One of the steps is to install a dot net framework specifically 3.1, when I went to the website to download it I noticed that there is another version net.5.0(current and recommended) and net 3.1(LTS).
so I am bit curious and confuse should I download the 3.1 or 5.0, is there any difference?

Download 5. It won’t change much for your learning.
is there any performance difference?

Download dotnet 5 and to setup vscode in terminal in your folder type: dotnet new console -o (name of your console app), and when you have written your run, type dotnet run. See this on yt on the channel IamTimCorrey and he explains in a detail what and how to set up vs code for c#

This is a bit of a confusing time to start learning C#, because there is some “unification” going on with the .NET frameworks.

Basically, just get .NET 5 (even if they ask you to get another version), and your beginner’s lessons/tutorials should still apply.

Why not use the free Visual Studio Community? https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/free-developer-offers/
Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

At least for me, I am 300x more comfortable and productive in VSCode than I am in VS.

We have a giant, partially legacy C# application at work and I would rather open the project in both and switch between than just use VS.
I look forward to VSCode’s C# and F# tools maturing and becoming a bit more stable.

.NET Framework
.NET Framework (pronounced as “dot net”) is a software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large class library called Framework Class Library (FCL) and provides language interoperability (each language can use code written in other languages) across several programming languages. Programs written for .NET Framework execute in a software environment (in contrast to a hardware environment) named the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR is an application virtual machine that provides services such as security, memory management, and exception handling.

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Not available on Linux 🙁
Technically .NET 5 is Core, not Framework – Even if the name no longer applies :p

The fun part is when you start talking about the .NET Core Framework that you can install…
why setting up vs code for C#?

Visula studio is way better with that. VS code doesn’t support c# scripts (well, it does but it needs some changes) and the best way to run them is by creating a new project everytime.

I agree vs is awesome with .NET x. But wouldn’t it be useful to get accustomed with vs code and .NET. VS code is cross platform.
I was advised that visual studio is a bit overkill for a beginner and that I should pick it up when I am a bit experienced, also the program was a bit demanding for my laptop, therefore I was suggested to go for either vscode or sublime.

Why not? I’ve used VS Code for .Net development for the past 3 years after trying it out on a whim, never once have I wanted to reinstall VS. Not everyone needs/wants to run C# scripts, and if that’s the main reason for using VS, it’s not the best reason. VS Code has the virtue of being less resource-intensive, and VS Code works the same on my work windows machines as it does on my personal MBPs, whereas VS for Mac is a very different experience.

As a beginner, my advice is don’t use vs code for c#. Use the right tool for the right job, which is visual studio. It’s cross platform too. If you wanna get weird with it after you know what you’re doing, by all means. I just wouldn’t recommend for a beginner.
tnx for the advice but Performance is one of the main issues I have with

Visual studio it’s a bit too much for my laptop with only 4GB of ram.
Visual Studio is not cross platform
Don’t, install rider instead
I’m not an expert in IDE’s and editors… What makes rider better than visual studio?
I agree. If you’re in college you probably get a free license btw (github student)

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