VS Code .NET Install Tool

The tool provides a protocol for installing the .NET SDK and related tooling within Visual Studio Code across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It identifies prerequisites such as OS version, required VS Code build, and base libraries, then constructs a tailored installation plan. The target audience includes developers setting up new workstations, teams standardizing onboarding, and automation engineers integrating setup into CI pipelines. It does not perform UI tasks or distribution packaging; it outputs script-based instructions and validation results that a user or automation can consume.
Conceptually, the tool detects the host environment, maps the requested .NET version to the appropriate installer method (MSI/PKG/archive), generates shell commands for the user's shell, and provides a step-by-step verification sequence. The plan includes version pinning, optional workloads, and checks for existing installations to avoid redundant actions. It is designed to be idempotent so re-running yields no changes if the desired state is already achieved.
Unique differentiators include cross-platform command generation, reproducible setup scripts, and integrated compatibility scoring that accounts for VS Code extension support and required workloads. It outputs a ready-to-run script plus a dry-run report, enabling teams to audit changes and integrate with configuration management tools. Typical use cases include new machine provisioning, contributor onboarding, and troubleshooting missing SDKs in an existing environment.
Common outputs include the commands to install the .NET SDK, checksums or version confirmations, and a summary of the resulting toolchain: VS Code version, .NET SDK version, and OS. The tool avoids bundling installers or hosting binaries; it delegates actual downloads to the underlying OS installer, ensuring compliance with local policies.