How to Install and Use .NET Linux via Command Line

The .NET is a free and open source development platform by Microsoft that allows you to build and run applications efficiently for web, desktop, mobile, cloud, and more. Even though it is associated with Windows, .NET also works smoothly on Linux, which gives developers the flexibility to use whatever operating system they prefer. 

So whether you are a proficient C# user or are moving on to Linux, .NET is the perfect choice for you. 

In this guide, we will walk through the steps to set up .NET on various Linux distributions, verifying the installation, and how to run your first application.  

Why Use .NET on Linux?

Using .Net with Linux has multiple benefits, such as: 

• It allows you to do cross platform development, build apps that run on Linux, Windows, and macOS without changing the basic code. 
• It is completely open source and forever free, which means you get constant community support and regular updates. 
• Since .NET applications are famous for their high performance, scalability, and reliability, even on Linux servers. 
• Using .NET Linux, you can write the code in C#, F#, or Visual Basic while taking the advantage of Linux’s stability. 
• It is ideal for Docker-based deployments, Kubernetes environments, and cloud native apps. 

Prerequisites for Installing .NET on Linux

Before you go on installing .NET Linux, make sure that you can: 

• A supported Linux distribution (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Manjaro, etc.)
• Sudo/root access to install packages and update system repositories.
• An internet connection to download the SDK and runtime.
• Basic terminal knowledge to run commands and navigate directories.
• Updated system packages to avoid compatibility issues during installation.

How to Install .NET Linux: Step-by-Step Guide

Using the official Microsoft packages repositories for most Linux distributions. Here is how you can do so on different operating systems. 

Installing .NET on Ubuntu/Debian

Follow these steps for Ubuntu/Debian: 

• Step 1: Update your package list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y wget apt-transport-https

• Step 2: Add Microsoft package repository

wget https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/$(lsb_release -rs)/packages-microsoft-prod.deb -O packages-microsoft-prod.deb

sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb

sudo apt update

• Step 3: Install the .NET SDK

sudo apt install -y dotnet-sdk-8.0

Replace 8.0 with the version you need (e.g., 7.0, 6.0).

• Step 4: Verify

dotnet –version

Installing .NET on RHEL/Fedora

For RHEL/ Fedore follow: 

• Step 1: Install required dependencies

sudo dnf install -y wget

• Step 2: Add Microsoft package repository

wget https://packages.microsoft.com/config/fedora/$(rpm -E %fedora)/packages-microsoft-prod.rpm

sudo rpm -Uvh packages-microsoft-prod.rpm

sudo dnf update

• Step 3: Install the .NET SDK

sudo dnf install -y dotnet-sdk-8.0

• Step 4: Verify

dotnet –version

Installing .NET on Arch/Manjaro

Arch Linux and Manjaro both have .NET available in their community repositories. 

• Step 1: Update packages

sudo pacman -Syu

• Step 2: Install the .NET SDK

sudo pacman -S dotnet-sdk

• Step 3: Verify

dotnet –version

Verify .NET Installation

After you are done installing .NET Linux, verify the installation and check the version by running: dotnet –version

If the output returns the .NET version, then the platform is successfully installed and ready to use. 

Running Your First .NET App on Linux

After successful installation, you can run your first .NET Linux application in a few simple steps: 

1. Create a new console app

dotnet new console -o MyApp

2. Navigate into the project folder

cd MyApp

3. Run the app

dotnet run

This should return a simple “hello world” output. 

Managing Multiple .NET SDK Versions

If you are managing multiple different .NET SDK versions, using the dotnet –list-sdks command to view them:

dotnet –list-sdks

If you are targeting a specific version for a project at a specific time, create a global.json file in the project root:

dotnet new globaljson –sdk-version 8.0.100

Replace 8.0.100 with the SDK version you want to use.

Updating and Uninstalling .NET on Linux

If you are using an older version of .NET Linux, you can also update it by running simple commands on the terminal: 

• On Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade dotnet-sdk-8.0

• On RHEL/Fedora:

sudo dnf upgrade dotnet-sdk-8.0

• On Arch/Manjaro:

sudo pacman -Syu dotnet-sdk

If you are no longer using .NET Linux you can always uninstall it, using: 

• Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt remove dotnet-sdk-8.0

• RHEL/Fedora:

sudo dnf remove dotnet-sdk-8.0

• Arch/Manjaro:

sudo pacman -R dotnet-sdk

Common Installation Issues and Fixes

Issue	Possible Cause	Fix
dotnet: command not found	.NET not installed or PATH not updated	Reinstall .NET and ensure Microsoft’s repo is added correctly
“Unable to locate package dotnet-sdk”	Repository not added	Re-add Microsoft package repo and run sudo apt update or sudo dnf update
Permission denied during install	No root privileges	Use sudo before installation commands
Wrong version installed	Default package manager version differs	Specify exact version (e.g., dotnet-sdk-8.0)
Missing dependencies	Outdated system packages	Update your system with sudo apt upgrade / sudo dnf upgrade / sudo pacman -Syu

Conclusion: Using .NET Linux Seamlessly 

Using .NET on Linux is super simple and effective, which gives developers the freedom to build and run powerful applications. Download .NET on Linux using the command line interface, so that you have full control over the development environment, while keeping it lightweight and effective. 

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