Rider provides rich editing support and code insight for languages used in .NET development, from C#, VB.NET, and F# to ASP.NET Razor syntax, JavaScript, TypeScript, XAML, XML, HTML, CSS, SCSS, JSON, and SQL.

What features are included under the free license?

With the new non-commercial license type, you can enjoy a full-featured IDE that is identical to its paid version. The only difference is in the Code With Me feature – you get Code With Me Community with your free license.

Do RustRover and Aqua have the same conditions for non-commercial use?

Yes, RustRover and Aqua follow the same guidelines for non-commercial use. They previously had slightly different criteria for certain use cases, but we've updated them to align with the licensing model used for WebStorm and Rider.

Which license should I choose if I want to use Rider or WebStorm for both non-commercial and commercial projects?

If you intend to use Rider or WebStorm for commercial development for which you will receive direct or indirect commercial advantage or monetary compensation within the meaning of the definitions provided in the Toolbox Subscription Agreement for Non-Commercial Use, you will need to purchase a commercial subscription (either individual or organizational). This license can then also be used for non-commercial development.

Features

Languages and project types

Rider lets you open, edit, build, run, and debug most kinds of .NET applications, including desktop apps, web apps, libraries, and services (with the exception that debugging UWP applications is not yet supported). Applications that target Mono, such as Unity and Xamarin, are also supported, as well as the latest and greatest .NET Core applications.

Rider supports a lot of languages used in .NET development, including C#, F#, VB.NET, ASP.NET (both ASPX and Razor view engines), XAML, XML, JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, HTML, CSS, SCSS, LESS, and SQL.

ReSharper + IntelliJ platform

Rider uses UI and multiple features of the IntelliJ platform, which powers IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, and other JetBrains IDEs. It's cross-platform, familiar to millions of developers, and provides core functionality such as VCS and database support.

On top of that, we add ReSharper features: navigation and search, refactoring, code inspections, quick-fixes, and so on. We have spent 10+ years building a feature set that helps read, write and navigate large .NET codebases, and all this is now available to Rider users.

Designed to be smart and fast

Rider isn't jammed into a 32-bit process, which helps it gain deep insight into your code while still being responsive. Rider opens (and reopens) most solutions with almost zero latency. External changes to solution? Switching Git branches? Not a problem: Rider catches up quickly.

When you edit code, our topmost priority is to make sure that you type as fast as your fingers are trained to, not only as fast as the IDE can process your input.

Works on Windows, macOS and Linux

Rider can run on multiple platforms: Windows, macOS and different breeds of Linux. If you want to edit, build, run or debug Unity or .NET Core applications on a macOS, here's your full-blown IDE.

Intelligent code editor

Rider provides tons of smart code editing features, such as different kinds of code completion, auto-importing namespaces, auto-inserting braces and highlighting matching delimiters, rearranging code, live and postfix templates, controller and action hyperlinks in ASP.NET MVC, a multi-selection mode, gutter icons for inheritance navigation, as well as quick access to refactorings, generation, navigation and context actions.

Killer code analysis

Rider boasts 2200+ live code inspections to help you detect errors and code smells. Over 1000 quick-fixes are available to resolve detected issues individually or in bulk: just hit Alt+Enter to pick one. For a bird's-eye view of errors in your projects, use solution-wide error analysis (SWEA): it will monitor errors in your code base and let you know if anything goes wrong, even you don't have a problematic file open in the text editor.

Navigation and search

Jump to any file, type, or member in your code base in no time, as well as find settings and actions, all with a common Search Everywhere shortcut. You can find usages of any symbol, including cross-language usages and usages in string literals. For contextual navigation, use a single Navigate To shortcut that will take you from a symbol to its base and derived symbols, extension methods or implementations.

Decompiler

Want to know how third-party library code works? No problem with Rider: just use Go to Declaration on a library symbol, and have Rider decompile the library type to C# in a regular editor tab. You can then navigate decompiled code as you normally navigate your source code, as well as find and highlight usages. Sometimes however, decompiling is not even necessary: Rider can fetch source code from source servers such as Microsoft Reference Source Center.

Refactoring

Most of ReSharper's 60+ refactorings are already available in Rider, and its 450+ context actions are all there. You can rename, extract methods, interfaces and classes, move and copy types, use alternative syntax, and a lot more! Look for available refactorings in the Refactor This pop-up, or use context actions that you can access with AltEnter.

