9 Most Important Dot Net Development Tools

 Do you want to build an app using .NET but are confused about the right Dot Net Development Tools to use?   

If yes, then you have landed on the right page! We will list the topmost dot net developer tools to help you make the most suitable decision for your next project.   

So, stay with us if you want to build a high-performing, quality, and secure app using the .NET framework and its development tools.   

But basics first!  

What is .NET?  

Developed by Microsoft, the .NET framework is a software development framework. It is a part of .NET which is a developer platform that comprises of tools, programming languages, as well as libraries for building multiple types of apps. It has various implementations, with each implementation allowing .NET code to execute in various places.  

Dot NET framework is the original implementation of .NET. It is a virtual machine that provides developers with a common platform to run apps that are built with different languages such as C#, F#, Visual Basic, etc.  

Additionally, it can also be used to build form-based, console-based, mobile as well as web-based apps or services that are available in the Microsoft environment. The key objective of this framework is to develop an app that can run on the Windows platform.   

The framework has two major components namely Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework Class Library. The former is an execution engine that manages running apps, while the latter provides a set of APIs and types for common functionality such as strings, dates, numbers, etc.   

It is a rapidly growing framework that has been used by developers globally to build fast and high-quality apps. As per Statista, over 25% of developers have used the .NET platform in 2022.  

Furthermore, .NET is a cross-platform implementation. It is used to run websites, services, and console applications on Windows, Linux, as well as macOS. It was previously known as .NET Core. .NET is being used by companies of all sizes and in a variety of industries to create a wide range of software solutions. With the help of this strong cross-platform application development framework, developers may create apps that run on several different platforms.

Other implementations are .NET 5 and ASP .NET Core.  

Note: ASP stands for Active Server Pages 

Top Tools for Dot NET Development  

Below is the list of the 9 topmost and popular Dot Net Development Tools:  

1. Visual Studio Code  

One of the best Dot NET development tools is Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a lightweight version of the Visual Studio IDE (or integrated development environment). It is also an IDE that works as a code editor and assists with writing, debugging, editing, as well as publishing the .NET codebase.  

One of the key advantages of this Dot NET development tool is that it can be directly sourced from Microsoft and offers advanced built-in compilers as well as graphical designers. Additional extensions can be integrated to extend functionalities with new features.   

It is a popular .NET development tool that supports languages such as C#, C++, Visual Basic, etc., as well as runtimes like .NET and Unity. Over 70% of developers use this tool as a code editor.    

Some of the key features of this tool are:  

• This tool is supported in Windows, macOS, and Linux.  
• It offers built-in support for JavaScript, JSON, HTML, CSS, and JSX.  
• Offers complete code editing, building, as well as a debugging.  
• Features for native, web, and language-specific technologies are offered.  
• Customizable and allows third-party integrations.  

2. NuGet  

This is one of the most important Dot NET development tools as the framework requires the right software development packages. NuGet is a package manager that helps developers add the required code to the .NET project. It allows them to find and leverage multiple third-party libraries. Not just that, developers can make or share their own tools using this package manager.  

It is a tool by Microsoft and the packages offered can be easily installed, and updated on Windows, Linux, and macOS using Dot NET CLI.  

The NuGet tool offers more than 150 packages for projects.  

Some NuGet key features are:  

• Packages could be easily installed, uninstalled, and managed with an easy interface.  
• MSBuild toolchain is provided in order to create as well as restore packages.  
• A Package manager console is also offered.  

3. LINQPad  

LINQPad is among some of the most widely used and popular Dot NET development tools. It allows developers to test code snippets or programs as well as query databases with SQL or LINQ. Known as the playground for .NET developers, this tool supports C#, F#, as well as Visual Basic languages.   

It builds typed database contexts using its built-in optimized engine. These contexts then pass SQL data as C# objects, allowing developers to easily work with different databases.  

It is a lightweight dot NET development tool that comes with a 20MB executable file as well as requires small space on the system. The standard edition could be utilized free of cost.   

Some of the key LINQPad features are:  

• Facilitates autocompletion of code with built-in debugging functionality.  
• Uses the conversion of lazy objects and asynchronous values for hyperlinks and placeholders.  
• Offers output formatting.  
• Allows querying of databases, such as SQL Server, SQLite, MySQL, etc., with the use of LINQ.  

4. ReSharper  

ReSharper is one of the best and most popular Dot NET development tools used by developers. An extension of Microsoft’s Visual Studio by JetBrains, this debugger tool helps developers analyze code quality and find and fix errors quickly. Additionally, it can identify and prevent potential exceptions in the code.   

This tool can be used for it for C, XAML, VB.NET, CSS, HTML, XML, ASP.NET, as well as JavaScript code analysis. Through automated code refactoring, changing the codebase is made easier. It also makes navigation simpler using modern transversing from type, symbol, type member, implementations, and file.  

