Are you ready to take your C# development skills to the next level? With Microsoft's retirement of Visual Studio for Mac looming in 2024, it's time to explore alternative tools that will keep you ahead of the curve. Enter Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a powerful cross-platform environment that combines seamlessly with the C# Dev Kit to deliver robust .NET application development on macOS.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the world of VS Code for C# development, make sure you have the following essentials installed:

  • The latest .NET SDK from the official .NET website
  • Visual Studio Code from the official Microsoft website
  • The C# extension by Microsoft (available in the Extensions view)

Setting Up Your Environment

Now that you've got the basics covered, let's get started with setting up your VS Code environment for C# development. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Creating and Running a Simple C# Console Application

  1. Open Terminal: Launch a terminal window from your preferred working location.
  2. Navigate to Your Workspace: Move to the folder where you'll be working on your project.
  3. Create a New Folder and Initialize the Project: Use the mkdir command to create a new directory, then navigate into it using cd. Next, use the dotnet new console command to generate a basic C# console application.

Debugging Your Application

  1. Add a Breakpoint: Click in the gutter to the left of the line Console.WriteLine(number) to set a breakpoint.
  2. Start Debugging: Press F5 or navigate to Run > Start Debugging. VS Code will prompt you to select an environment for your project (choose .NET or .NET Core).
  3. Inspect Variables: Use the Debug pane to inspect variable values and navigate through your code using Step Over (F10) and Step Into (F11).

Conclusion

In this article, we've explored how to use Visual Studio Code for C# development on macOS. By following these steps, you'll be able to create, run, and debug .NET applications with ease. With the C# extension, VS Code provides a streamlined environment that's perfect for building modern .NET applications. So why wait? Start your journey today!