---
title: Getting started with ASP.NET Core MVC and Visual Studio for Mac
author: rick-anderson
description: Getting started with ASP.NET Core MVC and Visual Studio
keywords: ASP.NET Core,MVC,Visual Studio for Mac,Entity Framework
ms.author: riande
manager: wpickett
ms.date: 8/23/2017
ms.topic: article
ms.technology: aspnet
ms.prod: asp.net-core
uid: tutorials/first-mvc-app-mac/start-mvc
---
# Getting started with ASP.NET Core MVC and Visual Studio for Mac

By [Rick Anderson](https://twitter.com/RickAndMSFT)

This tutorial teaches you the basics of building an ASP.NET Core MVC web app using [Visual Studio for Mac](https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/visual-studio-mac/). [!INCLUDE[consider RP](../../includes/razor.md)]

There are 3 versions of this tutorial:

* macOS: [Build an ASP.NET Core MVC app with Visual Studio for Mac](xref:tutorials/first-mvc-app-mac/start-mvc)
* Windows: [Build an ASP.NET Core MVC app with Visual Studio](xref:tutorials/first-mvc-app/start-mvc)
* Linux, macOS, and Windows: [Build an ASP.NET Core MVC app with Visual Studio Code](xref:tutorials/first-mvc-app-xplat/start-mvc)

## Prerequisites

This tutorial requires the [.NET Core 2.0.0 SDK](https://www.microsoft.com/net/core) or later. See [the pdf](https://github.com/aspnet/Docs/blob/master/aspnetcore/tutorials/first-mvc-app-mac/start-mvc/8-23-17.pdf) for the ASP.NET Core 1.1 version.

Install the following:

- [.NET Core 2.0.0 SDK](https://www.microsoft.com/net/core) or later
- [Visual Studio for Mac](https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/visual-studio-mac/)

## Create a web app

From Visual Studio, select **File > New Solution**.

![macOS New solution](../first-web-api-mac/_static/sln.png)

Select **.NET Core App >  ASP.NET Core > Web App > Next**.

![macOS New project dialog](start-mvc/1.png)

Name the project **MvcMovie**, and then select **Create**.

![macOS New project dialog](start-mvc/2.png)

### Launch the app

In Visual Studio, select **Run > Start Without Debugging** to launch the app. Visual Studio starts [IIS Express](https://docs.microsoft.com/iis/extensions/introduction-to-iis-express/iis-express-overview), launches a browser, and navigates to `http://localhost:port`, where *port* is a randomly chosen port number.

![Browser with new project](start-mvc/b1.png)

* The address bar shows `localhost:port#` and not something like `example.com`. That's because `localhost` is the standard hostname for your local computer. When Visual Studio creates a web project, a random port is used for the web server. When you run the app, you'll see a different port number.
* You can launch the app in debug or non-debug mode from the **Run** menu.

The default template gives you **Home, About** and **Contact** links. The browser image above doesn't show these links. Depending on the size of your browser, you might need to click the navigation icon to show them.

![Browser with New project](start-mvc/b2.png)

In the next part of this tutorial, you learn about MVC and start writing some code.

>[!div class="step-by-step"]
[Next](adding-controller.md)