C# Projects with Source Code on GitHub: Learn, Fork, and Build

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“The best way to learn a language is by reading and writing real-world projects — not just tutorials.”

If you’re searching for C# projects with source code GitHub, you’ve landed in the right spot. In this post, we’ll go beyond the usual “top 10” lists, helping you discover useful projects, understand how to navigate and reuse real code, and build something of your own — with clear, actionable steps. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer looking to sharpen your skills, this guide will help you make the most of open source C# projects.

Why Study C# Projects With Source Code Github?

Before diving into examples, let’s outline the value:

• Learn architecture, patterns, and coding conventions — you see how real developers structure apps beyond toy examples.
• Understand integration and tooling — how they use CI/CD, testing, documentation, dependency injection, etc.
• Fork, modify, or contribute — real code you can branch, debug, and extend.
• Portfolio and resume material — having real GitHub repositories you can explain adds credibility.

Many developers on forums emphasize the need for “code that you can clone and build, that shows business logic or UI, not only algorithm snippets.” (Reddit)

With that in mind, let’s look at how to find the right C# projects and how to approach working with them.

How to Find Good C# Projects With Source Code Github

(Step-by-step guide)

If you’re looking for C# Projects With Source Code Github you can actually try, fork, or learn from, here are some live examples from darekdari.com:

• Inventory Management System (C# & MySQL)
  A full-featured inventory project using C# and MySQL.
  ➤ View it here (DarekDari)
• C# Project: Shopping Cart with Source Code
  A shopping cart application built in C# with full source code.
  ➤ View it here (DarekDari)
• Fitness Tracker Application (C# Source Code)
  Two sample fitness tracker apps in C# with step-by-step code.
  ➤ View it here (DarekDari)
• C# Chatbot 2024 With Source Code
  A chatbot built in C#, broken down into its components.
  ➤ View it here (DarekDari)
• Expense Tracker Application (C# Source Code)
  Manage, log, and analyze expenses with this app in C#.
  ➤ View it here (DarekDari)

“Click any project above to jump directly to the full post, see screenshots, and download the complete source code.”

1. Use GitHub Topics and filters
   Go to GitHub – topics/csharp-project which surfaces many public C# apps. (GitHub)
   Use filters: sort by “Most stars”, “Recent activity”, “Language: C#”.
2. Target intermediate-level or more complex repos
   Avoid extremely trivial “HelloWorld” repos. Look for projects that:
   • have README, roadmap, issue tracker
   • include multiple projects (UI + backend + tests)
   • are updated recently — a sign of ongoing maintenance
3. Explore curated lists
   Repositories like practical-tutorials/project-based-learning collect project ideas with source code. (GitHub)
   Also check repositories like Kalutu / csharp-for-everybody for beginner-friendly collections. (GitHub)
4. Check official & foundation repos
   The .NET organization on GitHub hosts dozens of core and extension repos (runtime, ASP.NET Core, etc.). (GitHub)
   Libraries like PDFsharp (for PDF manipulation) are also good deeper examples. (Vikipedi)
5. Use “good first issue” tags to find friendly-to-contribute repos
   Many open-source C# repos label beginner tasks as good first issue. (DEV Community)

Sample Projects You Should Fork or Explore

Here are six real-world C# projects with source code on GitHub that go beyond toy examples:

Tip: Fork one of these, then try to build and run it locally. Use that as your starting base.

Step-by-Step: How to Clone, Build & Explore a C# Project from GitHub

Here’s a practical workflow you can follow:

1. Clone the repo git clone https://github.com/owner/repo.git cd repo
2. Inspect README.md and prerequisites
   Look for required .NET SDK versions, external dependencies (e.g. SQL server, Redis, etc.)
3. Set up dependencies
   • Run dotnet restore
   • Or use NuGet package restore in Visual Studio
   • Make sure any databases or external services are running
4. Build the solution dotnet build
5. Run / test dotnet run --project path/to/startup.csproj or run the test project: dotnet test
6. Explore code structure
   Look for common architecture patterns:
   • Layers / modularization (e.g. UI / Services / Data folders)
   • Dependency Injection / IoC
   • Configuration files (appsettings.json)
   • Unit / integration tests
7. Make a small change, then commit & push
   Try modifying a label in the UI or adding a logging statement, then push to your fork.
8. Optional: Submit a PR
   If you see a bug or want to add a helpful feature, submit a pull request.

