C# Tools

Welcome to C# Tools, a collection of development tools and utilities for C# programming.

Latest Additions to C# Tools

• Ora Visual Studio Add-In - A Visual Studio 2008 add-in that provides an instant grouped overview of the class, interface or struct you are viewing or editing. more
• Evolutility - Dual-licensed, open-source web UI framework for CRUD applications. Free for use in open-source projects. more
• Castle .NET - An open-source project to create a set of .NET tools/frameworks to ease enterprise and web application development. more
• PartCover - An open-source .NET code coverage tool. more
• WatiN - Write automated web application tests in C#. more

C# Build Tools

• CruiseControl.NET - A .NET continuous integration tool and an extensible framework for creating a custom continuous build process. more
• FinalBuilder - An automated build and release management solution for Windows software developers. more
• Hippo.NET - A tool for streamlining the build process of .NET projects in a team environment. more
• MegaBuild - An automated build utility. more
• MSBuild - The build system for Microsoft and Visual Studio. more
• NAnt - An open source .NET build tool. more
• Visual Build Professional - Software for Windows that enables developers and build masters to easily create an automated, repeatable process for building and deploying software. more

C# Compilers and Frameworks

• .NET Framework SDK - Contains the .NET Framework, runtime and compilers for C# (and other languages). more
• ANTLR - ANother Tool for Language Recognition, is a language tool that provides a framework for constructing recognizers, compilers, and translators from grammatical descriptions. more
• Coco/R - A compiler generator, which takes an attributed grammar of a source language and generates a scanner and a parser for this language. more
• DotGNU - DotGNU Portable.NET, a cross-platform implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI). more
• Mono - A cross-platform, open-source .NET development framework. more
• Script# - Brings the power and productivity of C# and .NET tools to AJAX development by compiling C# source code into regular JavaScript. more
• Silverlight - Microsoft Silverlight 2 allows rich application experiences for the Web and mobile devices to be written in C#. more
• Visual C# Express Edition - Free edition of Visual Studio for C# developers. more

Collaboration

• AQdevTeam - A project control and management system. more
• Ultra Apps - Free web-based bug tracking with source code in ASP and ASP.NET/C#. Features include: issue tracking, response history, Excel export, bookmarks, search and more... more
• Visual Studio Team System - An integrated application life-cycle management (ALM) solution comprising tools, processes, and guidance to help everyone on the team improve their skills and work more effectively together. more

C# Decompilers

• .NET Reflector - A class browser and analysis tool for .NET. It allows developers to navigate, search, disassemble and analyze .NET components. more
• Anakrino/Exemplar - more
• Dis# - A .NET decompiler. more
• Spices.Decompiler - A powerful and flexible .NET decompiler that converts .NET assemblies from binary format to well-formed and optimized source code. more
• Salamander .NET Decompiler - A .NET decompiler that converts executable files (.EXE or .DLL) from Intermediate Language (IL, MSIL, CIL) binary format to high-level source code, such as C#, managed C++, Visual Basic.NET, etc. more

C# Deployment

• Thinstall - Application virtualization for .NET. more
• Windows Installer XML - (WiX) A toolset that builds Windows installation packages from XML source code. The toolset supports a command line environment that developers may integrate into their build processes to build MSI and MSM setup packages. more

C# Design Tools

• StarUML - An open source project to develop a fast, flexible, extensible, featureful and freely-available UML/MDA platform running on the Win32 platform. more
• WithClass - A UML design tool that can generate and reverse engineer C# source code. more

C# Development Environments (IDEs)

