Getting Started with .NET: Creating a "Hello, World!" Console Application

Introduction

If you're new to .NET development, a great way to start is by creating a simple console application that prints "Hello, World!" to the screen. In this tutorial, we'll walk through the steps of setting up a .NET development environment, writing your first C# program, and running it.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that you have the following installed on your computer:

• .NET SDK: You can download it from Microsoft's official site

• A Code Editor: We recommend Visual Studio Code or Visual Studio.

Step 1: Create a New .NET Console Application

Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command to create a new .NET console application:

mkdir HelloWorldApp cd HelloWorldApp dotnet new console

This command does the following:

• mkdir HelloWorldApp creates a new directory for your project.

• cd HelloWorldApp navigates into the directory.

• dotnet new console creates a new console application.

Step 2: Open the Project

If you're using Visual Studio Code, open the project by running:

code .

Alternatively, if you're using Visual Studio, open the .csproj file inside Visual Studio.

Step 3: Edit the Program.cs File

Navigate to the Program.cs file in your project. By default, it contains some basic code. Modify it to print "Hello, World!":

using System; class Program { static void Main() { Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!"); } }

Explanation of the Code:

• using System; imports the System namespace, which includes functionality for input and output.

• class Program defines a class named Program.

• static void Main() is the entry point of the application.

• Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!"); prints "Hello, World!" to the console.

Step 4: Build and Run the Application

To run your application, execute the following command in the terminal:

dotnet run

You should see the following output:

Hello, World!

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully created and run your first .NET console application. This is just the beginning of your journey with .NET and C#. From here, you can explore more features like user input, loops, and working with files.

Happy coding :)