# Installation

This guide will help you install the Market Data C#/.NET SDK and configure it for your project.

|                       |                                                                              |
|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Package**           | [`MarketDataApp`](https://www.nuget.org/packages/MarketDataApp) on NuGet.org |
| **Target frameworks** | `net8.0`, `net10.0`                                                          |
| **License**           | MIT                                                                          |
| **Source**            | [MarketDataApp/sdk-csharp](https://github.com/MarketDataApp/sdk-csharp)      |

## Prerequisites

- **.NET 8.0 or newer.** The package multi-targets `net8.0` and `net10.0` (both LTS releases), so projects on either runtime get a native build.
- The [.NET SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download) command line, or an IDE such as Visual Studio, Rider, or VS Code with the C# Dev Kit.

## Basic Installation

Add the SDK as a NuGet package reference. From your project directory:

```bash
dotnet add package MarketDataApp
```

`dotnet add package` resolves the newest stable version for you and writes it into your project file.

If you maintain the reference by hand, take the version number from the package's [NuGet page](https://www.nuget.org/packages/MarketDataApp) or the [releases list](https://github.com/MarketDataApp/sdk-csharp/releases) — versions are derived from git tags, so there is no fixed number to copy from the docs:

```xml
<ItemGroup>
  <!-- Replace with the version shown on NuGet or the releases page. -->
  <PackageReference Include="MarketDataApp" Version="1.0.0" />
</ItemGroup>
```

> [!NOTE]
> The NuGet **package id**, the assembly, and the root **namespace** are all `MarketDataApp` — you install `MarketDataApp` and then write `using MarketDataApp;`. Endpoint-specific types live under `MarketDataApp.Stocks`, `MarketDataApp.Options`, `MarketDataApp.Funds`, `MarketDataApp.Markets`, and `MarketDataApp.Utilities`.

## Requirements & Dependencies

The SDK stays on the standard Microsoft stack, with one small helper:

- **No third-party HTTP client.** It uses the built-in `System.Net.Http.HttpClient`, and can either create its own or use one your application manages (including clients from `IHttpClientFactory`, via `Microsoft.Extensions.Http`).
- **`System.Text.Json`** for JSON decoding — no Newtonsoft dependency.
- **`Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration`** (with the environment-variables and user-secrets providers), **`Microsoft.Extensions.Logging`**, and **`Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection`** for configuration binding, structured logging, and the `AddMarketDataClient` service-collection extension.
- **`DotNetEnv`** to load an optional `.env` file from the working directory.

## Updating the SDK

To move to the latest stable version:

```bash
dotnet add package MarketDataApp
```

The SDK follows [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/) from `1.0.0`, so a `1.x` update never contains a breaking change. Review the [release notes](https://github.com/MarketDataApp/sdk-csharp/releases) before moving to a new major version.

## Next Steps

After installation, you'll need to:

1. Set up your [authentication token](https://www.marketdata.app/docs/sdk/csharp/authentication).
2. Learn about the [client](https://www.marketdata.app/docs/sdk/csharp/client) and how to make your first API requests.
3. Configure [Settings](https://www.marketdata.app/docs/sdk/csharp/settings) to customize output format, date format, and other universal parameters.