Choosing the Right Workloads
Beginner
10 min read
Lesson 2 of 4
Workloads are bundles of tools. For this entire course, select these workloads in the Visual Studio Installer:
- ASP.NET and web development — required for Razor Pages, SQL connections, and general web work.
- .NET desktop development — required for Console Apps and Windows Forms.
- .NET Multi-platform App UI development (.NET MAUI) — required later for the mobile/desktop MAUI module.
- Data storage and processing (optional but useful) — adds SQL Server Data Tools support inside Visual Studio.
What is a Workload?
A workload is a collection of tools, libraries, and templates for a specific type of development. Selecting the right workloads saves disk space and makes Visual Studio faster.
Individual components worth adding
- Git for Windows (or install separately — covered in Lesson 4)
- SQL Server Express LocalDB (usually included automatically with ASP.NET workload)
After selecting workloads, click Install. This can take 20–60 minutes depending on your connection. Grab a coffee.
Key Takeaway
Selecting the right workloads ensures you have all the tools you need without wasting disk space.