The Algorand Visual Studio Extension is a free, open-source add-on for Microsoft Visual Studio on Windows, designed for C# developers who write Algorand smart contracts. It compiles C# code to TEAL, the language Algorand smart contracts run on, so you can build contracts without writing TEAL by hand.
The source code is public on GitHub, and the last code update was made on August 9, 2024. The TEAL-specific big integer type is deprecated and replaced by System.Numerics.BigInteger, so existing projects may need changes. If you already know C# and want to build, compile and test Algorand contracts on a Windows machine, this is the tool to evaluate.
What Is Algorand Smart Contract Development?
Algorand is a blockchain network, and smart contracts are programs that run on it. Developers write the logic of a contract, then convert it into a form the network can execute. On Algorand, that executable form is TEAL, a stack-based language that looks more like assembly than application code, so the step between your idea and the executable is a compilation step.
For many developers, TEAL is hard to read and easy to get wrong. A small mistake in how values move through the stack can break a contract in ways that are difficult to trace. That is why higher-level tools exist: they let you express the same logic in a language you already know, then produce TEAL automatically.
The Algorand Visual Studio Extension takes that approach for C# developers. You write contract code in C#, and the extension handles TEAL compilation inside your editor. The workflow feels closer to building a normal .NET application than writing low-level scripts by hand. Understanding the compiled output still matters, because you need to check exactly what the network will run.
Who Should Use This Extension?
The extension fits developers who already work in C# and .NET and want to build on Algorand without switching languages. A common case is a team with an existing .NET back end that wants to add contract logic to the same solution, sharing types and conventions across both sides.
Another good fit is a developer who spends significant time testing contract behavior. The included Gherkin-style test project uses SpecFlow, so scenarios can be written in plain language and reviewed by people who do not read code. That makes it easier to agree on what a contract should do before it reaches a shared environment.
Students and newcomers to Algorand can also use it to learn how contract logic maps onto the network's model, as long as they read the compiled TEAL alongside their C# code. The tool is less suited to developers who prefer other languages, because its focus is C# and .NET from start to finish.
What the BigInteger Change Means for Your Code
Algorand's TEAL-specific big integer type has been deprecated and replaced with System.Numerics.BigInteger, the standard .NET type for arbitrarily large integers. For a developer, this is a practical improvement: you can use a type you already know, and your arithmetic reads like ordinary C#.
The change still affects existing projects. Any code that refers to the older TEAL-specific type will need to be updated. Start by searching your solution for references to that type, then replace them with System.Numerics.BigInteger where the logic calls for large integers.
After each change, run your test suite. Scenario tests catch problems that compile without error, such as unexpected results from casting between numeric types. Review the compiled TEAL for the affected functions as well, since a type change can alter the generated code. Keeping a short record of what you changed makes the update easier to review with colleagues.
Key features
C# to TEAL compilation
Shared logic with SmartContractLibrary
Broad support for native numeric types
Standard C# types with implicit ABI encoding
Gherkin-style test project
Restructured source code
Public source in one repository
Supported coins
The project documentation references Algorand and Komodo as networks. Since the extension is built for Algorand smart contract development, Algorand is the core focus, and the Komodo reference appears in the documentation as a related network.
How to install Algorand Visual Studio Extension on Windows
- 1
Get the installer from an official source
Go to the official project page or the GitHub Releases page for the Algorand Visual Studio Extension. Download only from the official website or those GitHub Releases, and avoid mirror sites, file-sharing links and copies posted in forums or chat groups.
- 2
Verify the file before running it
If the release publishes a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compute the hash of your downloaded file with a standard tool and compare it with the value the project lists. Do not run the file if the values do not match, and download it again from the official source.
- 3
Run the installer or build the Windows package
Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Close Visual Studio before installing if the installer asks you to. If you only have source code, building it is a separate developer task that requires build tools, so use the ready-made package unless you plan to modify the extension.
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Confirm the extension loads
Open Visual Studio and check that the extension appears in the installed extensions list. Then open or create a C# project and confirm that the included test project loads without errors. If something fails, check the project's repository for known issues before changing your environment.
System requirements
- Windows, with Microsoft Visual Studio as the host environment for the extension
How to use Algorand Visual Studio Extension
The extension runs inside Visual Studio, so the workflow happens in your normal development environment. The steps below describe a typical path for writing and checking a small contract.
