Set Up Your Environment

📖 Instructions#

Before writing any code, you need a place to write it. Programmers write code in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) — a single application that lets you write, organise, and run computer programs.

In this lesson you’ll install Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a free, lightweight IDE that works with almost any programming language. You’ll also install C# Dev Kit, the extension that gives VS Code full C# support — including error detection, autocomplete, and the ability to run your programs.

🎓 Learn More

Computer Program

Integrated Development Environment

Visual Studio Code

C# Dev Kit

✅ What to Do#

Install Visual Studio Code and the C# Dev Kit extension.

Download and install Visual Studio Code (external link).
Open Visual Studio Code.
Open the Extensions panel by clicking the extensions icon in the left sidebar.
Search for C# Dev Kit and click Install.
Wait for the installation to complete — VS Code may prompt you to reload, click Reload if it does.

🎯 Expected Outcome#

VS Code is open and the C# Dev Kit extension is installed. In the Extensions panel, C# Dev Kit should show as Installed with no errors.

Open the built-in terminal (View → Terminal) and run:

dotnet --version

You should see a version number printed:

9.0.101

If you see a version number, your environment is ready.

💡 Hints#

Hint 1

The Extensions panel has its own icon in the left sidebar. Look for the one that looks like four squares.

Hint 2

There are several extensions with “C#” in the name. Look carefully at the publisher — the one you want is published by Microsoft.

Hint 3

If dotnet --version shows command not found or similar, the .NET SDK might still be installing in the background. Close VS Code completely and reopen it before trying again.

⚠️ Common Mistakes#

Installing the wrong extension

Searching for “C#” returns several extensions. The one you want is C# Dev Kit by Microsoft — not the standalone C# extension, and not any third-party alternative. C# Dev Kit bundles everything you need, including the .NET SDK.

Not waiting for the installation to finish

C# Dev Kit installs the .NET SDK in the background after the extension itself is installed. If you open the terminal too quickly and dotnet --version fails, wait a minute and try again. If it still fails, close and reopen VS Code so the terminal picks up the newly installed SDK.

Running dotnet --version in the wrong place

The command must be run in the VS Code built-in terminal, not in the search bar or the Command Palette. Open the terminal from View → Terminal in the menu.

🙈 Solution#

Tried, you must, before reveal the solution you may.

There is no code solution for this step — the outcome is a working environment, not a program.

If dotnet --version prints a version number in the terminal, you’re done.