🌍 Should .NET Have a Fully Featured Open-Source Cross-Platform IDE?

[Pavan8374]

Discussion Topic:
As a developer working on .NET applications, I’ve felt the lack of a truly cross-platform, lightweight, and full-featured IDE for .NET development.

Currently, the available options have their own limitations:

• VS Code: Great for lightweight work, but lacks deep .NET integration (debugging, project scaffolding, full IntelliSense, UI builders).
• Visual Studio: Powerful but Windows-centric, heavy on resources, and the user experience can be sluggish.

Given that .NET is cross-platform, shouldn’t there be an open-source, high-performance IDE that offers a seamless development experience on Windows, macOS, and Linux?

Potential Features of a New .NET IDE:
✅ Cross-Platform – Works natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
✅ Lightweight & Fast – No bloated installations or slow startup times.
✅ Full .NET Support – First-class support for C#, ASP.NET, Blazor, Razor, MAUI, and APIs.
✅ Optimized IntelliSense – Advanced code suggestions, analysis, and refactoring.
✅ Integrated Debugging – Seamless debugging, profiling, and testing tools.
✅ Built-in Git & DevOps – Git integration, CI/CD workflows, and GitHub/GitLab support.
✅ Telemetry & Performance Metrics – Track performance and optimize usage.
✅ Plugin & Extension System – Allow community-driven enhancements.
✅ Modern UI/UX – A fresh, clean, and developer-friendly interface.

Why This Matters:

• It could bridge the gap between VS Code (too minimal) and Visual Studio (too bloated).
• Makes .NET development more accessible across different platforms.
• Encourages open-source collaboration and innovation within the .NET ecosystem.
• Could boost .NET adoption in non-Windows environments.

What do you think?

• Would an open-source, cross-platform .NET IDE solve some pain points for you?
• What features would you want to see in an ideal .NET development environment?
• Are there any existing tools that could be improved instead?

Let’s discuss! 🚀