- Create or open a C# project for your Algorand contract, or start from the included test project to see how the pieces fit together.
- Organize contract logic into classes that use the supported numeric types, and avoid binary floating-point types such as float and double.
- Move shared helper logic into static methods and include them through SmartContractLibrary, so the same routines can be reused across contracts.
- Build the project to compile your C# code into TEAL.
- Open the generated TEAL output and read through the functions you changed, checking how values move through the stack.
- Write Gherkin-style scenarios in the test project that describe the expected behavior, then run them and fix any failing cases.
- Test your contract on a test network before any real deployment, and keep a record of the versions of the extension and tools you used.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so you can read the code that does the compilation
- Lets C# developers write Algorand smart contracts without writing TEAL by hand
- Supports most native C# numeric types, including decimal, with casting between them
- Includes a Gherkin-style SpecFlow test project for scenario-based testing
- Shared logic can be placed in static methods through SmartContractLibrary
- Source has been restructured for easier maintenance and testing
- The last code update was made on August 9, 2024, so check recent activity before relying on it for new work
- The TEAL-specific big integer type is deprecated, and older code will need changes
- Binary floating-point types such as float and double are not supported
- SmartContractLibrary documentation is still to come
- The license is still being decided
- Its focus on C# and Visual Studio makes it a poor fit for developers who work in other languages or editors
Is Algorand Visual Studio Extension safe?
Download only from the official project page or its GitHub Releases page, and avoid third-party download sites. Before running the installer, verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature against the value the project publishes. Be aware that this extension is open source, so you can review the code on GitHub. Since the license is still being decided, do not assume you have permission to reuse code in commercial products. The TEAL-specific big integer type is deprecated, so update any code that depends on it. Check the latest version on the official website before installing, because the last code update dates from August 2024. Never enter a seed phrase or private key into any website or tool that asks for one.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/FrankSzendzielarz/AlgorandVisualStudio. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Several tools serve the Algorand developer community, but they solve different problems. AlgoKit is a command-line toolkit that covers many parts of the development workflow, while this extension focuses on writing and compiling contracts in C# inside Visual Studio. Algoml takes a different path: it is a domain-specific language that compiles into TEAL, so you learn a new syntax instead of using C#. For testing, Algojig is a tool for testing Algorand smart contracts, and Graviton is a TEAL blackbox testing toolkit. If your team already works in .NET, this extension keeps the language and editor consistent. If you want a broader toolchain or a language designed for contracts, the alternatives may fit better.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 9 Aug 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/FrankSzendzielarz/AlgorandVisualStudio
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Algorand Visual Studio Extension is free and open source, and its source code is available on GitHub. Because the license is still being decided, check the repository for the current terms before using the code in commercial work.
Yes. The extension supports Windows and is distributed as a Windows build or installer. It runs inside Microsoft Visual Studio, so you need Visual Studio on your Windows machine to write and compile contracts with it.
It can be, when you get it from the official project sources and verify the file. Download it from the official website or GitHub Releases, check the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and review the source code if you want to see how it works before installing.
You write Algorand smart contracts in C#, and the extension compiles that code to TEAL. The project is built around C#/.NET, so developers who already use those tools will find the workflow familiar.
You do not need to write TEAL by hand to use the extension. However, reading the compiled TEAL output helps you confirm that the contract does what you intended, especially when you change arithmetic or shared logic.
The TEAL-specific big integer type has been replaced with System.Numerics.BigInteger, a standard .NET type that developers already know. If your code uses the older type, update it to the new one and run your tests to confirm the results.
The project documentation references Algorand and Komodo as networks. The extension is built for Algorand smart contract development, so Algorand is the primary focus of its features and workflow.
AlgoKit is a command-line toolkit that covers many parts of Algorand development, while this extension focuses on C# compilation inside Visual Studio. Choose based on whether you want a broad command-line workflow or an IDE-centered workflow for C# contracts.
Verdict
The Algorand Visual Studio Extension is a good choice for C# and .NET developers who want to write Algorand smart contracts inside Visual Studio on Windows. It is free, open source and includes a practical test project, which helps teams review contract behavior before deployment. It is less suitable for developers who prefer other languages, or for teams that cannot wait for documentation and licensing details to be finalized. Before committing a project to it, review the recent activity in the repository and plan the migration away from the deprecated TEAL big integer type.