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ClassAntics
Tutorials /

THE CLASSANTICS TOOLS WIKI

The right tool.
A clear place to start.

What to open. Where to type. How to know it worked. Small, practical guides you can return to from any lesson.

Command shell

PowerShell

A command shell: it reads typed instructions and starts programs or works with files.

Get comfortable with it ↗Terminal application

Windows Terminal

A tabbed window that hosts command shells. It does not define the command language.

Get comfortable with it ↗Command shell

Command Prompt

The Windows command shell also called cmd.exe. Its syntax differs from PowerShell.

Get comfortable with it ↗Development environment

Visual Studio

A full development environment with project management, editing, building and debugging in one application.

Get comfortable with it ↗Code editor

Visual Studio Code

A code editor, often shortened to VS Code, with an Explorer sidebar and an integrated terminal.

Get comfortable with it ↗Language toolkit

.NET SDK

The tools that build and run .NET applications, including C# console programs.

Get comfortable with it ↗Version control

Git

A tool that records versions of files in a local repository.

Get comfortable with it ↗Repository hosting

GitHub

A website for hosting Git repositories and collaborating on changes.

Get comfortable with it ↗Database engine

SQL Server

The service that stores data and processes SQL queries. It can run without an editor window.

Get comfortable with it ↗Database client

SQL Server Management Studio

SSMS is the application used to connect to and manage SQL Server databases.

Get comfortable with it ↗Lesson workspace

Web browser

The app displaying this lesson, such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

Get comfortable with it ↗Language toolkit

Java JDK

The Java Development Kit includes the javac compiler and java launcher.

Get comfortable with it ↗JavaScript runtime

Node.js

A way to run JavaScript tools outside the browser. Its installer includes npm.

Get comfortable with it ↗

Similar names. Different jobs.

Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio is a full development environment with workloads and solution tools. VS Code is an editor extended with language tools. Pick one for local C# practice; you do not need both.

Visual Studio Visual Studio Code

PowerShell or Command Prompt?

Both read commands, but their languages differ. Match the shell named above the example. A command that works in one is not automatically valid in the other.

PowerShell Command Prompt

Windows Terminal or PowerShell?

Terminal is the window and tabs. PowerShell is one shell running inside a tab. Check the tab’s profile before entering commands.

Windows Terminal PowerShell