The 15 best .NET development tools according to experts

Quick Summary

Years of experience are needed to handle several projects utilizing different platforms and languages, which can be very intimidating. Businesses may find it challenging to construct specific web-based applications, but things have been much easier since the .NET development framework was introduced. Nowadays you will see that many third-party .Net development tools are becoming popular. You must be conversant with the most significant and potent development tools now available to gain first-hand experience. It will take much research before you can decide on the right instrument. Having worked on various projects—some more challenging than others—under different circumstances, we felt it would be helpful to share the essential dot Net development tools most frequently used daily to assess code quality. We list some of the critical Dot Net tools that can be used to develop its application. Let’s have a look at the 15 top dot net development tools as per the experts:

The 15 Best .NET Development Tools

Here is the list of .NET development tools you should know about this.

1. Visual Studio

To write and debug code, the first and most important tool you need for .NET programming is a perfect code editor. Code editors are crucial to the development of software, and utilizing the one that is most appropriate for your needs has the potential to simplify and expedite the coding process.

There are several different code editors, which are sometimes referred to as IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), that can be used to make coding more straightforward and quicker. Visual Studio is a development platform invented by Microsoft and allows experts to ship, create and modify the code from the start to the bottom line.

Visual Code editor features

• VS Code is compatible with running on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Code editor, builder, and debugger with all the bells and whistles
• Simple to change and consistent with extensions provided by other parties.
• Built-in support for JavaScript, JSON, HTML, and CSS, as well as JSX
• Offers capability for web technologies, native technologies, and language-specific technologies.

2. NuGet

Dot Net Core developers often encounter a diverse range of software development products. Also, it is a primary tool widely known for introducing libraries, modules and frameworks into the .Net applications. In .NET projects, finding the right package is crucial. That’s where package managers come in – indispensable tools for .NET developers. The NuGet offers over 150 packages for development projects. 

NuGet key Features

• NuGet for simplifies package management with its intuitive interface for installation & removal. 
• It also provides a package management console. 
• It offers the MSBuild toolchain, enabling developers to build and restore packages effortlessly. 
• With NuGet, developers have all the necessary tools to use, build, and publish packages.

3. LINQPad

Every .Net developer and development company cannot deny the importance of Linqpad. The tool is popular because of its properties of prototyping with immediate feedback, auto-completion, built-in debugging and output formatting. Although Linqpad is specially designed for the .Net framework, you can also use it to support all kinds of XML Frameworks and objects.

Key Features of LINQPad

• Provides detailed and extensive output
• Streamlines coding with automatic suggestions
• Offers an additional layer of debugging support
• Allows for adaptable growth and instant feedback
• Supports testing of programs in VB, C#, or F#
• Compatible with  Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, SQL Azure and MySQL

4. ReSharper

JetBrains created Resharper to assist the experts with .Net coding. It is one tool that allows .net experts to assess the .Net code quality and explore and repair issues. ReSharper is a cornerstone among.NET developers, designed as a Microsoft Visual Studio extension exclusively for.NET professionals.

Resharper helps the .Net Programmers to make the procedure faster and simpler. Although it is a new edition in the .Net development tool kit, it has climbed up the ladder of success among the experts and right now, it has 40 forks and 65 stars on GitHub.

Key Features of ReSharper

• ReSharper conducts in-depth code analysis, pinpointing issues and providing swift fixes to improve overall code quality.
• It enables software modifications without compromising functionality or behaviour, ensuring seamless code improvements.
• ReSharper simplifies solution navigation, allowing quick jumps to elements such as types, files, and type members.
• It offers a range of editing tools, including transformations, code reorgantzaiion, and auto-importing namespaces, enhancing coding efficiency.
• ReSharper enforces coding standards through language-specific settings and configurations, ensuring consistency across the codebase.

5. Chocolatey

In the realm of .NET application development, managing various software packages and applications can be time-consuming and intricate. Developers often grapple with manually handling multiple tools essential for .NET applications. This is where Chocolatey, a powerful software management automation solution, comes into play. Chocolatey supports many Windows OS along with cloud platforms like Amazon AWS and Azure.