• Borland C#Builder for Microsoft .NET - Integrated development environment (IDE) for building .NET applications with C#. more
• C# Studio - A simple IDE for a C#/Mono/GTK# developer. more
• QuickSharp - QuickSharp 2008 is a simplified, free C# development environment for Microsoft .NET 2.0. It's open source and allows C# applications to be created instantly without having to create projects and solutions. Ideal for the beginner just wanting to try out some code. more
• MonoDevelop - An open source integrated development environment for the Linux platform, primarily targeted for the development of software that uses both the Mono and Microsoft .NET framework. more
• SharpDevelop - The Open Source Development Environment for .NET. #develop (short for SharpDevelop) is a free IDE for C# and VB.NET projects on Microsoft's .NET platform. more
• Snippet Compiler - A tool for working with C# code snippets (perfect for when you just need to run a couple lines of code). more
• Visual C# Express Edition - An integrated development environment designed for beginning programmers and non-professional developers interested in building Windows Forms, class libraries, and console-based applications. Visual C# 2005/2008 Express Edition includes many of the same productivity features found in Visual Studio, all streamlined to fit the needs of the non-professional Windows developer. more

C# Documentation

• GhostDoc - A free add-in for Visual Studio that automatically generates XML documentation comments for C#, either by using existing documentation inherited from base classes or implemented interfaces, or by deducing comments from the name and type of methods, properties or parameters. more
• NDoc - Generates class library documentation from .NET assemblies and the XML documentation files generated by the C# compiler. more
• Sandcastle - Produces MSDN style documentation by reflecting over the source assemblies and optionally integrating XML documentation comments. more

Database

• ADO.NET Express - Add-in for Visual Studio that automates common tasks of writing repetitive data access code. more
• Data Access Application Block for .NET - A reusable and extensible source code-based guidance that simplifies development of common data access functionality in .NET-based applications. more
• DataLG - Generates a complete data layer for your VB and C# applications. more
• DeKlarit - A model-driven tool that combines agile database modeling, declarative business rules, code generation and integration with Microsoft Visual Studio. more
• NHibernate - An object-relational mapping (ORM) solution for the Microsoft .NET platform. It provides a framework for mapping an object-oriented domain model to a traditional relational database. more
• OlyMars - SQL Server Centric .NET Code Generator (code named OlyMars) is a code generator based on database modeling. more

C# Editors

• Antechinus C# Editor from C Point - Color syntax editor for C# programs. more
• ASPExpress - An ASP text editor, ASP.Net text editor and an HTML editor, all in one. more
• C# for emacs - C# development environment for XEmacs/GNU Emacs. more
• Improve C# Plugin for Eclipse - Develop C# applications. more
• NotePad2 - A small, fast and free text editor with C# syntax highlighting. more
• NotePad++ - A generic source code editor with C# support. more
• Scintella and SciTE - A free source code editing component. more
• TextPad - Windows editor that supports C# syntax highlighting. more
• XML Cooktop - A free color-coded editor for XML, DTD, and XSLT. more
• Visual SlickEdit - Advanced editor with C# syntax highlighting. more

C# Formatters and C# Code Beautifiers

• Code Highlighter - A source code syntax highlighting component available for the .NET environment. more
• NArrange - An open-source tool for arranging .NET source code. This code beautifier allows you to sort and organize C# and VB.NET code members into groups or regions. more
• Semantic Designs: C# Source Code Formatter - Reorganizes C# source text files to neatly indent code blocks according to their nesting level, or, conversely, obfuscates the code to make it difficult to understand by renaming variables. more
• Uncrustify - Source code beautifier for many languages, including C#. more
• Regionerate - An open-source tool for developers and team leaders that allows you to automatically apply layout rules on C# code. more

C# Graphics and Games

• CadLib - DXF 3D .NET component and viewer. more
• ExoEngine - An open source C# 3D game engine for Microsoft .NET, based upon OpenGL and NVIDIA's Cg. more
• OpenGL & SDL for C# - An open source implementation of OpenGL in C#. more
• VG.net - Animated vector graphics in Visual Studio .NET. more
• XNA Game Studio - Enables hobbyists, academics, and independent game developers to easily create video games for Microsoft Windows and the Microsoft Zune digital media player using optimized cross-platform gaming libraries based on the Microsoft .NET Framework. more

