A new lecture showing how to collect instance any type data – in this case, area and keynote values – from all elements in your RVT has been added to the Learn the Revit API video course
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Boost Your BIM 
Does this cover getting started from super simple basics like selecting editing environments from online ‘free’ codbase editors to one like visual studio?
The course uses SharpDevelop (Revit’s built-in macro editor) and the free version of Visual Studio. I know of no reason to use anything else. What do you have in mind?
Programming independent addins, not macros.
use Visual Studio
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/express/