Backend development

Stage 1 · Lesson 2 of 10

The dotnet CLI and NuGet

Your language and how HTTP works

Everything in modern .NET starts from the CLI, a command-line tool that works on every operating system, so learn it on day one. dotnet new console creates a project, and dotnet run builds and runs it. dotnet test runs your tests.

dotnet add package pulls in a library from NuGet, the .NET package store. The .csproj file declares which .NET version you target and which packages you use. A solution file groups related projects, such as an and its test project. Learn to read build errors in the terminal, not only in an IDE.

Common trapfollowing old .NET Framework tutorials built around Windows-only tooling; modern .NET runs on Linux, macOS and Windows and deploys comfortably in .

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come with the full roadmap. Unlock

Resources for this stage

Start with

  • GuideFree
    Learn C#

    Microsoft · Beginner

    Official C# tutorials from the language basics through classes, LINQ and async

Practise

  • Exercism

    Your language track: small exercises with free mentor feedback on idiomatic code

Keep handy

  • W3Schools

    Quick syntax lookups for your language when you forget how something is written

  • MDN Web Docs

    Read the HTTP overview, methods, headers and status code pages until they feel obvious

Also worth your time

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