C# Libraries and Components

• C# Math Expression parser assembly - Math expression parser written in C#. It evaluates mathematical expressions such as "cos(x)+cos(y)-2", with given values. more
• C-Sharpener For VB - Code converter tool from VB.NET to C#. more
• Castle .NET - An open-source project to create a set of .NET tools/frameworks to ease enterprise and web application development. more
• CenterSpace Software - C# libraries that provide building blocks for .NET mathematical and financial applications, including matrix and vector classes, and object-oriented interfaces to public domain computing packages such as the BLAS (Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms) and LAPACK (Linear Algebra PACKage). more
• Enterprise Library - A collection of reusable software components (application blocks), provided by Microsoft, that assist enterprise .NET developers with common application development scenarios. more
• Evolutility - Dual-licensed, open-source web UI framework for CRUD applications. Free for use in open-source projects. more
• Glacial Components - Free .NET components. more
• IE Web Controls - The Internet Explorer Web Controls including C# source code. more
• LibCheck - This tool allows you to compare two versions of an assembly and determine the differences. more
• Neural Network Library in C# - A neural network library written in C#. more
• Sharp3D.Math - Fundamental classes for dealing with numerics on the .NET platform. more
• Spring.NET: Application Framework - Spring.NET is a port and extension of the Spring Framework for .NET. more
• Visual Guard - Security solution for .NET Applications. Allows management of users, memberships, roles and password policy. more

C# Logging

• Log4Net - A tool to help the programmer output log statements to a variety of output targets. log4net is a port of the log4j framework to the .NET runtime more
• SmartInspect - Logging tool for debugging and monitoring .NET applications. more

Miscellaneous

• CSharpTelnet - Telnet client for C#. more
• IntelliSpell - Spell-checking add-in for Microsoft Visual Studio. A free, community edition is available. more
• Ora Visual Studio Add-In - A Visual Studio 2008 add-in that provides an instant grouped overview of the class, interface or struct you are viewing or editing. more
• PostSharp - An aspect weaver for .NET. It can can reduce the number of lines of code and improve the logical decoupling of your programs. more
• Resourcer - Resourcer is an editor for .resources binaries and .resx XML file formats used with the .NET platform. Resourcer allows editing of name/string pairs, import of bitmaps/icons and and merging of resources from different sources. By Lutz Roeder. more
• StudioSpell - A Visual Studio spell check add-in. more

C# Obfuscators

• C# Source Code Obfuscator - by Semantic Designs. Scrambles C# source code to make it very difficult to understand or reverse-engineer. more
• .NET Reactor - A .NET code protection and licensing system which assists developers in protecting their .NET software. more
• {smartassembly} - A .NET obfuscation, protection and improvement tool. more
• Demeanor for .NET - Protects your intellectual property by making it difficult to reverse engineer your .NET applications. more
• Dotfuscator - A .NET Obfuscator. more
• Salamander .NET Obfuscator - A .NET code protection tool that offers sophisticated technologies to protect your .NET code and intellectual properties. more

Object Browsers

• .NET Component Inspector - more
• .NET Reflector - A class browser and analysis tool for .NET. It allows developers to navigate, search, disassemble and analyze .NET components. more
• LSW DotNet-Reflection-Browser - An object-browser for the Microsoft .NET Framework. more

C# Profiling Tools and C# Optimization

• .NET Memory Profiler - A tool for finding memory leaks and optimizing the memory usage in programs written in C#, VB.NET or any other .NET Language. more
• ANTS Profiler - Performance profiling and memory profiler for .NET code. more
• AQtime - Performance profiling and memory/resource debugging toolset for Microsoft, Borland, Intel, Compaq and GNU compilers. more
• CLR Profiler - The CLR Profiler allows developers to see the allocation profile of their managed applications. more
• DevPartner Studio Professional Edition - A suite of software development and testing tools that enable Windows application teams to build reliable, high-performance applications, components and web services for Microsoft .NET and native Windows platforms. more
• ILMerge - A utility for merging multiple .NET assemblies into a single .NET assembly. more
• NCover - .NET code coverage tool. Commercial, but a disontinued free version is also available. more
• NGen - The Native Image Generator (Ngen.exe) is a tool that improves the performance of managed applications. Ngen.exe creates native images, which are files containing compiled processor-specific machine code, and installs them into the native image cache on the local computer. more
• NProf - .NET profiler application and API. more
• PartCover - An open-source .NET code coverage tool. more
• Prof-It for C# - A standalone profiler for C# that measures execution frequencies for each statement, while keeping the instrumentation of the source code to a minimum. more

