Writing c# programs for free?

Does anyone know a link to anything that would allow me to write c# programs for free? I haven't really looked around but I was researching electromagnetic radiation for no reason today and encounted a mountain of porn... good god anything can happen, so I'd like a direct link this time please :)

- Thanks!

Visual c# express edition...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/

Dabz

You should get visual c# express, as its really awesome--
and probably the best way to get started.

But if its too big of a download theres nothing stopping you from downloading the .NET framework( 20 something meg I believe ) and using the compiler directly( look for csc.exe )..

*Or* you could download mono and use its c# compiler and runtime. Throw in sharpdevelop and you've got a decent alternative to downloading visual studio.

mono: http://www.go-mono.com
sharpdevelop: http://icsharpcode.com/OpenSource/SD/Default.aspx

yeah its great that it's free!

SharpDevelop looks pretty darn sweet :)

So if you're on windows and only plan to develop on windows, what is the benefit of using sharpdevelop+mono? Just curious.

> So if you're on windows and only plan to develop on windows, what is the benefit of using sharpdevelop+mono?

There is none.

Well size was the main reason I mentioned the alternatives.

But also, the express editions are lacking features from visual studio. Sharp develop is more comparable to visual studio than the express editions..multi language support and an add in architecture spring to mind.

( As a little a side note, Sharp develop also has support for boo, which is a language you should all check out. http://boo.codehaus.org/

Think the best of python and c# combined. When they finally get full generic support for boo, I see myself using it over c# to write games. Its really cool. )

Don't get me wrong though. I don't think sharp develop is anywhere near as nice as the ms ide's. Cuz its not :)