Key Features of Chocolatey

• It can package applications, installers, zip files, and script files.
• Chocolatey performs various tasks efficiently through Windows PowerShell.
• It supports the hosting of internal packages.
• Simple integration with diverse technologies.
• Enables centralized management of information accessed from multiple endpoints.
• It can be extended using PowerShell modules.

6. NDepend

NDepend is a Visual Studio extension utilized by .NET developers to conduct static analysis—NET-managed code. NDepend offers a dedicated custom query language for inspecting application coupling and evaluating code adherence. The NDepend Visual Extension can enhance the quality of your .NET code. NDepend swiftly identifies and addresses code bugs and errors, ensuring uninterrupted workflow without the need for prolonged troubleshooting.

Key Features of NDepend

• NDepend tracks recent changes in code quality, highlighting issues like rule violations and code smell, ensuring consistent code quality control.
• NDepend estimates technical debt, acting as the sole tool that proactively prevents accumulating technical debt.
• It upholds quality standards before releases or source control commitments, ensuring high-quality code at all times.
• NDepend generates detailed code reports, offering in-depth insights into your codebase.
• It visualizes code through logical images and graphics, enhancing code comprehension.
• NDepend operates swiftly, streamlining the code analysis process for .NET developers.

7. NCrunch

NCrunch was developed to work on complicated and extensive projects in mind. Expanding and optimizing the NCrunch system for matching up the real-world system demands with the thousands of tests and millions of codes. A lot of .net developers rely on NCrunch for testing and getting through the results consistently. The tool is used for checking real-time code coverage and showcasing the tested code as markers.

Key Features of NCrunch

• NCrunch provides detailed information about code performance, aiding developers in optimizing their applications.
• The tool can execute multiple tests simultaneously, speeding up the testing process significantly.
• NCrunch prioritizes the most recent code revisions, ensuring developers focus on the latest changes.
• Developers can track code coverage in real-time, allowing for test coverage analysis.

8. NUnit

NUnit offers a straightforward solution for unit testing your Dot Net applications. This unit-testing framework allows you to test your application in small, manageable units supporting various platforms. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, NUnit provides a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to developers at all levels. As an open-source tool, it is the primary choice for creating and executing tests in .NET programming languages.

Key Features of NUnit

• NUnit delivers quick test results with minimal human intervention, ensuring a swift testing process.
• Developers can quickly identify and address faults and issues detected during testing, streamlining the debugging process.
• NUnit is praised for its extra features like test annotations and swift test execution, enhancing the overall testing experience.
• This Dot NET tool supports the simultaneous execution of multiple tests, saving valuable time during testing procedures.

9. dotMemory

DotNet developers rely on versatile tools like dotMemory, which serve as memory profilers for both.NET framework and.NET Core applications, despite the significant differences between the two technologies.

Key Features of dotMemory

• dotMemory provides real-time memory usage information with an easy-to-understand timeline view.
• Developers can easily take screenshots during profiling with a single click, seamlessly integrating the feature.
• The tool quickly detects memory issues with just one click, thanks to its built-in inspections.
• Developers can analyze program memory usage so different angles to understanding.
• DotMemory helps developers optimize memory usage by examining traffic flow patterns within specific time windows.

10. dotTrace

Ensuring optimal performance is pivotal for the success of any software. When evaluating the efficiency of.NET Core applications, dotTrace emerges as a precious tool. This tool simplifies the process of identifying performance bottlenecks within your application.

Key Features of dotTrace

• DotTrace aids in pinpointing performance bottlenecks effectively.
• DotTrace profiles static methods and unit tests to thoroughly evaluate different code elements.
• Developers can analyze call stacks in the IDE for efficient debugging and optimization.
• Developers can analyze SQL queries and HTTP requests to optimize database interactions and web communication.

11. Jet Brains

It is one of the most popular and best .Net development tools widely used by experts all over the globe. It is a cross-platform that can be used on multiple OS and provides similar functionality. One of the JetBrain features, Safe Delete, allows the developer to remove th respective file directly from the source code during the refactoring procedure. JetBrains will initially locate file usages, and if any matches are found, you can review them and implement any necessary changes before proceeding with file deletion.

