C# 8: The Latest and Greatest Version of the Programming Language

Released in September 2019, C# 8 is the latest version of the C# programming language, filled with a myriad of new features, improvements, and optimizations. These cutting-edge changes make coding highly-efficient, high-quality code an absolute breeze. However, using the latest features of C# 8 requires enabling it within Visual Studio.

Enabling C# 8 in Visual Studio 2019: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install Visual Studio 2019

First thing’s first, installing Visual Studio 2019 is necessary. Without it, enabling C# 8 is an unachievable feat. Anyone can download and install the latest version of Visual Studio 2019 from the Microsoft website.

Step 2: Create a New Project

Now that you have installed Visual Studio 2019, you can create a new project to begin utilizing C# 8. Open Visual Studio 2019 and click on “Create a new project.” You can then select the type of project you desire and click “Create.”

Step 3: Enable C# 8 in the Project Settings

You guessed it, enabling C# 8 in your project settings is the next step to using its features. Simply right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer and select “Properties.” Next, navigate to the “Build” tab and click “Advanced.” Here, you can select “C# 8.0 (latest minor version)” from the “Language version” drop-down menu.

Step 4: Use C# 8 Features in Your Code

Voila! Now that you have enabled C# 8 in your project settings, it is time to implement its features. C# 8 includes ground-breaking additions such as Nullable reference types, Switch expressions, Range and index operators, and Async streams, each simplifying code and improving efficiency. Familiarizing yourself with syntax and semantics is important, and Microsoft provides comprehensive documentation and tutorials to help you get started.

Final Thoughts

Enabling C# 8 in Visual Studio 2019 is a simple process that is guaranteed to enhance your coding experience. As described in this article, these four easy steps can help you enable C# 8 in your projects and begin using its features almost instantly. With C# 8, coding becomes more efficient, expressive, and yields higher quality code to enhance productivity and accelerate development breakthroughs.