Visual Studio IDE
Visual Studio for Mac
Visual Studio Code
Learn to code in Visual Studio
Welcome!
New to Visual Studio or coding in general? Take this step-by-step learning journey at your own pace to successfully create a simple app in any language of your choice. Let’s get started!
Why learn Visual Studio? Visual Studio empowers you to complete the entire development cycle in one place. For example, you can edit, debug, test, version control, and deploy to the cloud. With the diversity of features and languages in Visual Studio, you can grow from writing your first piece of code to developing in multiple project types. For example, you can build desktop and web apps with .NET, Mobile and gaming apps with C++.
Install Visual Studio
Visual Studio is free for learning and individual use. First please make sure to download and install the latest version of Visual Studio. You can save installation time and disk space by selecting just the components needed. You can always incrementally add more components later at any time as needed.
Getting started with Visual Studio IDE
To develop any type of app or learn a language, you’ll be working in the Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Beyond code editing, Visual Studio IDE brings together graphical designers, compilers, code completion tools, source control, extensions and many more features in one place. Watch this short video to get familiar with the IDE and to learn how to use it for basic tasks.
Make it your own with themes and more
Prefer dark theme? Want to change the layout of windows to your liking? Have favorite keyboard shortcuts? Check out this short video where we walk you through some cool personalization options like themes, fonts, window layout and custom keyboard shortcuts available in Visual Studio.
Learn how to customize even more settings from these step-by-step tutorials
Start a tutorial
- Choose an area of development you are most interested in learning
- Follow the step-by-step tutorial to gain a basic understanding of building a simple application
- Complete your learning by watching the video series and following the recommended beginner guides
.NET
Using Visual Studio and .NET, you can develop applications for desktop, web, mobile, games, and IoT. You can write .NET apps in C#, F# or Visual Basic language.
Desktop development using .NET Core
Step-by-step tutorial
To start simple, create a Windows console app with .NET Core. Also learn how to debug and publish
Ready to do more? Choose another .NET Core step-by-step tutorial to follow along and learn:
- Windows desktop app
- Class Library
- App for any Windows 10 devices (e.g., Xbox, HoloLens, IoT)
Web/Cloud development using ASP.NET Core
Watch
Game development using Unity
Step by step tutorial
Learn game development by making a 3D Spinning Cube with Unity in 10 minutes
Additional guides
Get to know game development in Visual Studio with Unity.
Machine Learning using ML.NET
Watch
Step-by-step 10 minute tutorial
Using ML.NET in Visual Studio train and use your first machine learning model
Additional guides
Get to know what is ML.NET and its architecture .
Dive deeper
These ML.NET tutorials give you a jump start with building a variety of ML applications from sentiment analysis to price prediction.
C++
C++, C, and assembly language development tools and libraries are available as part of Visual Studio on Windows. You can use C++ in Visual Studio to create anything from simple console to Windows desktop apps, from device drivers and operating system components to cross-platform games for mobile devices, and from small IoT devices to multi-server computing in the Azure cloud.
Desktops apps
Step by step tutorial
Let’s get started with something simple. Begin your learning by creating a console calculator app
Android/iOS apps using C++
Step by step tutorial
Learn to build an app for Android and iOS with Visual Studio C++ and OpenGL ES
Create an Android Native Activity App with Visual Studio C++
Additional guides
Cross-platform and mobile development with C++
C++ in Visual Studio
Game development using C++
Want to jump straight into game development? Learn to build a ‘Shooting Gallery’ using UWP that runs on PC, XBOX and other Windows 10 devices.
Python
Data Science and Analytical applications
Step by step tutorial
Create your first Python app in using interactive development
Web applications
Step by step tutorial
Create a Python web app using Visual Studio with Django
Python & Flask Tutorial
Desktop app
JavaScript/TypeScript
Visual Studio provides rich support for JavaScript development, both using JavaScript directly, and also using the TypeScript, an open-source language which builds on JavaScript and is often used in large size web app development.
Web application
Learn how to create an ASP.NET Core web application using Typescript
Additional guides
Node.js
Web/Cloud development with Node.js tools
Create a web app in Visual Studio using Node.js tools with Express web app framework
React Web UI
React is a popular JavaScript library developed by Facebook for building web application user interfaces. Create a simple web app using Node.js tools in Visual Studio with React. Join Node.js Tools for Visual Studio community on GitHub
Git/GitHub Tooling – Version Control
Visual Studio provides a first-class Git and GitHub experience. Features like authentication, cloning, and creating new repositories are built into Visual Studio making it very easy to get started with Git and GitHub. You no longer need to rely on external tools to manage your source control nor need to be a Git expert to be able to utilize Git and GitHub in Visual Studio.
- Built-in GitHub support
Learn about the built-in GitHub support in Visual Studio through the Visual Studio and GitHub better together page.
- Get started with Git & GitHub
Learn how to utilize Git and GitHub in Visual Studio by signing up for the Git Learning Series, where you will learn how to connect and use Git and contribute to open-source projects.
- Git tooling in Visual Studio
Learn about supported Git features like multi-repo support, line-staging, compare branches, and more by visiting Git tooling documentation.
Expand your Visual Studio skills by area
Ready to do more? Extend your skills with additional learning modules recommended for your learning path
DevelopWrite and manage your code using the code editor
BuildCompile and build your source code
Version ControlShare code using source control technologies such as Git and TFVC.
ExtendAdd your own functionality to the Visual Studio IDE improve your development experience.
DataCreate data apps that connect to any database or service, and anywhere—local or cloud.
DebugWrite and manage your code using the code editor
CollaborateShare, edit, and debug code in a collaborative, real-time enviroment.
