Overview of AI Tools for C# (.NET) Development in 2024

AI Assistants for C# (.NET): How Neural Networks Are Changing Development

The .NET ecosystem continues to actively adopt artificial intelligence. Modern AI tools allow C# developers not only to speed up code writing but also to automate routine tasks: from generating unit tests to analyzing memory leaks. In this overview, we have gathered the most relevant solutions for Visual Studio, Rider, and VS Code.

1. GitHub Copilot — Universal AI Assistant

The most popular tool based on OpenAI Codex. GitHub Copilot works directly in the editor and suggests entire methods, classes, and lambda expressions. For C# (.NET), generating LINQ queries, async methods, and boilerplate code for ASP.NET Core is especially useful.

• Pros: deep integration with Visual Studio, understanding of project context, support for .NET 8.
• Cons: paid subscription (free trial available), potential licensing issues for commercial code.

2. Tabnine — Secure AI for Enterprise Projects

Tabnine (formerly Codota) offers local models and cloud solutions. A special feature for .NET is training on C# and F# code. The tool analyzes your projects and provides autocompletions considering .NET naming conventions. Available for Visual Studio and JetBrains Rider.

• Pros: privacy (model runs locally), support for .NET Standard and MAUI.
• Cons: less creative than Copilot, requires time for model training.

3. JetBrains ReSharper and AI Assistant

The legendary ReSharper has received an AI add-on. JetBrains AI Assistant can generate code, explain complex patterns (e.g., Dependency Injection), and suggest refactoring. Built-in support for .NET 9 Preview and C# 12 makes it indispensable for serious projects.

• Pros: deep integration with Rider, performance analysis, auto-generation of xUnit tests.
• Cons: high license cost, resource-intensive on PC.

4. Sourcegraph Cody — AI for Codebase Search

Cody helps not only write code but also navigate large .NET solutions. You can ask: "Where is authentication via Identity implemented?" — and Cody will show all related files. The tool understands C# records, nullable reference types, and async/await.

5. CodiumAI — Test Generation for .NET

A specialized AI tool for automatically creating unit tests. CodiumAI analyzes your C# code and generates tests using NUnit, xUnit, or MSTest. Useful for projects with high coverage requirements.

Conclusions: What to Choose?

For everyday C# (.NET) development, the best choice is GitHub Copilot (speed) or Tabnine (security). If you need deep refactoring and analysis, look into JetBrains ReSharper AI. For testing and working with legacy code, CodiumAI is suitable. Moreover, many tools can be combined: for example, Copilot for writing code and CodiumAI for tests.

Try the trial versions and choose the AI assistant that best fits your development style and project requirements.