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Here are the topics and subtopics of the module, presented as text in a mind map format:

  • Module Introduction

    • Learning Outcomes
      • Understanding and practical application of pure Visual Programming Language (VPL) concepts.
      • Understanding of the .NET framework architecture and executing a C# console program using Visual Studio IDE.
      • Practicing the development of a complete GUI-based application using C# basics, and Event-driven Programming.
      • Developing test programs for debugging and revising existing code.

  • Introduction to Pure Visual Programming

    • What is Visual Programming?
      • Definition: Any programming language allowing users to specify a program in a Two- (or more)-dimensional way by manipulating program elements graphically rather than textually.
      • Main Goals of Using VPL: Make programming more accessible to novices, support programmers at three different programming levels, component-based programming, cater for rapid application development (RAD).
    • Basics in a Language
      • Syntax: Rules defining combinations of symbols, wordings, and characters correctly structured for a language.
      • Semantics: Study of literal meaning at levels of words, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse.
      • Pragmatics: Study of how context contributes to meaning.
    • Applications/Tools of Visual Programming (under various areas)
      • Educational: Scratch, Ardublock, AgentCubes, Bubble, AgentSheets.
      • Multimedia: OpenMusic, Blender, Chameleon, AudioMulch, Dynamo.
      • Video Gaming: Blender Game Engine, Clickteam Fusion 2.5, CryEngine (with FlowGraph), GameSalad, SnowDrop.
      • Simulation: Flowcode, DRAKON, Analytica, Orange, EICASLAB.
      • Data Warehousing/Business Intelligence: Ab Initio, IBM Cognos Business Intelligence, Automator, Alteryx Designer.

  • From the Previous Lesson (Component-Based Architecture)

    • Component-Based vs. Object-Oriented Programming
      • Component-Based: Development focused on modules/components, interchangeable code modules, don't require familiarity with inner workings, involved with Rapid Application Development (RAD), ideal for large-scale systems.
      • Object-Oriented: Development focused on objects, developments depend on parent objects (inheritance), need to know inherited methods/data types/behaviors, considerable time to define objects from ground up, well-suited for complex hierarchies and relationships.

  • The .NET Framework

    • What is .NET?
      • Definition: Free, open-source, cross-platform framework for building modern apps and powerful cloud services.
      • A developer platform for building and running applications on Windows.
      • Facilitates tools, libraries, and programming languages for different application types.
      • Cross-platform independence: .NET codes can execute on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android.
    • .NET Framework Architecture
      • Major Components: Common Intermediate Language (CIL), Common Language Runtime (CLR), Machine Code.
    • Benefits of using .NET Framework: Works with wide variety of programming languages, version compatibility, portability, speed, memory management, reliability, easy deployment, large class library.

  • Visual Studio IDE

    • What is an IDE?
    • Key Features: Single IDE for all .NET applications, integrated compilation and debugging, collaborative features (Git-first workflow, real-time collaboration, integrated code reviews), supports applications based on different languages, customizable environment.

  • Evolution of C#

    • Specific Features in C#: Multi-paradigm Programming language, garbage collection, nullable types, exception handling, lambda expressions, Language Integrated Query (LINQ).

  • Introduction to C# (Programming)

