Nifty C# Scratchpad
Run C# snippets instantly with NuGet packages and rich Dump() output: a LINQPad-style scratchpad and Polyglot Notebooks replacement.
Maintained. No sign-in. No telemetry. Works in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium and other editors that use Open VSX.
Why
Polyglot Notebooks and .NET Interactive were discontinued in 2026, and LINQPad is a separate app. Nifty C# Scratchpad gives you a quick place to try C# code, explore data and test a NuGet package, right inside your editor. It's built on .NET 10's official dotnet run file.cs, so it uses the real compiler and runtime.
Features
Scratchpads in one keystroke. Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N creates a new scratchpad. Your scratchpads are kept for next time (Open Scratchpad…).
Run with Ctrl+Enter in a scratchpad (Ctrl+Alt+Enter in any C# file), the ▶ button, or the Run CodeLens at the top. Runs take about a second once built.
Dump() anything.
var orders = db.Orders.Where(o => o.Total > 100).Take(20).ToList();
orders.Dump("Big orders");
Lists of objects become tables, nested objects become expandable tables, and numbers, strings, booleans and nulls are colour-coded. Dump() returns its value, so you can chain it. Large sequences are cut off at 1,000 items (Dump(maxItems: 50) to change).
NuGet packages in one step. Add NuGet Package… searches nuget.org and adds a line like #:package Dapper@2.1.35; it's restored automatically on the next run.
Compile errors where you need them. In the output panel (click to jump to the line) and in the Problems panel.
Any .NET 10 file-based app. Also runs .cs files in your projects that use top-level statements or #:package / #:sdk directives.
Export output as an HTML report, JSON, or CSV (one Dump() at a time).
Run on save: scratchpads re-run every time you save.
Snippet library: save and insert reusable code across scratchpads.
Stop long-running code at any time.
Private. .NET CLI telemetry is switched off for every run the extension starts.
Requirements
The .NET 10 SDK or newer. Nifty C# Scratchpad finds it on your PATH or in the standard install locations, or set nifty.csharp-scratchpad.dotnetPath.
For IntelliSense in scratchpads, use the C# extension (or C# Dev Kit) as usual.
Commands
| Command |
Key |
What it does |
Run Scratchpad |
Ctrl+Enter in scratchpads, Ctrl+Alt+Enter in C# files |
Build and run |
Stop |
|
Stop the running code |
New Scratchpad |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N |
Create a scratchpad |
Open Scratchpad… |
|
Pick an existing scratchpad |
Add NuGet Package… |
|
Search nuget.org and add a #:package line |
Reveal Scratchpad Folder |
|
Show where scratchpads are stored |
Export Output… |
|
HTML, JSON or CSV |
Toggle Run on Save |
|
Re-run when you save |
Save to / Insert from Snippet Library |
|
Reusable snippets |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
What it does |
nifty.csharp-scratchpad.dotnetPath |
(empty) |
Path to dotnet; empty means find it automatically |
nifty.csharp-scratchpad.runArguments |
[] |
Extra dotnet run arguments, e.g. ["-c", "Release"] |
nifty.csharp-scratchpad.codeLens |
true |
Show Run / Add NuGet Package above runnable files |
Install
- VS Code: search for "Nifty C# Scratchpad" in the Extensions view, or install from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
- Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium, Kiro, Antigravity: install from Open VSX.
Privacy
This extension collects no telemetry and needs no account. It contacts nuget.org only when you search for a package.
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See all 42 Nifty tools at https://getnifty.dev
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