How to compile c# in Microsoft's new Visual Studio Code?

Since no one else said it, the short-cut to compile (build) a C# app in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is SHIFT+CTRL+B.

If you want to see the build errors (because they don't pop-up by default), the shortcut is SHIFT+CTRL+M.

(I know this question was asking for more than just the build shortcut. But I wanted to answer the question in the title, which wasn't directly answered by other answers/comments.)

Intellisense does work for C# 6, and it's great.

For running console apps you should set up some additional tools:

• ASP.NET 5; in Powershell: &{$Branch='dev';iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aspnet/Home/dev/dnvminstall.ps1'))}
• Node.js including package manager npm.
• The rest of required tools including Yeoman yo: npm install -g yo grunt-cli generator-aspnet bower
• You should also invoke .NET Version Manager: c:\Users\Username\.dnx\bin\dnvm.cmd upgrade -u

Then you can use yo as wizard for Console Application: yo aspnet Choose name and project type. After that go to created folder cd ./MyNewConsoleApp/ and run dnu restore

To execute your program just type >run in Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), or execute dnx . run in shell from the directory of your project.

Install the extension "Code Runner". Check if you can compile your program with csc (ex.: csc hello.cs). The command csc is shipped with Mono. Then add this to your VS Code user settings:

"code-runner.executorMap": {
        "csharp": "echo '# calling mono\n' && cd $dir && csc /nologo $fileName && mono $dir$fileNameWithoutExt.exe",
        // "csharp": "echo '# calling dotnet run\n' && dotnet run"
    }

Open your C# file and use the execution key of Code Runner.

Edit: also added dotnet run, so you can choose how you want to execute your program: with Mono, or with dotnet. If you choose dotnet, then first create the project (dotnet new console, dotnet restore).