If you're a relatively new .Net web developer we can walk you through a few things to help get you started on the right foot. If you're not a .Net developer already, we probably can't make you one by reading this chapter. In that case you would be best served by going through some .Net introductions or tutorials. Installing Your Microsoft SQL Server (Database) Environment We like to setup the database first. If you're licensed to use one of the paid versions of SQL Server go ahead and download that now. Otherwise you can download and use the free SQL Server Express version. Going through the installer can be an interesting experience. For the most part we've found you can typically use the default settings -- except for a few places. In those spots you really need to be careful and set things just right: Instance Configuration - On the Instance Configuration page, choose Default Instance with Instance ID: MSSQLSERVER (you can create a named instance if you want, but you might have to figure out your connection strings on your own). Feature Selection - On the Feature Selection page, you'll need at a minimum: Database Engine Services, Management Tools, and SQL Client Connectivity SDK. Database Engine Configuration - On the Database Engine Configuration page, make sure to choose Mixed Mode. This is important! If you get weird errors later when trying build the Rock Database for the first time, an incorrect setting here might be the problem. Also, enter some password for the SA account. Then, click Add Current User, and make sure it adds your account. By the way, you probably won't ever really need to login as SA if you do the Add Current User. Then press Next, and click thru the rest of the OK and Next buttons until the install is complete. You will need to create a SQL Server Login called "RockUser". (You can actually use any name you wish but we recommend RockUser to keep things simple for now.) You will need to use SQL Server Management Studio do to this (which would have been installed when you did the Install SQL Server step, or if you add the Management Tools feature to an existing SQL Server install. After logging in, in the Object Explorer window, navigate to localhost | Security | Logins. Next, right-click on Logins and click "New Login...".New Login 2. On the Login - New page, put RockUser as the Login name and choose SQL Server authentication. For the password you'll probably want to uncheck the "Enforce password" and "User must change password" checkboxes. 3. While still on the Login - New page, select "Server Roles" then check "dbcreator" and "public". Now you can press OK, and your SQL Server RockUser login is created.Login Properties, Server Roles Installing Visual Studio If you're licensed to use one of the paid versions of Visual Studio go ahead and download it now. Otherwise you can download the free "Visual Studio Community" version. If you run into any trouble Microsoft even has a Live Chat support to assist you. Visual Studio Workloads Run the Visual Studio Installer and select "Modify" on your installation. Then install these workloads: "ASP.NET and web development""Node.js development"(optional) ".NET desktop development" Visual Studio Workloads Troubleshooting If Visual Studio crashes upon running, make sure the Visual Studio "Start" > "Web Browser" has a browser selected. Visual Studio Debug Web Browser Setting Visual Studio Debug with missing Web Browser Running Once you have Visual Studio up and running, you're all set to open up the Rock solution file. Once you open that you'll want to adjust your web.ConnectionStrings.config file as described in the Setup Appendix.