Prerequisites and IDE Setup
Install all of these before doing anything else.
Required Tools
| Tool | Version | Purpose | Install From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docker Desktop | Latest | Runs PostgreSQL database in a container | docker.com |
| .NET 10.0 SDK | 10.0+ | Backend API runtime and build tools | dot.net |
| Node.js | 20+ | Frontend build tools and dev server | nodejs.org |
| Windows Terminal | Latest | Multi-tab terminal for running services | Ships with Windows 11; Microsoft Store for Windows 10 |
| Git | Latest | Version control | git-scm.com |
IDE Options
You can use either VS Code or Visual Studio for development.
- VS Code
- Visual Studio
Download from code.visualstudio.com.
VS Code is lightweight and works well for both frontend and backend development.
Useful Extensions:
| Extension | Purpose |
|---|---|
| C# Dev Kit | IntelliSense, debugging, and project management for .NET |
| ESLint | JavaScript/React linting |
| Tailwind CSS IntelliSense | Autocomplete for Tailwind classes |
| REST Client | Test API endpoints directly from .http files |
| PostgreSQL | Database explorer and query runner |
| GitLens | Enhanced git integration |
Download from visualstudio.microsoft.com.
Visual Studio is a full IDE with deeper .NET integration.
Required Workloads (select during installation):
| Workload | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ASP.NET and web development | Backend API development, debugging, hot reload |
| .NET desktop development | .NET SDK tools and build support |
Useful Extensions:
| Extension | Purpose |
|---|---|
| EF Core Power Tools | Visual migration management and DbContext scaffolding |
| Markdown Editor | Preview markdown files in the IDE |
Opening the Project
Visual Studio can open individual .csproj files or the backend/src/ folder directly. There is no .sln file in the repository — Visual Studio will create a temporary solution when you open a folder.
- Open Visual Studio
- Select Open a local folder and navigate to
DST-Dev/backend/src/ - Visual Studio will detect all four .csproj projects automatically
- Set DST.API as the startup project (right-click → Set as Startup Project)
- Use
F5to run with debugger orCtrl+F5to run without
Frontend Development
To run the frontend dev server, use a terminal:
cd frontend
npm run dev
System-Response Service
The System-Response calculation service is a separate repository. You need it cloned locally:
git clone <system-response-repo-url> C:\GitHub\System-Response
The start scripts expect it at C:\GitHub\System-Response. If it's elsewhere, update the SYSTEM_RESPONSE_PATH variable at the top of start-dev.bat:
set SYSTEM_RESPONSE_PATH=C:\GitHub\System-Response\SystemResponse\SystemResponse.API
For details on how calculation libraries work and how the DST backend calls System-Response, see the Calculation Libraries architecture guide.
Related Documentation
Web Application Architecture
Three-tier architecture pattern
Explore →
Frontend Architecture
React five-layer architecture
Explore →
Backend Architecture
ASP.NET Core Clean Architecture
Explore →