Developer Docs - Quickstart Tutorials - Appendix - New Developer Environment Setup

If you're a relatively new .Net web developer we can walk you through a few things to help get you started on the right foot. If you're not a .Net developer already, we probably can't make you one by reading this chapter. In that case you would be best served by going through some .Net introductions or tutorials.

Installing Your Microsoft SQL Server (Database) Environment

We like to setup the database first. If you're licensed to use one of the paid versions of SQL Server go ahead and download that now. Otherwise you can download and use the free SQL Server Express version.

Going through the installer can be an interesting experience. For the most part we've found you can typically use the default settings -- except for a few places. In those spots you really need to be careful and set things just right:

You will need to create a SQL Server Login called "RockUser". (You can actually use any name you wish but we recommend RockUser to keep things simple for now.) You will need to use SQL Server Management Studio do to this (which would have been installed when you did the Install SQL Server step, or if you add the Management Tools feature to an existing SQL Server install.

2. On the Login - New page, put RockUser as the Login name and choose SQL Server authentication. For the password you'll probably want to uncheck the "Enforce password" and "User must change password" checkboxes.

3. While still on the Login - New page, select "Server Roles" then check "dbcreator" and "public". Now you can press OK, and your SQL Server RockUser login is created.Login Properties, Server Roles

Installing Visual Studio

If you're licensed to use one of the paid versions of Visual Studio go ahead and download it now. Otherwise you can download the free "Visual Studio Community" version. If you run into any trouble Microsoft even has a Live Chat support to assist you.

Visual Studio Workloads

Run the Visual Studio Installer and select "Modify" on your installation. Then install these workloads:

Visual Studio Workloads

Troubleshooting

If Visual Studio crashes upon running, make sure the Visual Studio "Start" > "Web Browser" has a browser selected.

Visual Studio Debug Web Browser Setting

Visual Studio Debug with missing Web Browser

Running

Once you have Visual Studio up and running, you're all set to open up the Rock solution file. Once you open that you'll want to adjust your web.ConnectionStrings.config file as described in the Setup Appendix.