Creating a console application in VS Code is a straightforward process that requires a few simple steps.
First, open VS Code and select the "Create a new folder" option from the start menu. This will create a new folder where you can create your console application.
To create a new folder, you can also use the command line by opening the terminal in VS Code and typing "mkdir myconsoleapp".
Next, navigate to the folder you created and open the terminal again.
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Prerequisites
To create a console application in Visual Studio Code, you'll need to meet a few prerequisites.
Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit installed is a must-have. For information about how to install extensions on Visual Studio Code, see the VS Code Extension Marketplace.
You'll also need the .NET 8 SDK.
Here are the specific requirements in a concise list:
- Visual Studio Code with C# Dev Kit installed
- .NET 8 SDK
Create the App
To create a console application in Visual Studio Code, start by launching the app. You can do this by selecting Create .NET Project in the Explorer view.
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Next, you'll need to choose a project template. For this example, select Console App. You can also use the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl+Shift+P (Command+Shift+P on MacOS) and typing ".NET" to find and select the .NET: New Project command.
After selecting the project template, you'll need to choose the location where you want to create the new project. Give your new project a name, such as "HelloWorld".
To get the most out of the template, select to Show all template options. Set Do not use top-level statements to true, and then select Create Project.
Once the project is created, you'll see a dialog asking if you trust the authors of the files in this folder. Since this folder only has files generated by .NET and added or modified by you, you can safely select Yes, I trust the authors.
Finally, open the Program.cs file to see the simple application created by the template.
Enhancing the App
To enhance your console application in Visual Studio Code, you need to modify the Main method in Program.cs or Program.vb. This involves replacing the existing code with new code that prompts the user for their name and displays it along with the current date and time.
You can use the following code to achieve this:
Console.WriteLine("What is your name?");
var name = Console.ReadLine();
var currentDate = DateTime.Now;
Console.WriteLine($"{Environment.NewLine}Hello, {name}, on {currentDate:d} at {currentDate:t}!");
Console.Write($"{Environment.NewLine}Press any key to exit...");
Console.ReadKey(true);
This code displays a prompt in the console window, waits for user input, stores the input in a variable named name, retrieves the current local time, and displays these values in the console window.
Here's a step-by-step guide to implementing this code:
- Replace the contents of the Main method in Program.cs or Program.vb with the above code.
- Press Ctrl+F5 to run the program without debugging.
- Respond to the prompt by entering a name and pressing the Enter key.
- Press any key to close the console window.
Note that in Visual Studio Code, file changes are not automatically saved when you build and run an app, so you need to explicitly save changes.
Running and Testing
To run and test your console application in VS Code, you'll need to create a launch configuration.
You can do this by clicking on the "Run Code" button in the top right corner of the VS Code window, which will automatically create a launch.json file.
To run your application, navigate to the terminal in VS Code and type "dotnet run" to execute the code.
This will compile and run your application, and you can see the output in the terminal.
After running your application, you can test it by entering different inputs and observing the output.
You can also use the debugger in VS Code to step through your code line by line and identify any issues.
Installation and Setup
To create a console application in VS Code, you'll need to start by installing the necessary tools. Visual Studio Code is the primary tool you'll be using, so make sure you have it installed.
You'll also need the C# Dev Kit extension, which can be installed from the Visual Studio Marketplace. The C# Dev Kit supports cloud native development and is published by Microsoft.
To get started with C# Dev Kit, launch the extension walkthrough and follow the steps. This will help you learn more about the features of the C# extension and install the latest .NET SDK.
Here are the essential tools you'll need to create a console application in VS Code:
- Visual Studio Code
- C# Dev Kit extension
- .NET SDK
Install Required Packages
To install the required packages for .NET development, you'll need to start by installing the necessary tools, including Visual Studio Code, the C# Dev Kit extension, and the .NET SDK.
Visual Studio Code is a popular code editor that supports .NET development, while the C# Dev Kit extension provides additional features and functionality. The .NET SDK is a software development kit that allows you to create and run .NET applications.
For .NET console applications, you'll need to install the Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting package, which provides hosting abstractions and support for Dependency Injection, configuration, and logging. This package is a must-have for building and running your application.
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You'll also need to install the Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection package, which provides the classes and interfaces required for Dependency Injection in .NET. This package is essential for managing dependencies and services in your application.
Here are the required packages you need to install:
- Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting Package
- Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection Package
These packages will provide the foundation for your .NET development project, allowing you to focus on building and running your application.
Installing Extensions
Installing extensions is a crucial step in getting started with VS Code. You'll need to install the C# Dev Kit from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
To install the C# Dev Kit, follow these steps:
- Install C# Dev Kit from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
- The C# extension is called C# Dev Kit and it's published by Microsoft.
The C# Dev Kit supports cloud native development and can be used with the .NET MAUI extension for cross-platform mobile and desktop development.
Upon installation, you can follow the extension walkthrough to learn more about the features of the C# extension and install the latest .NET SDK.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to run C# code in Visual Studio Code console?
To run C# code in Visual Studio Code, simply execute the command `dotnet run` in the terminal after creating a new console project. This will compile and run your code, allowing you to test and debug your application.
Sources
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tutorials/with-visual-studio-code
- https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/csharp/get-started
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tutorials/with-visual-studio
- https://stuartspixelgames.com/2023/09/01/how-to-set-up-a-c-console-app-in-visual-studio/
- https://www.ottorinobruni.com/how-to-implement-dependency-injection-in-dotnet-csharp-console-app-guide-using-visual-studio-code/
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