Top C# Projects to Sharpen Your Skills and Build Your C# Portfolio

C# is a popular general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language that is a member of the C programming language family. It is an object oriented and component-oriented programming language that is primarily used for designing websites and desktop applications. It is also the gold standard for developing large-scale Microsoft applications. 

If you’re looking for gigs as a C# developer, you will benefit from having a clear and organized portfolio that contains all your best C# projects. This article is for anyone looking for project ideas to increase their skills at any level of experience. It also contains the best C# templates, skills, and tips for organizing your C# portfolio. 

5 Skills That C# Projects Can Help You Practice

The more you practice C# with projects, the better you will become at mastering the skills needed to thrive as a C# developer. Every programmer typically acquires a mix of technical and soft skills during the learning process. Below you will find the top five technical skills you can practice by completing C# projects at different levels. 

• .Net Framework. This is a Microsoft Windows framework designed specifically for promoting interoperability across programming languages. Since C# is predominantly used for Microsoft applications, you will learn how to build on the .Net Framework and modify it to meet any type of development requirements you have. 
• Object Oriented Programming. Learning object oriented programming (OOP) in C# does more than just shorten development time and increase flexibility. It also makes it easier for you to understand other object oriented programming languages like Python, JavaScript, Java, and PHP.  
• Frontend and Backend Knowledge. While C# isn’t exclusively a front end or backend programming language, it can easily be used for both server and client-side development. As a result, using this programming language can assist you in exploring and mastering full stack application development.
• Microsoft SQL Server. During some of your C# projects, you will use the Microsoft SQL Server, a vital part of the company’s technological architecture. It is a relational database that is ideal for data storage and retrieval across the software. It plays a crucial role in enterprise application processing. 
• Coding. Apart from improving your OOP skills, practicing your C# projects will also help you improve your overall coding skills. You will master coding with C# and other related technologies. This gives you more options as an advanced developer because it makes learning other programming languages in the C family, and beyond, easier.

Best C# Project Ideas for Beginners 

If you are new to coding and have limited experience in C#, but want to learn how to make a web application, you should first start with a basic project. These projects can typically be completed within a few hours or days. Some of them can be completed with a few lines of code and other development tools. The top five C# project ideas for beginners are listed below.

Create a Movie Database Library  

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

If you know how to use C# and Visual Studio, you can create a movie library that works in any basic search engine in under 30 minutes. This data-driven application could contain a collection of movie menus organized by genre and length in a list of search results. You can build a more complicated program as you gain more skills

Visual studios can be used to easily create the front end of the application, while Microsoft SQL Server can handle the backend as the database. You can also add a star rating system and menu bar that allows you to criticize movies listed on the database if you want. 

Create an Online Voting System 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

An online polling unit is one of the most basic things you can design with ASP.Net C# on Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. It can be a single-poll page or a page that can be adjusted as needed. Users should be able to vote and see how the votes are trending. You could also include a modify button that allows users to change their votes.

Note-taking Application 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding

Note-taking applications will never lose relevance across the globe. A simple note-taking application project can build your analytical thinking skills and train you to find a solution when errors occur. Apart from C#, you also need to learn how to write and edit XML files. This application does not require any prior knowledge of graphical user interfaces.

Social Media Bot 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

Have you ever wondered how social media bots on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms work? Well, you can learn the workings of a simple bot and create one for yourself with C#. If you want to create a Twitter bot, you must first connect to the Twitter API. The same is true for other social media platforms. You can program the bot to respond to specific keywords.

Logistics Tracking App 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

You can create a simple logistic tracking app that can be used by companies that ship goods to customers all over the world. For direct searches, the app should include a search box where users can enter a product’s tracking number. It should also send email notifications to the recipient whenever the tracking information for the product changes.

Best Intermediate C# Project Ideas

If you feel that you are ready to progress beyond the beginner stage of C# development, you can take things a step further and increase your skill level by completing intermediate software projects. Some amazing project ideas are provided below.

Healthcare Management  System 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

A basic hospital or healthcare management system can be designed with C#, .Net, and a basic knowledge of SQL database management. This windows application should have all the features, modules, and resources required for the smooth and efficient functioning of the hospital’s administrative services. There should also be a login page for workers in the hospital. 

Digital Signature App 

• C# Skills Practiced: .Net, Microsoft SQL Server 

Digital signatures have quickly surpassed handwritten signatures in importance. When online contracts must be signed remotely, the most practical method is to use a simple digital signature app. While C# programming skills are required for coding, Visual Basic for the front end and MS Access for the backend of the app are also required.

Shopping Cart App 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

Ecommerce and shopping cart apps are popular projects for app developers. If you don’t want to create a complete ecommerce app, you can create a shopping cart for a website that provides paid services. The user interface must be functional, and the cart must be simple to use. You will also require a checkout page with payment options and a submit button.

