Hi Suhas,
Then all you need is to download the framework. It contains compilers for c# (csc) and vb (vbc? I guess). However .Net command environment needs some environment variables for paths. Add a shortcut pointing to "vsvars32.bat" and you've a command line for .Net.
ie: I do like this.
-Invoke the shortcut.
d:
cd NetCodes
Notepad somecode.cs
csc somecode.cs
somecode.exe

//HelloWorld.cs - I'd type this in notepad 
using System; // Might directly add System as a prefix to console but code soon gets longer
// and having like this helps
class HelloWorld
{
  static void Main()
  { 
    Console.WriteLine("Hello World");
  }
}

One thing I obey is to have indentation style even for the simpliest code. I wouldn't, say code the above as:

//HelloWorld.cs
class HelloWorld { static void Main() { System.Console.WriteLine("Hello World");  }}

Both are legal (and I'm lying saying I wouldn't write like this for simple code:).
Why I'd use notepad instead of IDE. Basically for 2 reasons:
1) Quicker for simple test codes than to do that under IDE.
2) Helps me 'memorizing' the classes. Just another way of learning (hands on thing).
Of course an IDE is a must at the end but w/o an IDE it's nice to even create a full blown windows form (and web form) just using notepad and csc.exe:) I do the same at times directly in a method window of a VFP form, why not here - ie: I might need a modal form getting some info from user and lazy to create another form I simply code it in method code and call with execscript():)
Cetin

>Hi Cetin,
>
>>>probably they calculated 99% of developers would buy the IDE, species like me that can do with just a notepad are endangered:)
>
>I would really be intersted in learning that way(i mean the notepad or just writing in a edit window even). Can u help me out as u always have ? Where can i get the pointers for that to get started ??
>
>thanx
>Suhashegde