Open-Source Databases · tareqimbasher

NetPad

NetPad is an open-source, cross-platform C# editor and playground that lets developers write and run C# code instantly without project setup. It supports desktop (Electron/Tauri) and browser modes, with features for prototyping, database queries, LINQ testing, and data visualization.

Talk to DEV.co Discuss Implementation

Source: GitHub — github.com/tareqimbasher/NetPad

2.3k

GitHub stars

127

Forks

Primary language

MIT

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	tareqimbasher/NetPad
Owner	tareqimbasher
Primary language	C#
License	MIT — OSI-approved
Stars	2.3k
Forks	127
Open issues	55
Latest release	v0.12.0 (2026-04-23)
Last updated	2026-06-14
Source	https://github.com/tareqimbasher/NetPad

What NetPad is

NetPad is a Roslyn-based C# REPL and editor built with .NET 6+ backend, OmniSharp for code intelligence, and dual UI shells (Electron and Tauri). It integrates NuGet package management, EF Core database connectivity, and CLI tooling via the npad global tool.

Quickstart

Get the NetPad source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/tareqimbasher/NetPad.git2cd NetPad3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

C# Prototyping & LINQ Testing

Rapidly prototype code snippets, test LINQ queries, and validate .NET logic without creating a full project. Ideal for library exploration and architectural proof-of-concept work.

Database Query Development

Write and execute LINQ and SQL queries directly against live databases (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle). Export results to Excel/HTML for reporting or further analysis.

C# Learning & Experimentation

Interactive environment for C# learners and .NET developers exploring new language features, testing edge cases, or building throwaway utility scripts with instant feedback.

Implementation considerations

.NET SDK v6 or later must be pre-installed; additional EF Core tools required for database connectivity. Plan runtime distribution and versioning constraints.
Dual distribution channels (Electron stable vs. Tauri vNext) mean evaluating package size, resource consumption, and feature parity before standardizing on one variant.
OmniSharp powers code intelligence; ensure network/firewall access to language server endpoints and that syntax highlighting/completion meets your team's expectations.
Database connectivity depends on appropriate drivers and connection strings. Test against your target databases (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, etc.) early.
CLI tool (npad) can be distributed as a dotnet global tool; automation workflows require end-user .NET SDK installation.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Production Code Execution — NetPad is designed for development, testing, and learning—not for running production workloads or mission-critical code in deployment environments.
Team Collaboration Workflows — Limited built-in support for multi-user projects, version control integration, or real-time collaboration. Better suited for individual developer tools than team IDEs.
Enterprise Security Lockdown — No documented security posture, SOC2/ISO compliance, or enterprise audit trails. Desktop app and CLI execution model may conflict with strict data governance policies.
Visual UI Builder Requirements — NetPad is a code editor, not a visual designer. No drag-and-drop UI layout, form builder, or XAML preview—suitable only for text-based code development.

License & commercial use

MIT License—permissive OSI-approved license allowing free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions. Requires only attribution and license inclusion.

MIT License permits commercial use of NetPad itself without royalties or licensing fees. However, verify that any NuGet packages, database drivers, or third-party tools bundled with scripts comply with their respective licenses. No warranty or support guarantees are provided by the license.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Adequate
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Moderate
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

No security posture statement, vulnerability disclosure process, or security audit history provided. Desktop app (Electron/Tauri) executes arbitrary C# code locally; isolation/sandboxing details Unknown. Database connections require plaintext or encrypted credentials; credential storage mechanism not documented. Script execution and package resolution should be reviewed for supply-chain risks in sensitive environments. Requires evaluation before use in compliance-heavy sectors.

Alternatives to consider

LINQPad (Commercial)

Mature, feature-rich C# playground with years of refinement, premium support, and enterprise adoption. NetPad explicitly targets parity with LINQPad as an open-source alternative.

Visual Studio / VS Code + C# Extensions

Full-featured IDEs with deeper debugging, profiling, and team collaboration. Heavier than NetPad for quick REPL work but better for production development.

Rider (JetBrains)

Premium cross-platform .NET IDE with advanced code analysis and refactoring. More overhead than NetPad but superior for large teams and enterprise workflows.

Software development agency

Build on NetPad with DEV.co software developers

NetPad is a strong fit for C# prototyping, LINQ testing, and learning. Conduct a proof-of-concept with your team's target databases and NuGet packages, verify the Electron vs. Tauri trade-offs for your deployment model, and confirm code intelligence quality matches your editor expectations.

Talk to DEV.co

Related open-source tools

Surfaced by semantic similarity across the DEV.co open-source index.

rustpad letterpad sqlectron

Related on DEV.co

Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.

Open-Source Databases AI Application Development Custom Software Development Talk to DEV.co

NetPad FAQ

Do I need Visual Studio or .NET installed to use NetPad?

You must install .NET SDK v6 or later. Visual Studio is not required. EF Core tools are optional but needed for database connections.

Can I run NetPad in a web browser?

NetPad can run in a web browser, but details on deployment, hosting, and browser compatibility are not clearly documented in the provided README.

What's the difference between Electron and Tauri (vNext) variants?

Both have feature parity. Tauri is lighter and uses fewer system resources; Electron is the current stable. Tauri (vNext) is planned to become the main package eventually.

Is NetPad suitable for team collaboration?

No built-in team features. Better suited for individual developers. Consider third-party version control or sharing mechanisms for collaboration.

Work with a software development agency

Adopting NetPad is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source databases software in production.

Evaluate NetPad for Your Development Workflow

Talk to DEV.co Schedule a Consultation