Some key features of ReSharper are:   

• Debugger tool to analyze code and resolve code issues quickly.  
• Change of codebase with no impact on its functionality with refactoring.   
• Offers auto-importing namespaces, rearranging code, transformations, etc., to help with code editing.  
• Enables code fine-tuning and provides language-specific settings and configurations to comply with coding standards.  

5. NDepend  

This is one of the Dot NET development tools that help with code analysis. It gets installed as an extension of the Visual Studio IDE. Developers use it to conduct static analysis and gain insights into the code quality.   

A developer can view metrics such as lines of code, types, debt, rules, issues as well as coverage, using this tool. In addition, it helps developers to visualize code design and estimate technical depth within the IDE.   

NDepend further offers a specialized custom querying language to examine the app’s coupling as well as evaluate the effectiveness of code adhering.  

Some key features of NDepend are:   

• Allows for the measurement of code quality with the help of various code metrics  
• Compares several graphs and screenshots to evaluate the quality as well as the inefficiency redemption cost in an efficient manner.   

6. Chocolatey  

Chocolatey is a software management automation tool that helps developers manage different packages and programs for their .NET development project. With this tool, a developer can install, uninstall, and update packages and programs easily without having to find compatible ones and configure them manually.   

This tool has the capability to manage the software in the cloud, on-premises systems, as well as in Docker containers using a single command. This allows developers to have control of the complete software lifecycle; from installation to updates and removal. Moreover, it partners with NuGet, the above-mentioned Dot NET development tool, for .NET package management.  

It can be used free of cost and with all of the .NET- compatible programming languages available. It is primarily for the Windows OS and is not compatible with Linux or macOS.  

Some of Chocolatey’s key features are:   

• Apps, installers, zip, as well as script files, can be packaged with this tool.  

• Packages can be hosted internally.  
• Easy integration with multiple other tools.  
• Uses Windows PowerShell for various functions and could be extended with its modules.   
• Developers could access key information from various endpoints leveraging this tool’s central management capabilities.   

7. .NET Reflector  

Among the top Dot NET development tools, .NET Reflector assists with static code analysis and compilation. It is commonly used as a Visual Studio extension and is widely included as an individual tool by multiple .NET developers.   

It helps developers to debug programs and detect issues.   

Some of the key features of .NET Reflector are:   

• Bugs could be traced through codebase, third-party libraries, APIs, as well as components.   

• It offers the option to investigate SharePoint.   
• Developers can decompile and examine .NET using this tool.   

8. NCrunch  

NCrunch is a Dot NET development tool that facilitates live testing of the app. It is also an extension of Visual Studio IDE. It automates testing and offers real-time results for enhanced analytics.   

One of the main advantages of this Dot NET development tool is that it allows developers to simultaneously test the .NET code while writing. The tests are displayed in markers parallel to the code, accessing every code line and offering real-time monitoring.  

Additionally, despite using minimal CPU and system resources, this tool ensures speedy test cases and results.    

Some key NCrunch features are:   

• Displays code performance data.  

• The most recent or fresh code modifications are viewed as priorities.  
• Multiple tests can be run at the same time.   
• Real-time code coverage is checked, with tested code shown as markers.   

9. NUnit  

NUnit is a reliable unit-testing framework that facilitates easy unit testing on the .NET app. It can be used for all .NET programming languages. This testing tool is a part of the .NET framework foundation. The NUnit team collaborates with Microsoft.   

This testing framework can quickly test even the smallest testable parts and give fast and accurate results. Using this tool, the .NET development teams could find bugs and fix them quickly, maintaining the quality of the software and facilitating faster time-to-market.    

It’s an easy-to-use, user-friendly open-source development tool.   

Some of the key features of NUnit are:  

• Known to offer quick test results without much human assistance.   
• Allows developers to quickly identify bugs and resolve them.   
• It also offers test annotations and can run multiple tests at once.   

We hope that you have taken notes because these tools have been transforming the .NET development processes and workflows, helping developers build the greatest .NET apps in the marketplace.   

Conclusion  

Any business that wants to build an app using the .NET framework must ensure that their dedicated development team is familiar with these popular and widely used Dot NET development tools. These tools assist with the development of high-performing and quality web apps, websites as well as any other software.   

Similarly, all the .NET developers should have the know-how of these tools to produce robust .NET apps as well as for exponential professional growth.   

If a business wants to leverage the staff augmentation engagement model or wants to outsource the .NET app development project, then it must choose the right software development company in India or abroad.  

The software development company can make or break the project. The right industry experience, project exposure as well as practical knowledge, and analytical skills, among other things, are all essential for successful collaboration and project completion.