Unit testing

Rider lets you run and debug unit tests based on NUnit, xUnit.net or MSTest in applications targeting .NET Framework, .NET Core and Mono. Rider marks test classes and methods with a gutter icon in the editor: click it or use the Alt+Enter menu to run, debug and manage tests. You can explore tests, group them in different ways, break them down into individual sessions, see test output and navigate to source code from stack traces.

Debugging

Rider includes a debugger that works with .NET Framework, Mono and .NET Core applications. You can create multiple debug configurations, attach to external processes, set and manage breakpoints and breakpoint conditions, step into, over and out, run to cursor, set watches, evaluate expressions and explore threads.

Version control

Rider includes support for Git, Subversion, Mercurial, Perforce and TFS out of the box, with more version control systems supported via plugins. In the code editor, local changes are highlighted as you type. Using a dedicated VCS tool window, you can view local, incoming and repository changes, manage changelists, shelve changes for later use, view diff, commit and push. A built-in visual merge tool will help you resolve conflicts, and Rider will even let you know if a file you are working on has been changed after your last update.

Web development

With JetBrains Rider, you can develop modern web, mobile, and desktop applications with JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and Sass support built in. Rider supports Node.js, React, Angular, and Vue.js, integrates with package managers such as Bower, NPM, and Yarn, and provides tight integration with various web development tools. Take advantage of code analysis, code completion, refactorings, debugging, and unit testing capabilities available in Rider for a full-stack web development experience.

Databases and SQL

You can work with SQL and databases without leaving Rider. Connect to databases, edit schemas and table data, run queries, and even analyze schemas with UML diagrams. Rider's rich SQL editor comes with syntax highlighting, smart code completion, on-the-fly code analysis, code formatting and navigation.

Plugins

Rider takes advantage of its roots by supporting a wide array of plugins developed for the IntelliJ platform and ReSharper. In addition to bundled plugins (such as those for VCS, F# and Unity support), you can choose to install more plugins as you need them: when you open a file supported by a plugin that you're not using, Rider will suggest that you install it. For example, plugins are available that support Markdown, .gitignore files and Python scripts.

What's New

Rider 2024.3 delivers support for .NET 9, including such C# 13 enhancements as params collections, partial properties, and the preview field keyword. The Windows Forms Designer is now available for .NET 6+ projects, along with an advanced debugging capability to freeze and unfreeze individual threads. Game developers will be happy to see console debugging for Unreal Engine, IL2CPP debugging for Unity, and improved Godot support. This release also brings expanded AI Assistant functionality, including in-editor AI prompts and customizable chat models. Enhancements for code cleanup, naming conventions, and remote development round out the release.

Support for .NET 9

The latest version of Rider comes with:

  • Support for project templates from the new SDK.
  • The ability to create, run, and debug projects targeting the new SDK.
  • Support for the latest C# 13 features, such as params collections, partial properties, the field keyword preview, and others.

Windows Forms Designer for .NET projects .NET 6.0+

The Windows Forms Designer now supports projects targeting .NET 6.0 and newer, enabling you to create, view, and modify the UI of your Windows Forms applications. This experience brings nearly the same functionality as the classic Windows Forms Designer for .NET Framework.

Keep in mind that most DevExpress controls are compatible, while support for Telerik and Infragistics controls remains limited, and VB.NET Windows Forms applications are not supported.

Ability to freeze and unfreeze individual threads during debugging

Rider 2024.3 introduces the ability to freeze and unfreeze individual threads during debugging for more precise control over multithreaded applications. The feature allows you to right-click on any thread and select Freeze to pause its execution without affecting the rest of the application. When you're ready, you can right-click again and select Unfreeze to resume the thread's execution. The feature is only available for projects targeting .NET and .NET Framework.

Running and debugging native code on consoles

Rider 2024.3 has reached a massive milestone by introducing support for running and debugging C++ on all major consoles! This includes games written with custom engines and Unreal Engine. Availability is strictly by request, and you must be part of the console's official development program.

SLNX support

Rider has finally introduced support for the Solution File Persistence Model, aka the .slnx format for solution files, the latest clean and streamlined approach to storing all solution data. With Rider, you can now switch to the new format hassle-free right from the Solution Explorer. Just call the context menu for the solution node, navigate to Save As..., and select Save as XML Solution (.slnx). You will then have the option to open your solution via the newly created .slnx file to make the transition to the new format seamless.

Read the complete release notes here.