2 - Open a DOS (Command Prompt) window and navigate using CD commands to the folder where you saved your program file.
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PATH %PATH%;C:\WINNT\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322
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This allows your computer to find the VB.NET compiler program, VBC.EXE. If you have a different Operating System or a different version of .NET, you might have to make minor adjustments. To verify the right PATH for your computer, Search for VBC.EXE and use whatever PATH it's in.
3 - Compile your program! Use this command:
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VBC /r:Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll testconsole.vb
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4 - Run your program! Just enter the name.
The illustration at the top shows what the process looks like.
There's a tendency for people to dismiss Console apps because "they're just DOS" - Don't Make That Mistake! The command prompt is a powerful environment that will outlive all of us. To prove it, here's a series of articles I wrote that makes heavy use of the native VBC compiler. (This is another article that might be a bit advanced if you're just starting.)