Key Features of Jet Brains

• Jet Brains extensive code analysis capabilities help to identify and highlight the issues so that developers can easily make the improvements in their .NET code.
• It provides different types of tools to perform debugging unit tests to ensure the better quality of your code.
• The Jet Brains ability to be integrated with Visual Studio and other IDEs helps to enhance your existing development environment.
• It allows developers to extend the functionality of code through various plugins and customize it according to their specific needs.

12. Entity Developer

Developed by Devart, the Entity Developer is a helpful code generation and modelling tool. It allows the experts to design their data access layer quickly and visually. As the Devart, the generated and automated code creates the data access layer, the chances for any mistakes are low. Entity Developer also offers a lot of visual design code and tools to help design ORM models and generate extensible and professional codes for them.

Key Features of Entity Developer

• Entity Developer provides a user-friendly design and various interfaces for creating and editing Entity Framework data models to simplify the process of designing databases and entities.
• Entity Developer offers customizable code templates so that developers can easily define code generation rules and conventions according to their project requirements.
• This tool can compare different types of database schemas and generate migration scripts to make it much easier to manage database schema changes over time.
• Entity Developer tool includes a code editor with syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and code formatting features to help developers work with generated code effectively.

13. NET Reflector

It is one of the famous .Net static analyzers and decompilers. Net Reflector is widely used as a visual studio extension, and many .Net experts include it as an invaluable tool. The main advantage of utilizing the .Net reflector tool is identifying issues and debugging the program. Red Gate, a software development company, has acquired .NET Reflector to offer various software development services. However, it’s equally essential to comprehend the process before selecting .NET development services for your business.

Key Features of Net Reflector

• .NET Reflector helps the developers to explore and browse various assemblies, namespaces, types, and methods in an easy-to-navigate user interface to make it convenient to understand code structures.
• .NET Reflector provides code analysis tools to identify issues like potential bugs, and performance bottlenecks for better code optimization.
• This tool easily integrates with Visual Studio so it is simple to navigate from code references in Visual Studio to .NET Reflector for deeper analysis.
• A wide range of third-party add-ons are available to extend .NET Reflector’s capabilities and integration with other tools.

14. Postman

The tool is of Indian origin and can enable experts with a collaborative platform to test APIs. Postman provides a testing environment for placing the HTTP request for any API, whether distant or local. Postman offers a lot of options for the expert like multiple automated testing, command-line interface and environment variables.

Key Features of Postman

• Postman lets you set different types of environment variables to make it easy to manage different configurations for your .NET application’s API calls.
• Developers can easily view and access the history of API requests and make it more convenient to recall previous requests and responses while troubleshooting .NET API integrations.
• Postman can be integrated with CI/CD pipelines to automate API testing and validation during the build and deployment process of .NET applications.

15. SQL Complete

Devart developed SQL Complete, which is an effective and popular tool. SQL Complete triggers the production of high-quality SQL Server Management Studio code. .Net community and developers allow the organizations to use advanced features and to be an expert in .Net development.

Key Features of SQL Complete

• SQL Complete provides a huge library of SQL code templates to simplify the creation of standard SQL constructs that are used within .NET applications.
• It offers intelligent SQL query suggestions based on your database schema to reduce errors while integrating SQL in .NET code.
• Developers can easily export and import SQL scripts to make it much simpler to share, collaborate, and back up the SQL code used in .NET projects.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Your .NET Toolset

Here is the list of factors you can consider when choosing the .Net toolset.

Project purpose and uniformity

Many .net developers like to pay attention to their project’s aim. Although the tools are essential, they can end up allotting a lot of time configuring them. It is best to look for a list of productive tools to save time and resources.

Excellence in routine tasks

The other important factor is to look for a toolset and always select the one with proven excellence in routine tasks. Developers are often searching for tools that can help them cut short their time in daily tasks.

Easy Deployment

The factor is quite helpful in the production environment. As experts suggest, numerous options are available, but not all of them allow for capturing memory allocations without hindering an application’s ability to configure any bootstrap.

Conclusion

The article lists essential tools needed by the .Net developers. Our main goal is to explain .net development tools that can help create cutting-edge apps and code analysis with the help of Microsoft platforms. You should connect with .Net development company to get modern application for your business. The above-listed agencies will help build the application without many hassles and remain up-to-date with the changing technologies.

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