Expert Tips for Getting the Most Out of Open Source C# Projects

• Prefer repos with demo or sample projects
  A library-only repo isn’t as useful unless it includes a sample application. This is often recommended in open-source checklists. (Reddit)
• Check commit history and issue tracker
  If development is active, you’ll learn more from recent code changes and open issues.
• Read the tests first
  Well-structured tests reveal expected behavior, usage scenarios, edge cases.
• Focus on “business logic” parts
  Skip routine boilerplate UI code initially; dig into core modules, domain logic, service layers.
• Refactor or rearchitect a small slice
  Pick a module or feature and refactor it into a more modular or cleaner version as a side project.
• Document your learning journey
  As you explore, take notes or blog about what you learned. That’s also useful content for internal linking (e.g. link “how I refactored a C# payment module” on darekdari.com).

Unique Insights & Underexplored Angles (Filling the Gap)

Many blogs list “top 10 C# projects,” but often they lack depth in explaining how to use them effectively. Here are three underexplored angles you can benefit from:

1. Cross-platform or headless C# projects
   Many beginners ignore console tools, microservices, or background jobs in C#. Exploring how C# can be used in non-UI contexts (e.g. Windows Services, hostable APIs, worker services) yields deeper understanding.
2. Comparing architecture styles across C# repos
   Compare one repo using Clean Architecture, another using Hexagonal Architecture, and yet another using monolithic CRUD style. Contrast strengths, tradeoffs, and refactor one into another.
3. How open-source C# projects use CI/CD, code quality, and release pipelines
   Many blogs skip how open-source projects automate builds, testing, packaging, and publishing (to NuGet, for example). You can document this, perhaps referencing how to add GitHub Actions to a C# project.

By covering these, your blog offers more lasting value than simple roundups.

Example: Refactoring a Module — Before vs After

Let’s walk through a mini case study. Suppose you forked a project and want to refactor its logging:

Before

public class PaymentService
{
    public void Process(Payment p)
    {
        // lots of code
        Console.WriteLine($"Processing {p.Amount}");
        // more code
        Console.WriteLine("Payment done");
    }
}

After (Refactored to use Dependency Injection & Logging Interface)

public class PaymentService
{
    private readonly ILogger<PaymentService> _logger;
    public PaymentService(ILogger<PaymentService> logger)
    {
        _logger = logger;
    }

    public void Process(Payment p)
    {
        _logger.LogInformation("Processing {Amount}", p.Amount);
        // more code
        _logger.LogInformation("Payment done");
    }
}

Steps to do this:

1. Add or enable Microsoft.Extensions.Logging
2. Register ILogger<T> in DI container
3. Replace direct Console.WriteLine calls
4. Run tests to ensure no regressions

This small change teaches you patterns used in many well-architected C# projects.

Comparison: Open Source C# Projects vs. Learning Tutorials

Understanding this contrast helps you set expectations: open-source projects are messier but richer in learning potential.

Visual & Embedded Media Ideas

• Screenshots / UML diagrams of architecture layers (e.g. showing how UI, services, data connect)
• GIF or short video: clone-to-run a C# project in under 30 seconds
• Embed code snippets (as above)
• Comparison diagrams showing monolithic vs modular architecture
• Anchor text suggestion: “See my fork of Project-X on GitHub” or “Screenshot of my Visual Studio build output”

Such visuals not only break up text but also make your explanations concrete and shareable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Are all C# GitHub projects free to use?
A: Not always — check the license (MIT, Apache, EPL, etc.). Some may restrict commercial use or require attribution.

Q2: What if a project fails to build on my machine?
A: Common issues include mismatched .NET SDK version, missing environment variables, or database migration steps. Always check the README or issues.

Q3: Should I start with beginner projects or jump to advanced ones?
A: If you’re new, start with beginner projects (e.g. Kalutu / csharp-for-everybody) then gradually move to full-scale apps. (GitHub)

Q4: How do I contribute to a C# project on GitHub?
A: Fork → create a feature branch → make changes → run tests → submit a Pull Request with clear description.

Q5: What architecture is best in C# open source?
A: There’s no one-size-fits-all. Many projects use Clean Architecture, Onion Architecture, or layered MVC; evaluate tradeoffs against project size and complexity.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Key Takeaways

• Don’t just collect lists — clone, run, and explore real C# projects to truly learn.
• Use structured search strategies (GitHub topics, curated lists, “good first issue”) to find projects worth your time.
• Work through a project: build, debug, refactor modules, and document your findings.
• Cover deeper angles like CI/CD, refactoring, or headless C# tools to go beyond surface-level lists.

Your Call to Action

Try this today:

1. Pick one of the sample projects above.
2. Clone it, build it, and run it locally.
3. Make a small change or improvement.
4. Post a link to your fork in the comments below — I’ll review or help if needed.
5. Share or bookmark this post to aid your fellow .NET developers.

Let me know if you’d like a follow-up post—for example, “how to set up GitHub Actions for C# projects” or “refactoring monolithic C# apps into modular microservices.” Happy coding!