Setting Up Your Environment

Before writing C# code, you need to install the .NET SDK and choose an editor or IDE. This lesson walks you through the setup process and your first application.

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Installing the .NET SDK

The .NET SDK includes everything you need to build and run C# applications:

Download

Visit https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download and download the latest LTS (Long-Term Support) release.

Platform	Installation
Windows	Download the installer (.exe) or use winget install Microsoft.DotNet.SDK.8
macOS	Download the installer (.pkg) or use brew install dotnet-sdk
Linux	Use your package manager (apt, dnf, etc.) or the install script

Verify Installation

dotnet --version
# Example output: 8.0.300

dotnet --list-sdks
# Lists all installed SDK versions

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The dotnet CLI

The dotnet command-line interface is your primary tool for creating, building, and running projects:

Command	Description
dotnet new console	Create a new console application
dotnet new webapi	Create a new Web API project
dotnet new classlib	Create a new class library
dotnet build	Compile the project
dotnet run	Build and run the project
dotnet test	Run unit tests
dotnet publish	Package for deployment
dotnet add package <name>	Add a NuGet package
dotnet new list	List all available project templates

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Choosing an IDE

Visual Studio Code (Free, Cross-Platform)

The most popular lightweight editor for C#:

1. Install VS Code
2. Install the C# Dev Kit extension (by Microsoft)
3. The extension provides IntelliSense, debugging, refactoring, and test discovery

Tip: The C# Dev Kit extension is free for individual and open-source use.

Visual Studio (Windows / Mac)

Microsoft's full-featured IDE:

Edition	Cost	Best For
Community	Free	Students, open-source, individual developers
Professional	Paid	Small teams
Enterprise	Paid	Large organisations

Visual Studio includes a visual debugger, profiler, database tools, and designers built specifically for .NET development.

JetBrains Rider (Cross-Platform)

A commercial, cross-platform IDE with excellent C# support, powerful refactoring tools, and built-in database tools.

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Creating Your First Application

Step 1: Create the Project