ASP.NET Core Environment Setup

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ASP.NET Core Environment Setup

In this article, I will discuss the ASP.NET Core Environment Setup required for developing ASP.NET Core Applications. Please read our previous article before proceeding, where we briefly introduced the ASP.NET Core Framework. Let’s do the ASP.NET Core Environment Setup required for developing ASP.NET Core Applications on Windows OS. Let’s understand what mandatory and optional software is required for ASP.NET Core Application Development.

Operating System:

ASP.NET Core development can be done on any modern operating system, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux. I will use the Windows Operating System in this Course.

• Windows 10/11: It is Ideal for .NET development, as it fully supports Visual Studio and .NET 8. It also allows easy integration with Microsoft SQL Server.
• macOS or Linux: These can also be used for .NET development, but keep in mind that some Microsoft-specific tools like SQL Server Management Studio are not available natively on these platforms.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE):

You can choose from various IDEs for ASP.NET Core development, including:

• Visual Studio 2022: Highly recommended for Windows users. It provides comprehensive support for .NET development, including project templates, a powerful debugger, and direct integration with SQL Server Management Studio. Visual Studio is available for Windows and macOS.
• Visual Studio Code: Visual Studio Code is a lightweight, cross-platform code editor supporting ASP.NET Core development. It offers excellent extension support, integrated terminal, and source control integration. Visual Studio Code is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

.NET SDK:

This is the software development kit for developing and running applications with ASP.NET Core. It includes the .NET runtime, libraries, and command-line tools.

ASP.NET Core:

ASP.NET Core is the framework for building web applications, including Web APIs, with .NET Core. It is included in the .NET SDK and can be installed using the command line or through the Visual Studio installer. When we install the .NET 8 SDK, it includes the latest ASP.NET Core libraries necessary for Web development.

Database Management System:

You need a database management system depending on your application’s requirements. Common options for ASP.NET Core include:

• Microsoft SQL Server: This is a popular choice for Windows environments, especially in enterprise applications. It integrates easily with Visual Studio and ASP.NET Core.
• MySQL or PostgreSQL: Good alternatives for macOS or Linux environments or for developers looking to work with open-source databases.
• SQLite: It is a lightweight and file-based database system suitable for development and small-scale applications.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an integrated environment for managing SQL Server databases. It offers tools for configuration, administration, and design.

API Client: 

• Postman/Fiddler: This is a versatile API client that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s useful for testing and documenting APIs developed with ASP.NET Core.
• Swagger (OpenAPI): Integrating Swagger into your ASP.NET Core project allows you to generate interactive API documentation and UI automatically, which can be accessed through your web application.

These are the essential software components required for ASP.NET Core MVC and Web API development. In the next article, I will discuss How to Download and Install Visual Studio 2022 on Windows Operating System. In this article, I discuss the ASP.NET Core Environment Setup. I hope you enjoy this ASP.NET Core Environment Setup article.