    • What is C#?
      • Modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft, part of .NET framework, used for Windows apps, web apps, games.
      • Why learn C#: Widely used in enterprise, strong integration with Windows and .NET, excellent support/documentation, versatile (desktop, web, mobile, game development).
    • Basics in C#
      • Terms used in C#: Namespace (containers for related classes), Assembly (compiler-generated file after successful compilation, DLL or exe).
      • C# Coding Structure (Example).
    • Basic Syntax & Structure
      • Identifiers: Names for classes, interfaces, structs, delegates, enums, members, variables, namespaces; series of Unicode characters; start with letter or underscore; no spaces/symbols; case sensitive; not a C# keyword (unless prefixed with @).
      • Naming Conventions (Best Practices): Pascal casing for classes, structs, methods, properties, constant fields; interfaces prefixed with 'I' (Pascal case); camel case for method arguments, private fields (prefixed with underscore), local variables; meaningful names.
      • Keywords: Reserved words predefined to the C# compiler, special meaning, cannot be used as identifiers.
    • Data Types and Variables
      • Value Type: Predefined Data Type (Common): int, float, double, char, string, bool.
      • Value Type: User Defined Data Type: Structures (primitive type to create single variable related data of various types), Enumerations (collection of constants).
      • What is a Variable? Literal?: Variable is a name for storage area, type determines size/layout; Literal is a fixed value for a predefined variable, cannot be modified.
      • Declaring and Initializing Variables: Syntax data_type variable_name = value;.
      • Type Conversion: Implicit (automatic, e.g., char to int), Explicit (manual casting, e.g., double to int).
      • Built-in Methods for Type Conversion: ToBoolean, ToByte, ToChar, ToDecimal, ToDouble, ToInt32, ToInt64, ToUInt16, ToString, ToType.
      • Variable Scope: Lifetime in a program; Class level, Method level, Block level.
    • Input and Output (Console)
      • C# Console Input (Console.ReadLine()).
      • C# Console Output (Console.WriteLine(), Console.Write()).
      • Escape Characters in C#: \', \", \\, \n, \r, \t, \0, \b, @ (Verbatim String).
    • Operators in C#
      • Groups: Arithmetic, Assignment, Comparison, Logical, Bitwise.
      • Operator Precedence.
    • Some Key Points
      • Comments: Used to understand code, ignored by compiler; Single line (//), Multi line (/* ... */), XML comments (///).
      • Multiple Main Methods: One class usually has main method as entry point; Prevention via csc filename.cs /main:classname.
      • Compile Time Errors: Occur when syntax rules are violated, detected by compiler.

  • Control Statements

    • Selection/Branching Statements: if-else statement, switch-case statement.
    • Iteration/Repetition Statements: for loop, while loop, do while loop, foreach loop.

  • Strings

    • Reference data type, stores sequence of character objects/text.
    • Object of System.String class, performs operations using predefined methods.
    • string and String are same.
    • Declaration & Initialization: Using string keyword or creating System.String object.
    • String Methods: Clone(), Compare(), Concat(), ToString(), Trim(), ToUpper(), IndexOf(), Substring(), Join().

  • Arrays

    • Fixed-size collection of elements, stores multiple values in single variable, all elements same data type.
    • Defining and Initializing Arrays: string[] country = new string; or string[] country = {"Sri Lanka", ...};.
    • Accessing Array Elements.
    • One Dimensional vs. Two Dimensional.
    • Array Methods: Clone(), Copy(), Empty<T>(), Finalize(), Sort(), Reverse(), IndexOf().
    • Array Class vs. ArrayList: Array is base class for operations; ArrayList is a resizable collection for any data type.

  • Methods (Functions)

    • Block of code with signature, executes statements.
    • Main parts: Access modifier, Return type, Parameters, Function name.
    • Mathematical Functions: Math.Abs(), Math.floor(), Math.ceiling(), Math.DivRem(), Math.Min(), Math.Max(), Math.Pow(), Math.Round(), Math.Sqrt().
    • Random Numbers: Used for generating random numbers (Random rand = new Random(); rand.Next()).
    • User Defined Functions: 4 types (no arguments/no return, no argument/return, arguments/no return, arguments/return).

  • Object Orientation (OO)

    • What is a class?: User-defined template or blueprint of an object.
    • What is an object?: Logical unit representing real-world entities.
    • Core Concepts of OO
      • Encapsulation: Binding data and methods under a single unit, data protection, accessed via accessors/mutators.
      • Inheritance: One class acquiring properties from another (parent-child relationship), improves reusability.
      • Polymorphism: "Many forms", occurs with inherited classes, achieved via method overloading/overriding, high reusability, ease of debugging.
      • Abstraction: Presenting essential details only, uses abstract classes and modifiers (abstract keyword).

  • Graphical User Interface (GUI)

    • What is GUI?: User interface allowing interaction with devices through graphical icons, built using GUI controls (components/widgets).
    • Why use GUIs?: Enhance efficiency and ease of use (usability).
    • Pros and Cons.

