Weekly .NET Roundup: Tools, Blazor, MAUI, and VS Code MCP

by TechHub

This week features guides and platform enhancements in .NET, Blazor, .NET MAUI, and VS Code. Developers have new resources for building .NET CLI tools, web and mobile apps, and more secure and automated workflows. Further MCP and AI improvements in VS Code support efficient, streamlined daily development.

This Week's Overview

.NET Ecosystem: Tooling, Web, and Cross-Platform Updates

Continuing last week’s exploration of .NET tooling, Andrew Lock’s article covers how to create robust .NET tools, including tips on global vs. local installations, repeatable manifests, multi-targeting for compatibility, RollForward for stable versioning, and integration with CI/test automation. Developers will learn how to set up tools efficiently, manage versions, and avoid common CI issues. The Blazor Internship Demo Fest highlights a new media component and improved navigation state, simplifying multimedia usage and app navigation in Blazor. These insights reinforce best practices in UI design and community engagement. .NET MAUI’s Community Standup introduces Release Candidate 1, improved iPhone support, and new cross-platform features, with practical recommendations for mobile app delivery. Q&A and hands-on content help developers adapt to changing mobile targets—building on prior updates to release cycles and architectural patterns.

VS Code and MCP: Workflow Automation and AI Integration

Reflecting last week’s work with MCP and Playwright, VS Code now has native MCP server support, allowing for secure authentication and automation of end-to-end tests. Developers are able to run protocol automation directly from their IDE alongside traditional code and CI activities. The integration with Playwright and GitHub MCP further enhances real-world automation. Kent C. Dodds explains how automation, including authentication to AI coding support, fits into everyday development—demonstrating the shift from initial protocol configuration to stable production usage.