How to Install .NET Core (dotnet) on Ubuntu 22.04

<.NET Core, now consolidated into the .NET platform as of .NET 5 and beyond, is a versatile, open-source development platform maintained by Microsoft and the .NET community on GitHub. It's used for developing modern applications for the web, servers, cloud, and more. If you're running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Long Term Support), installing .NET can open up a plethora of development opportunities. Here's how you can install .NET on your Ubuntu system, step by step.

Prerequisites

• A machine running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Access to a terminal/command line
• Sudo privileges or access to an account with sudo privileges

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new package, it’s a good practice to update your package lists and your system. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures that all of your system’s software is up-to-date, reducing the likelihood of compatibility issues.

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Step 2: Install the Required Dependencies

.NET Core requires certain dependencies to run. Install them using the command below:

sudo apt install -y wget apt-transport-https software-properties-common

These packages include tools for adding new repositories to your APT sources, as well as utilities for transferring data from the internet.

Step 3: Add Microsoft Package Signing Key and Repository

Microsoft provides a package repository for Linux distributions including Ubuntu. You need to add Microsoft’s package signing key and the package repository to your system. Execute the following:

wget -q https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/22.04/packages-microsoft-prod.deb -O packages-microsoft-prod.deb
sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb

This command downloads the package containing Microsoft’s signing key and repository configuration and installs it.

Step 4: Install the .NET SDK or Runtime

With the repository added, you can now install the .NET SDK (Software Development Kit) or just the runtime, depending on your needs. The SDK includes the runtime and is necessary for developing .NET applications. If you only need to run .NET applications, the runtime will suffice.

• To install the .NET SDK, run:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install -y dotnet-sdk-6.0
  

• To install the .NET Runtime, instead use:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install -y aspnetcore-runtime-6.0
  

Replace 6.0 with the version you wish to install. It’s advisable to check the official .NET documentation for the latest versions.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

To ensure that .NET has been installed correctly, you can run the following command to check the version:

dotnet --version

Output:

This should output the version of the .NET SDK or Runtime you installed.

Step 6: Create a Hello World Application (Optional)

Now that you’ve successfully installed .NET, you can test it by creating a simple “Hello World” application.

dotnet new console -o HelloWorld

This will create a .Net core application on your system. This will create a directory named “helloworld” under the current directory. You can change to this directory and start working on your application.

cd  HelloWorld

Make your changes to the application and execute the below command to run this application.

dotnet run

You will see the following output as a result.

Uninstall .NET Core on Ubuntu

In case, the .NET Core is not more required on your system. You can uninstall it from the system with the following commands.

sudo apt remove --purge dotnet-sdk-6.0 dotnet-runtime-6.0 

Also, remove unused packages installed as dependencies:

sudo apt auto-remove 

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed .NET on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and even tested it with a simple application. With .NET installed, you can explore a wide range of software development opportunities, from web applications to microservices and more. Happy coding!

Additionally, you may also like to install Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text editor on your Ubuntu desktop systems.