Stage 1 · Lesson 2 of 7
The SDK, the runtime and the dotnet CLI
The SDK is what you install as a developer: the compilers, templates and the dotnet command. A is what a server needs to run an app that is already built. Install the .NET 10 SDK and run dotnet --info to see what you have.
From then on, the CLI does everything: dotnet new creates projects from templates, dotnet build compiles, dotnet run and dotnet watch start the app, dotnet test runs tests and dotnet publish produces what you deploy. Use it from the terminal even if you also use Visual Studio or Rider, because your CI pipeline will run exactly these commands. .NET 10 also runs a single file with dotnet run hello.cs, which is handy for practice.
Common traponly ever clicking Run in an IDE and being lost when a build fails in CI.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 3 cheat sheet entries come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- GuideFreeLearn C#
Microsoft · Beginner
Free official C# path: syntax, types, classes, collections and exceptions with in-browser exercises
- GuideFree.NET documentation
Microsoft
The official .NET docs: start with the CLI overview, project files and the C# language tour
Practise
Keep handy
Also worth your time
The features that ship with .NET 10: extension members, the field keyword and null-conditional assignment
Object-oriented design worked through on real systems: classes, relationships and responsibilities
- Refactoring.Guru: Design PatternsGo deeper
Free: the classic design patterns explained with diagrams and C# examples