Minimal C# .NET Framework project - CS CSPROJ SLN

code.cs

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
    }
}

code.csproj

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="12.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
  <PropertyGroup>
    <Configuration Condition ="'$(Configuration)' == ''">Debug</Configuration>
    <Platform Condition ="'$(Platform)' == ''">AnyCPU</Platform>
    <ProjectGuid>{D1FFA0DC-0ACC-4108-ADC1-2A71122C09AF}</ProjectGuid>
    <OutputPath>bin\$(Configuration)\</OutputPath>
    <TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.5</TargetFrameworkVersion>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="System" />
    <Reference Include="System.Core" />
    <Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
  </ItemGroup>  
  <ItemGroup>
    <Compile Include="code.cs" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
</Project>

code.sln

Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 12.00
# Visual Studio 14
VisualStudioVersion = 14.0.23107.0
MinimumVisualStudioVersion = 10.0.40219.1
Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "code", "code.csproj", "{D1FFA0DC-0ACC-4108-ADC1-2A71122C09AF}"
EndProject
Global
	GlobalSection(SolutionConfigurationPlatforms) = preSolution
		Debug|Any CPU = Debug|Any CPU
		Release|Any CPU = Release|Any CPU
	EndGlobalSection
	GlobalSection(ProjectConfigurationPlatforms) = postSolution
		{D1FFA0DC-0ACC-4108-ADC1-2A71122C09AF}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|x86
		{D1FFA0DC-0ACC-4108-ADC1-2A71122C09AF}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|x86
		{D1FFA0DC-0ACC-4108-ADC1-2A71122C09AF}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|x86
		{D1FFA0DC-0ACC-4108-ADC1-2A71122C09AF}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|x86
	EndGlobalSection
	GlobalSection(SolutionProperties) = preSolution
		HideSolutionNode = FALSE
	EndGlobalSection
EndGlobal

MinimalCSharp.md

Note, this is for .NET Framework! Nowadays you probably want to use dotnet new cli to make a dotnet core project.

If you've ever started a simple C# project in Visual Studio, it creates a lot of cruft in your project.

These are a minimal set of files that you can start writing a C# programs. I deleted most lines from a starter CSPROJ and SLN file to get this starter template.

These files open and build cleanly in:

• msbuild
• Visual Studio
• Visual Studio Code
• mono (xbuild)

Feel free to download these files and do whatever you want.