How to Set Up VS Code for C# Development to Build a Console and Web App

Introduction Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a lightweight yet powerful code editor that supports C# development with ease. Whether you're building a simple console application or a basic web app, correctly setting up your development environment is essential. This guide will walk you through setting up VS Code to create a simple C# console app and a minimal web app (a number guessing game) using ASP.NET Core. Prerequisites Before you start, ensure you have the following installed: Visual Studio Code NET SDK C# Extension for VS Code Once these are installed, open VS Code and install the C# extension if you haven’t already. This extension provides IntelliSense, debugging, and other essential tools for C# development. Setting Up a C# Console Application Create a New Project Open a terminal in VS Code and run: dotnet new console -o MyConsoleApp cd MyConsoleApp code . This creates a new console application and opens it in VS Code. Write Code Open Program.cs and modify the Main method to print a message: using System; class Program { static void Main() { Console.WriteLine("Hello, VS Code with C# is fun :)!"); } } Run the Application In the terminal, execute: dotnet run You should see Hello, VS Code with C# is fun :)! printed in the console. Setting Up a Simple Web App with ASP.NET Core Create a Web App Run the following command to create a new web project: dotnet new web -o MyWebApp cd MyWebApp code . Modify the Web App Open Program.cs and update it as follows: using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder; using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting; using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http; using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection; using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting; using System; namespace NumberGuessGame { public class Program { public static void Main(string[] args) { CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run(); } public static IHostBuilder CreateHostBuilder(string[] args) => Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args) .ConfigureWebHostDefaults(webBuilder => { webBuilder.UseStartup(); }); } public class Startup { public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services) { services.AddDistributedMemoryCache(); services.AddSession(); } public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env) { if (env.IsDevelopment()) { app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage(); } app.UseSession(); app.UseRouting(); app.UseEndpoints(endpoints => { endpoints.MapGet("/", async context => { int secretNumber = new Random().Next(1, 101); context.Session.SetInt32("SecretNumber", secretNumber); await context.Response.WriteAsync($""); await context.Response.WriteAsync("Number Guessing Game"); await context.Response.WriteAsync(""); await context.Response.WriteAsync("Enter your guess: "); await context.Response.WriteAsync(""); await context.Response.WriteAsync(""); await context.Response.WriteAsync(""); }); endpoints.MapPost("/guess", async context => { var form = await context.Request.ReadFormAsync(); int userGuess = int.Parse(form["guess"]); int secretNumber = context.Session.GetInt32("SecretNumber") ?? new Random().Next(1, 101); string message; if (userGuess < secretNumber) message = "Too low! Try again."; else if (userGuess > secretNumber) message = "Too high! Try again."; else { message = "Congratulations! You guessed the right number!"; secretNumber = new Random().Next(1, 101); // Reset number after a correct guess context.Session.SetInt32("SecretNumber", secretNumber); } await context.Response.WriteAsync($""); await context.Response.WriteAsync($"{message}"); await context.Response.WriteAsync("Try Again"); await context.Response.WriteAsync(""); }); }); } } } Run the Web App Execute: dotnet run The app will start on http://localhost:5230. Open a browser and visit the URL to see your message. Conclusion Setting up VS Code for C# development is straightforward. By installing the .NET SDK an

Mar 23, 2025 - 15:17

How to Set Up VS Code for C# Development to Build a Console and Web App

Introduction

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a lightweight yet powerful code editor that supports C# development with ease. Whether you're building a simple console application or a basic web app, correctly setting up your development environment is essential. This guide will walk you through setting up VS Code to create a simple C# console app and a minimal web app (a number guessing game) using ASP.NET Core.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have the following installed:

Once these are installed, open VS Code and install the C# extension if you haven’t already. This extension provides IntelliSense, debugging, and other essential tools for C# development.

Setting Up a C# Console Application

Create a New Project Open a terminal in VS Code and run:

   dotnet new console -o MyConsoleApp
   cd MyConsoleApp
   code .

This creates a new console application and opens it in VS Code.

Write Code Open Program.cs and modify the Main method to print a message:

   using System;

   class Program
   {
       static void Main()
       {
           Console.WriteLine("Hello, VS Code with C# is fun :)!");
       }
   }

Run the Application In the terminal, execute:

   dotnet run

You should see Hello, VS Code with C# is fun :)! printed in the console.

Setting Up a Simple Web App with ASP.NET Core

Create a Web App Run the following command to create a new web project:

   dotnet new web -o MyWebApp
   cd MyWebApp
   code .

Modify the Web App Open Program.cs and update it as follows:

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http;
using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
using System;

namespace NumberGuessGame
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
        }

        public static IHostBuilder CreateHostBuilder(string[] args) =>
            Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
                .ConfigureWebHostDefaults(webBuilder =>
                {
                    webBuilder.UseStartup();
                });
    }

    public class Startup
    {
        public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
        {
            services.AddDistributedMemoryCache();
            services.AddSession();
        }

        public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
        {
            if (env.IsDevelopment())
            {
                app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage();
            }

            app.UseSession();
            app.UseRouting();

            app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
            {
                endpoints.MapGet("/", async context =>
                {
                    int secretNumber = new Random().Next(1, 101);
                    context.Session.SetInt32("SecretNumber", secretNumber);
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync($"");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("Number Guessing Game");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("Enter your guess:  ");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("");
                });

                endpoints.MapPost("/guess", async context =>
                {
                    var form = await context.Request.ReadFormAsync();
                    int userGuess = int.Parse(form["guess"]);
                    int secretNumber = context.Session.GetInt32("SecretNumber") ?? new Random().Next(1, 101);

                    string message;
                    if (userGuess < secretNumber)
                        message = "Too low! Try again.";
                    else if (userGuess > secretNumber)
                        message = "Too high! Try again.";
                    else
                    {
                        message = "Congratulations! You guessed the right number!";
                        secretNumber = new Random().Next(1, 101); // Reset number after a correct guess
                        context.Session.SetInt32("SecretNumber", secretNumber);
                    }

                    await context.Response.WriteAsync($"");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync($"{message}");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("Try Again");
                    await context.Response.WriteAsync("");
                });
            });
        }
    }
}

Run the Web App Execute:

   dotnet run

The app will start on http://localhost:5230. Open a browser and visit the URL to see your message.

Conclusion
Setting up VS Code for C# development is straightforward. By installing the .NET SDK and the C# extension, you can quickly create and run both console and web applications. This setup provides a lightweight yet practical development environment for C# programmers.