Setting Up a Multiplatform Development Environment for .NET MAUI with Visual Studio Code

Jul 21, 2024

Setting Up a Multiplatform Development Environment for .NET MAUI with Visual Studio Code

Introduction

  • Objective: Guide on building multiplatform desktop and mobile applications using .NET MAUI and Visual Studio Code.
  • Platforms Covered: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • Speaker: James.

Tools and Software

  • Visual Studio Code: Lightweight code editor with necessary extensions.
  • .NET MAUI: Framework for building cross-platform apps.
  • SDKs and Emulators:
    • Android Studio for Android development.
    • Xcode for macOS and iOS development.
    • Command line tools for Linux.

System Requirements and Compatibility

  • Windows: Visual Studio 2022 or Visual Studio Code.
    • Develop for Windows and Android.
  • Mac: Visual Studio Code.
    • Develop for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android.
  • Linux: Visual Studio Code.
    • Develop only for Android.

Steps to Set Up Development Environment

.NET SDK Installation

  1. Download .NET: Go to .NET website and download the installer for your platform.
  2. Install .NET SDK: Follow the one-click install process.
  3. Verify Installation: Use terminal commands dotnet --version and dotnet --info.
  4. Install MAUI Workload: Run dotnet workload install maui with elevated permissions.

Visual Studio Code Installation

  1. Download VS Code: Go to code.visualstudio.com and download for your platform.
  2. Install Extensions:
    • Search for and install .NET MAUI extension.
    • Dependencies include C# and C# Dev Kit extensions.
  3. Configure Extensions: Set up hot reload, Android SDK paths, and other settings.

Creating a .NET MAUI Project

  1. Create New Project: Use VS Code to create a new .NET MAUI project from templates.
  2. Explore Project Structure: Understand the solution explorer and file structures.
  3. Resolve Initial Errors: Install necessary SDKs and simulators as specified.

Additional SDKs and Tools

Xcode for iOS and macOS

  1. Install Xcode: Use Mac App Store or Apple Developer Portal.
  2. Enable Command Line Tools: Run xcode-select --install.
  3. Configure Xcode: Launch and accept licenses, download necessary simulators.

Android Studio for Android Development

  1. Install JDK: Download and install OpenJDK from Microsoft.
  2. Install Android Studio: Download and install from Android Studio website.
  3. Set Up SDK and Emulators: Configure SDK, build tools, and create virtual devices.

Building and Running Applications

On Mac

  1. Run on macOS: Select Mac as target and debug.
  2. Run on Android Emulator: Set up and debug on an Android emulator.
  3. Run on iOS Simulator: Select iOS simulator and debug.

On Windows and Linux

  1. Windows: Best to use Visual Studio 2022 for full functionality.
  2. Linux: Limited to Android; ensure Android SDK is properly configured.

Tips and Recommendations

  • Documentation: Always refer to the official .NET MAUI documentation for up-to-date guides and compatibility.
  • Interdependencies: Visual Studio Code extensions and tools depend on each other; ensure they are all correctly installed and configured.
  • Preferred Setup for Windows: Use Visual Studio 2022 for full-featured setup and then employ Visual Studio Code for lighter editing and tasks.

Conclusion

  • End-to-End Setup: Detailed walkthrough of setting up a multiplatform development environment using .NET MAUI and Visual Studio Code.
  • Community and Feedback: Engage with the community via comments; share experiences and ask questions.

Further Actions:

  • Subscribe to the channel for more tips and tutorials.
  • Like the video to support the channel.

Reference Links