dotnet new console: create and run a C# console app

dotnet new console -o MyApp creates a folder MyApp with a C# console project (MyApp.csproj and a Program.cs that uses top-level statements). dotnet run --project MyApp, or cd MyApp && dotnet run, restores, builds and runs it. Arguments after -- go to the program.

Create and run

export DOTNET_NOLOGO=1 DOTNET_CLI_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT=1
dotnet new console -o MyApp >/dev/null 2>&1
ls MyApp
sed '1s/^\xEF\xBB\xBF//' MyApp/Program.cs   # strip the UTF-8 BOM the template writes
cat > MyApp/Program.cs <<'EOF'
Console.WriteLine($"Hello, {(args.Length > 0 ? args[0] : "World")}!");
EOF
dotnet run --project MyApp -- errcodex

MyApp.csproj
Program.cs
obj
Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
Hello, errcodex!

Program.cs contains only statements: since C# 9 and .NET 6 the template omits the Main method and using lines (implicit usings).

The project file

export DOTNET_NOLOGO=1 DOTNET_CLI_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT=1
dotnet new console -o MyApp >/dev/null 2>&1
sed '1s/^\xEF\xBB\xBF//' MyApp/MyApp.csproj

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
  </PropertyGroup>

</Project>

With --use-program-main, the template writes a file-scoped namespace and a Program class with static void Main(string[] args) instead of top-level statements.

Useful options

Other common templates

From template to a shareable program

Common first errors: dotnet build in a folder with several project or solution files fails with MSB1011 (for example after dotnet new sln next to the project), and a -f value newer than the installed SDK fails with NETSDK1045.

FAQ