Can you install and run apps built on the .NET framework on a Mac?

Solution 1:

You can use a .Net environment Visual studio, Take a look at the differences with the PC version.

A lighter editor would be Visual Code

Alternatives :

1. Installing the Mono Project runtime . It allows you to re-compile the code and run it on a Mac, but this requires various alterations to the codebase, as the fuller .Net Framework is not available. (Also, WPF applications aren't supported here either.)

2. Virtual machine (VMWare Fusion perhaps)

3. Update your codebase to .Net Core, (before choosing this option take a look at this migration process)

   • .Net Core 3.1 is an open-source, free and available on Window, MacOs and Linux

   • As of September 14, a release candidate ¹ of .Net Core 5.0 has been deployed on Window, MacOs and Linux.

[1] : Release candidate (RC) : releases providing early access to complete features. These releases are supported for production use when they have a go-live license

Solution 2:

• .NET Core will install and run on macOS - and just about any other desktop OS.
  IDEs are available for the mac, including:

  • Visual Studio for Mac
  • VS Code (free, but not as professional/focused as VS)
  • JetBrains Rider (paid)

• Mono is a good option that I've used in the past. But with Core 3.0 out now, I would go that route.