.NET nanoFramework for Visual Studio 2019

Write C#. Run it on a microcontroller. Debug it live.

The .NET nanoFramework extension brings embedded development into the Visual Studio you already use. Create a project, deploy to your board, set breakpoints, step through code and inspect variables on the real hardware. You don't need C/C++ or a vendor toolchain.

ℹ️ This extension targets Visual Studio 2019. Using Visual Studio 2022 or 2026? Get the current extension, which gets the latest features and fixes.

What you get

Project templates for apps, class libraries and unit tests
Deploy and debug on the device: breakpoints, stepping, watch and call stack, running on the target
Device Explorer to discover, connect, flash and manage boards
NuGet-based libraries for GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, PWM, ADC, networking, TLS and more
Familiar C# and .NET APIs, including many from .NET IoT, so existing code and samples carry over

What is .NET nanoFramework?

An open-source platform for running managed C# on constrained devices, such as IoT sensors, wearables, robots, maker projects and industrial equipment. It includes a compact CLR and a subset of the .NET base class libraries, so desktop .NET developers can work on embedded systems with the skills they already have.

Supported hardware

Espressif: ESP32, S2, S3, C3, C6, H2 and P4
STMicroelectronics: STM32 F0, F4, F7, L4 and H7
Silicon Labs: Giant Gecko GG11
NXP: i.MX RT1060
Texas Instruments: SimpleLink CC13xx and CC32xx
M5Stack: Core, Core2, StickC and AtomS3
OrgPal: PalThree and PalX
MXCHIP: AZ3166

...and more, including community boards. Full list

See it in action

Start a new project in seconds.

Debugging live on a real device.

.NET nanoFramework Extension