Step 1: Install .NET Core SDK

To start working with .NET Core, you need to install the SDK (Software Development Kit). Visit the official .NET download page and download the version suitable for your operating system.

• Choose the latest LTS (Long-Term Support) version for production-ready projects.
• Install the SDK by following the installer prompts.

Step 2: Verify Installation

After installation, verify that .NET Core is installed correctly by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing:

                    dotnet --version
                

This command will display the installed version of .NET Core SDK.

Step 3: Create a New .NET Core Project

Use the command line to create a new .NET Core application. Navigate to your preferred directory and run the following command:

                    dotnet new console -n MyFirstApp
                

This will create a new console application named "MyFirstApp" with the required files and folder structure.

Step 4: Run the Application

To test your application, navigate to the project directory and run the following command:

                    dotnet run
                

You should see the default "Hello, World!" message displayed in the terminal.

Step 5: Install an Editor or IDE

For better productivity, consider using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Popular options include:

• Visual Studio: Fully-featured IDE for Windows and macOS.
• Visual Studio Code: Lightweight and cross-platform editor with excellent .NET Core support.

Install the required plugins/extensions for .NET Core to enable IntelliSense, debugging, and other features.

Step 6: Add Dependencies

To add additional libraries or dependencies to your project, use the dotnet add package command. For example:

                    dotnet add package Newtonsoft.Json
                

This will add the Newtonsoft.Json library to your project, which you can use for JSON handling.

Step 7: Build and Publish

To prepare your application for deployment, build and publish it using the following commands:

                    dotnet build
                

                    dotnet publish -c Release -o ./publish
                

This will generate the compiled application in the ./publish directory, ready to deploy.