  • Windows Forms

    • Used in C# for creating/designing GUIs.
    • System.Windows.Forms namespace includes controls.
    • The Form class: Top-level window, contains sub-controls, inherits from Form class, interacts via properties and delegates.
    • Creating a Windows Form: Steps in Visual Studio IDE (File > New > Project, select Windows Form App (.NET Framework)).
    • Key IDE Components: Windows Forms Designer (rapid development, add controls), Solution Explorer (displays project items), Properties (display properties for selected objects), Toolbox (drag and drop controls).
    • GUI Controls: Buttons, Labels, Textbox, Checkbox, Radio Button, Group Box, Numeric Up/Down, Progress bar, DateTimePicker, Listbox, Combo box, DomainUpDown, ListView.

  • Creative GUI Designing with Event Handling

    • Windows Form Properties.
    • What is Event Handling?
      • Mechanism where application responds to events/actions (user interactions like clicks, key presses, mouse movements, or system-generated events).
      • All GUI controls have associated events.
      • Why use Event Handling: User interaction, application logic, state management, validation/error handling, customization/extensibility, build event-driven programming model.
    • Common Events in Windows Forms: Click, MouseEnter, MouseLeave, KeyPress, Load.
    • Examples: Button Click (MessageBox.Show()), Mouse Hover (label1.Text), Form Load.
    • Retrieving Integer Values from Textbox: String to Integer/Float/Double conversion using int.Parse(), float.Parse(), double.Parse() or Convert.ToInt32() etc..

  • Introduction to Databases

    • What is a Database?: Organized collection of structured/unstructured data, accessed electronically via Database Management System (DBMS).
    • Types of Databases: Relational, Distributed, Cloud, NoSQL, Object-oriented, Graph.
    • Terminology: Database, Tables, Columns, Rows.
    • Data Types Used in Databases.
    • Keys in Databases: Primary key, Foreign key, Unique key, Candidate key, Super key, Composite key, Alternative key.
    • SQL Commands
      • Data Definition Language (DDL): CREATE, ALTER, DROP.
      • Data Manipulation Language (DML): INSERT, SELECT, UPDATE, DELETE.
    • MS SQL Server: Proprietary DBMS, C#/C/C++ languages, Microsoft Corporation developer.
    • MySQL Server: Open-source relational DBMS, Java/PHP/Python/C++/Ruby/Visual Basic/R languages, Oracle Corporation developer.
    • Comparison in Servers: MSSQL vs. MySQL.
    • Creating a Sample DB with SSMS: Steps (Connect to server, New Database, Name DB, Add Tables, Add Name/Columns).

  • Database Connection and CRUD Operations

    • Database Connection
      • Parameters: Name, Username, Password, Host, Port.
      • Namespace for DB Connectivity: System.Data.SqlClient.
      • Key Classes: SqlConnection, SqlDataAdapter, SqlException, SqlTransaction.
      • Steps for Connecting Database into Windows Form: Copying server name, selecting DB, getting connection string.
    • DB Connectivity with CRUD Operations
      • What is CRUD?: Four basic operations a software application performs.
        • CREATE: Creating/inserting new records.
        • READ: Retrieving existing records.
        • UPDATE: Updating/modifying records.
        • DELETE: Deleting records.
      • Examples of CRUD operations (Coding View).

  • Menus, Crystal Reports Generation and MDI Forms

    • What are Menus?: Used for navigation in Windows forms, MenuStrip control provides functionality.
    • Main Types of Menus: Main Menu vs. Context Menu.
    • What is Crystal Report?: Embedded Report Design tool, free, functional, saves time, easy/powerful for report creation/integration/delivery.
    • Key Benefits of Using Crystal Reports.
    • Steps of Creating Crystal Reports: Adding Namespaces (CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine, CrystalDecisions.Shared, CrystalDecisions.ReportSource).
    • Adding Crystal Reports into an Application (Visual steps).
    • Multiple Document Interface (MDI)
      • Used to display multiple child windows inside a program.
      • Contrasted to Single Document Interface (SDI).
      • MDI application consists of a window menu item for switching between windows/documents.
      • Examples: Visual Studio IDE (MDI) vs. Notepad (SDI).
    • MDI Forms with Menus.
    • Connecting Form from the Main Form: Using ToolStripMenuItem to open new forms as MDI children (f1.MdiParent = this;).