck with a project where C# would be most beneficial, it’s also a language nearshore developers have been using for decades and find to be particularly important in their arsenal of skills. Regardless of the project type, demands, or timeline, quality developers are standing by for whom C# is their preferred method of software development, no matter where they are in the world.

The reasons why are clear, and we’ve just outlined five.

--

If you want to stay up to date with all the new content we publish on our blog, share your email and hit the subscribe button.

Also, feel free to browse through the other sections of the blog where you can find many other amazing articles on: Programming, IT, Outsourcing, and even Management.