Personal Information Organizer 

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

This project concept should function similarly to a calendar app with an extensive to-do list. You should be able to use it to organize your daily activities, set reminders, and record other information that will assist you in completing your tasks. You should also be able to save any personal information you frequently use for easy access.

Payroll Management System

• C# Skills Practiced: Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

This project might be a little more challenging than the others on this list, but you can make it as simple as you want. It must resemble an enterprise-scale payroll management system, but it should be designed for a smaller workforce. The software should include a list of employees, options to add or remove employees from the payroll, and admin login details. 

Advanced C# Project Ideas

Advanced projects are designed for developers who have more than a few weeks, if not months,  of experience with C# and related technologies. These advanced C# projects are more complex and typically take longer to complete than beginner or intermediate projects. Some of the best advanced C# projects are listed below. 

3D Game 

• C# Skills Practiced: Object Oriented Programming, Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

One of the best games you can create with C# is a car driving game. However, you will need more than C#, Microsoft server, and the Net framework for this project. You will also need a game engine to help speed up the game development process. Some of the best game engines for C# games are Unity, Stride, Godot, Wave, and CryEngine. 

Student Management Software 

• C# Skills Practiced: Object Oriented Programming, Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server

You will need advanced knowledge of C# and MySQL for this system. It should be designed to assist educational institutions in keeping track of their student records. Each student should have their own page that can be edited or deleted as needed. There should also be an option for interval evaluation so that each student’s performance is easily accessible.

Employee Management Software 

• C# Skills Practiced: Object Oriented Programming, Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server 

The goal of this software, as the name implies, is to assist employers in efficiently managing their employee details. You can create a desktop application for adding work schedules, personal information, and any other critical employee information. Data security must be prioritized on this software to ensure that only authorized parties get access to it. 

Ad Tracking System 

• C# Skills Practiced: Object Oriented Programming, Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server 

An advertisement tracking system, also known as an advertisement analytic system, is software that digital marketers use to track and manage ad campaigns. You can complete this professional project by combining Visual Studio, ASP, C#, and MySQL. There should be an admin portal for accessing detailed reports. It would help if these reports can be downloaded in pdf format. 

Hotel Management Software  

• C# Skills Practiced: Object Oriented Programming, Coding, .Net Framework, Microsoft SQL Server 

Like other parts of the hospitality industry, large volumes of data flow through hotels daily. You can create hotel management software to manage information inflow and outflow. It should have a robust database that handles bookings, reservations, available dates, pricing, and even payment. 

C# Starter Project Templates

For beginners and even advanced developers, C# starter templates can be useful. These ready-made templates contain source code that you can use as the foundation of your projects. While there aren’t currently many active C# templates, there are Net frameworks templates that can be used for C# projects. Some of them are listed below. 

• .NET Framework React Desktop Apps. This framework is ideal for developing desktop apps with C#. It is compatible with Winforms, ASP.NET, and OSX Cocoa. Just download the source code, install it, and manipulate it to fit your project. While the primary programing language for this template is C#, you can use JavaScript, HTML, TypeScript, CSS, and EJS. 
• .NET Framework Website with ServiceStack.Razor. This razor-netfx framework template is most commonly used with C#, HTML, and TypeScript. While the project is readily available on GitHub, you can learn more about it on the official razor-netfx website. 
• .NET Framework self-hosting HttpListener Console App. Are you thinking of using C# to design a self-hosting console app? This template might be the right fit. While other templates on this list are compatible with several programming languages, this one is designed for C#.  

Next Steps: Start Organizing Your C# Portfolio

A developer’s portfolio is an extension of their resume, which proves to a prospective client that you have the programming skills to get the job done. You’ll want to organize your portfolio professionally and keep it accessible. You can create a website for your portfolio, or you can host your sample projects on GitHub. The tips below will help you create a professional portfolio. 

Organize it in Terms of Complexity 

Make it a habit to prioritize your most complex projects over simpler ones. This is because clients and prospective employers want to ensure that you meet the professional standards set for you. They may not want to keep scrolling if they first see simple, static pages. Anyone who can complete an advanced dynamic page has already mastered coding to an adequate level. 

Include Testimonials

It’s not enough to make a list of all the coding and data science projects you’ve completed over the years. It also helps to provide proof to demonstrate that previous clients have been pleased with your work. This might include client testimonials, links to your official social media pages, and anything else that makes the portfolio realistic and personalized. 

Include Relevant Project

You will want to research the job you are applying for to identify the most relevant skills for that position. Then, make sure you include projects that display your mastery of these skills. This will show you are prepared for the job and can help you stand out from the crowd. 

C# Projects FAQ