C# Refactoring

• devAdvantage - C# source code analyzer for Visual Studio.NET - A Microsoft Visual Studio .NET add-in that provides C# static source code analysis to automate code reviews and detects errors, bugs and issues. The community edition is free. more
• dotEASY - A Visual Studio .NET add-in that evaluates C# source code and performs “advices” in order to improve software quality. more
• ReSharper - A powerful productivity suite for Visual Studio. Refactoring, code analysis, code generation... more

Regular Expressions

• Expresso - A regular expression development tool. more
• RegexDesigner.NET - A visual tool for helping you construct and test .NET regular expressions. more
• The Regulator - An advanced regular expressions testing tool, featuring syntax highlighting and web-service integration with Regexlib.com's database of online regular expressions. more

C# Reporting

• ActiveReports - Reporting solution for .NET that is written in fully managed Visual C# and provides complete integration into the Visual Studio .NET IDE. more
• Crystal Reports - Professional .NET reporting. more
• Report Generator List & Label - Equip your applications with classic printing, fast preview and comprehensive export functions. more

C# Standards Verifiers

• Code Style Enforcer - A DXCore plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/2008 that provides code style enforcement against configurable coding standards. more
• devAdvantage - C# source code analyzer for Visual Studio .NET - A Microsoft Visual Studio .NET add-in that provides C# static source code analysis to automate code reviews and detects errors, bugs and issues. The community edition is free. more
• FxCop - FxCop is an application that analyzes managed code assemblies and reports information about the assemblies, such as possible design, localization, performance and security improvements. more
• StyleCop - Analyzes C# source code to enforce a set of style and consistency rules. It can be run from inside of Visual Studio or integrated into an MSBuild project. more

C# Testing and C# Test Frameworks

• .NETUnit - An implementation of Kent Beck's XUnit testing framework designed specifically for unit testing components written for the .NET platform. more
• csUnit - Inspired by JUnit, csUnit brings the power of unit testing to the .NET framework. csUnit is your key to unit testing and test-driven development using .NET languages such as C#, Visual Basic .NET, Visual J#, or Managed C++. more
• MbUnit - A generative unit test framework for the .NET Framework. more
• NMock - A dynamic mock object library for .NET. more
• NUnit - A unit-testing framework for all .NET languages; initially ported from JUnit. more
• Pex - Automated white box testing for .NET. more
• POCMock - A tool for creating mock classes. more
• Rhino Mocks - A dynamic mock object framework for the .Net platform. Its purpose is to ease testing by allowing the developer to create mock implementations of custom objects and verify the interactions using unit testing. more
• Silverlight Unit Test Framework (Ignite) - A simple, extensible unit testing solution for rich Silverlight 2 applications, controls and class libraries. more
• TestComplete - A full-featured environment for automated testing of Windows, .NET, WPF (XAML) applications, web pages, web servers and web services. more
• TestDriven.NET - Unit-Testing add-in for Visual Studio .NET that is fully integrated with all major unit testing frameworks including NUnit, MbUnit, csUnit and Visual Studio Team System. more
• TestMatrix for Visual Studio - Adds test driven development support to Visual Studio with unit testing, code coverage analysis, and test profiling. more
• WatiN - Write automated web application tests in C#. more
• XtUnit - Extend NUnit or MbUnit with new test attributes. more
• xUnit.net - Unit testing for .NET. more
• X-Unity - A suite of development tools enabling unit testing and continuous integration activities on Microsoft .NET projects. more