Starting a project correctly is about more than just code; it's about the environment. In this guide, we’ll build a professional-grade solution using Microsoft Entra ID for security, a separate Class Library for logic, and the modern Microsoft Testing Framework for high-performance test execution—all without leaving the command line.

Step 1: The Foundations (Prerequisites)

Before we touch the command line, ensure your toolkit is up to date. You'll need these three pillars installed:

.NET 10 SDK

The core engine. Download the latest SDK to access new performance features and the dotnet CLI tools.

VS Code

Install the C# Dev Kit extension. It provides the "Solution Explorer" feel directly inside VS Code.

Git

Required for version control and for many .NET templates to initialize correctly during project creation.

Step 2: Entra ID App Registration

We need to register our app in Azure to get the Tenant ID and Client ID needed for authentication.

1. Create Registration

• Go to the Microsoft Entra admin center.
• Navigate to Applications > App registrations.
• Click New registration. Name it "MyEnterpriseApp".
• Redirect URI: Select Web and enter https://localhost:7123/signin-oidc.

2. Define App Roles

• Inside your new app, go to App roles.
• Click Create app role.
• Display Name: Admin, Value: Admin.
• Allowed member types: Users/Groups.
• Repeat for a User role.

Checkpoint

Copy your Application (client) ID and Directory (tenant) ID from the Overview page. You'll need these for the CLI commands!

Step 3: Building the Solution via CLI

The Terminal Commands

Run these commands in order. Replace the placeholders with your Azure IDs from Step 2.

Create Solution Folder

mkdir MyEnterpriseSolution && cd MyEnterpriseSolution

Create Solution File

dotnet new sln

Create MVC Web App with Entra Auth

dotnet new mvc -o MyWebApp --auth SingleOrg
  --client-id "YOUR_CLIENT_ID"
  --tenant-id "YOUR_TENANT_ID"

Create Class Library and Test Project

dotnet new classlib -o MyBusinessLogic

dotnet new mstest -o MyTests

Stitch it together

dotnet sln add MyWebApp MyBusinessLogic MyTests dotnet add MyWebApp reference MyBusinessLogic dotnet add MyTests reference MyBusinessLogic

Why this structure?

By using a Solution (.sln), you manage multiple projects as one unit.

The Class Library keeps your core code clean, and MSTest ensures it stays working.

Enable EXE Testing:

In .NET 10, your test project can be an exe. Ensure MyTests.csproj contains:

<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>

Step 4: Using the Roles

Now that Entra ID knows about the "Admin" role, apply it to your controllers for instant security.

[Authorize(Roles = "Admin")]

public class AdminController : Controller {

public IActionResult Index() => View();

}

Don't forget to assign yourself the role in the Enterprise Applications section of the Azure Portal!

Step 5: Control Center

Run and test your new .NET 10 solution from the terminal.