> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/d2phap/ImageGlass/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started with Development

> Set up your development environment for contributing to ImageGlass

## Prerequisites

Before you start developing ImageGlass, ensure you have the following installed:

### Required Software

* **Windows 11** (recommended for development)
* **Visual Studio 2026** with the following workloads:
  * .NET desktop development
  * Desktop development with C++
* **.NET 10 SDK** (target framework: `net10.0-windows10.0.17763.0`)
* **Git** for version control

### Optional Tools

* **WebView2 Runtime** (64-bit v119.0.2151 or later) - Required for WebView2-based features
* **Windows Terminal** - For a better command-line experience
* **Visual Studio Code** - For editing markdown and configuration files

## Clone the Repository

Clone the ImageGlass repository from GitHub:

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/d2phap/ImageGlass.git
cd ImageGlass
```

The repository uses two main branches:

* `develop` - Contains the latest development commits
* `prod` - Contains the final stable release

<Note>
  Always base your pull requests on the `develop` branch, not `prod`.
</Note>

## Project Structure

The ImageGlass solution is organized as follows:

```
ImageGlass/
├── Source/
│   ├── ImageGlass/           # Main application
│   ├── igcmd/                # Command-line utility
│   └── Components/
│       ├── ImageGlass.Base/      # Core functionality and utilities
│       ├── ImageGlass.UI/        # UI components and controls
│       ├── ImageGlass.Viewer/    # Image viewer canvas
│       ├── ImageGlass.Gallery/   # Image gallery/thumbnail viewer
│       ├── ImageGlass.Settings/  # Settings management
│       ├── ImageGlass.WebP/      # WebP codec support
│       └── ImageGlass.WinTouch/  # Touch input handling
├── Setup/
│   └── Assets/
│       ├── Themes/           # Application themes
│       └── Language/         # Language packs
├── Assets/                   # Application resources
└── Tools/                    # Build and development tools
```

## Open the Solution

1. Navigate to the `Source` directory
2. Open the solution in Visual Studio 2026:
   * Look for the `.csproj` files in the `Source/ImageGlass` directory
   * The main entry point is `ImageGlass.csproj`

<Warning>
  The solution targets **x64** and **ARM64** platforms. Make sure you select the appropriate platform configuration before building.
</Warning>

## Configure Build Settings

ImageGlass supports three build configurations:

* **Debug** - For development with debugging symbols
* **Release** - Optimized build for testing
* **Publish\_Release** - Final production build

### Platform Targets

* **x64** - For 64-bit Intel/AMD processors
* **ARM64** - For ARM64 processors

Select your platform in Visual Studio:

1. Go to **Build** > **Configuration Manager**
2. Select the desired configuration (e.g., Debug)
3. Choose the platform (e.g., x64)

## Build the Solution

### Using Visual Studio

1. Open the solution in Visual Studio 2026
2. Select **Build** > **Build Solution** (or press `Ctrl+Shift+B`)
3. Wait for the build to complete

The build output will be in:

```
Source/ImageGlass/bin/<Configuration>/<Platform>/
```

### Build Requirements from Project Files

Based on the `.csproj` files, ImageGlass requires:

* **Target Framework**: `net10.0-windows10.0.17763.0`
* **Windows SDK**: 10.0.17763.0 or later
* **Language Version**: Latest C# features
* **Unsafe Code**: Enabled (required for performance-critical operations)

## Run ImageGlass

After a successful build:

1. Set `ImageGlass` as the startup project
2. Press `F5` to run with debugging, or `Ctrl+F5` to run without debugging
3. The application will launch and you can test your changes

## Development Tips

### IntelliSense and Code Analysis

ImageGlass uses several code analyzers:

* **IDisposableAnalyzers** - Ensures proper disposal of resources
* **Microsoft.VisualStudio.Threading.Analyzers** - Detects threading issues

### Debug Configuration

The project uses **embedded** debug symbols for all configurations, which makes debugging easier without separate PDB files.

### High DPI Support

ImageGlass is configured with:

* `ApplicationHighDpiMode`: PerMonitorV2
* `ForceDesignerDpiUnaware`: true

Be mindful of DPI scaling when working on UI components.

## Next Steps

* Review the [Architecture](/development/architecture) to understand the codebase structure
* Read the [Contributing Guide](/development/contributing-guide) for contribution guidelines
* Check out [Building from Source](/development/building-from-source) for advanced build scenarios
* Learn about [Translations](/development/translations) if you want to help localize ImageGlass

## Common Issues

### Build Errors

If you encounter build errors:

1. **Ensure .NET 10 SDK is installed**: Check with `dotnet --list-sdks`
2. **Clean and rebuild**: Go to **Build** > **Clean Solution**, then rebuild
3. **Check NuGet packages**: Right-click solution > **Restore NuGet Packages**
4. **Verify platform target**: Make sure you're building for x64 or ARM64, not AnyCPU

### Missing Dependencies

ImageGlass uses several NuGet packages that are automatically restored. If restoration fails:

```bash theme={null}
dotnet restore Source/ImageGlass/ImageGlass.csproj
```

## Getting Help

If you need help:

* [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/d2phap/ImageGlass/issues) - Report bugs or request features
* [ImageGlass Discord](https://discord.gg/tWjbynH2X8) - Chat with the community
* Email: [phap@imageglass.org](mailto:phap@imageglass.org)