C# is a [Microsoft] language standard.  Microsoft provides its own
"Introduction and Overview" here 
[http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/techinfo/articles/upgrade/Csharpintro.asp]
(but note that MS moves its Web pages around quite capriciously;
this page is likely to expire at any time).  Widely-respected
Chief C# Architect [Anders Hejlsberg] emphasizes that though
ideas from [Java], [Smalltalk], and [Modula] influenced C#, his
focus was to make it close to [C++]. 

[BR] - It's either a (proprietary) Microsoft thing or a standard, it can't be both, can it?  The language is supported by [ECMA] so there is a standard.  It remains to be seen, whether Microsoft will submit the changes it makes to ECMA within a reasonable time-frame, so that the language stays "standard".

"The first widely distributed implementation of C# was
released by Microsoft in July 2000, as part of its [.NET]
Framework initiative.  . . .
C# is intended to be a simple, modern, general-purpose,
[object-oriented] programming language."  (from "C# Language Specification"
[http://msdn.microsoft.com/net/ecma/WD05-Review.pdf])

Co-designers with Hejlsberg were Scott Wiltamuth and Peter Golde.

[[Explain crucial role of [CLI] ...]]

Visual Studio .NET ships with a C# compiler.

The C# compiler is also part of the free [.NET] preview download at [http://www.microsoft.com/windows.netserver/preview/default.mspx].

[Mono] is an [Open Source] version of C# and its related libraries.

 [explain how it's like Java and C++]

----
For what is C# used?

"C# is intended to be suitable for writing applications for
both hosted and embedded systems, ranging from the very large that
use sophisticated operating systems, down to the very small having
dedicated functions.

Although C# applications are intended to be economical with
regards to memory and processing power requirements, the
language was not intended to compete directly on performance
and size with C or assembly language." (from "C# Language Specification")

[[Tell what its ''real'' uses are.]]
----
Can C# be used with Tcl or Tk?

2003/01/06 JJM - Yes, it can be used with Tcl/Tk via [TCLBridge].
[CL] hopes to return at some point to argue that there are other
potential links between C# and Tcl/Tk--though TCLBridge is certainly
a fine one on its own.





----
There's a great deal of competition for mindshare among those who think
they want to program with C#.  Among the leading online resources are:
   * http://www.csharptoday.com , a subscription-based site backed by Wrox
   * http://www.c-sharpcorner.com
   * http://www.csharphelp.com
   * Microsoft's own "Visual C# .NET Home Page" [http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/]
   * http://www.csharp-station.com
   * http://www.MasterCSharp.com
   * http://www.csharp.com/links.html
   * http://www.johnsmiley.com/csharp/faqs.htm