I want to create Azure Functions on my Windows device, but which tools and extensions do I need to install?
 |
| Write Python or C# in Visual Studio code to create Azure Functions |
Solution
In this blogpost we will show you which tools you need to install to create an Azure Function with either .NET or with Python code. The screenshots are of the current versions at the time of writing, but you might just want to take the latest stable version when downloading. In the upcoming Azure Functions posts we will create some basic Hello World functions to show the basics of creating and deploying your first Function. After that we will show some more useful functions for the Data Warehousing developers. For example to convert Excel or XML files to an easier readable format for Azure Data Factory or Synapse Polybase: CSV.
1) Download and install Visual Studio Code
For this blog post we will be using Visual Studio Code instead of the regular Visual Studio. Where this 'regular' Visual Studio is a so called Integrated Development Environment (IDE), the newer Visual Studio Code is more a lightweight source code editor. Ideal for some coding with PowerShell, C# or Python. Use the link below to download Visual Studio Code and then install it.
https://code.visualstudio.com/download
 |
| Installing Visual Studio Code |
2) Install extensions for Python
If you want to use Python for your Azure Functions you need to install Python for Windows and the Python extension for Visual Studio code. First download and install Python for windows 64bit. The default is a 32 bit version, but you can also find the 64 bit version slightly down the page (search for Windows x86-64 executable installer).
https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
 |
| Install Python for Windows 64bit |
Then install the Python extension for Visual Studio code. When clicking on the install button on the website it will ask to open it with Visual Studio Code. Within Visual Studio Code you have to click on the install button again. After installation it will ask to point to the previously installed Python interpreter.
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python
 |
| Install Python extension for Visual Studio code |
Note: You can also use the Extensions icon in the left menu of Visual Studio code to search for this specific extension.
There is one last installation required: Linter Pylint, but Visual Studio Code will ask for it when creating your first Azure Function with Python code: Linter pylint is not installed.
 |
| Install Linter pylint for Visual Studio Code |
 |
| Installing Linter pylint within Visual Studio Code |
3) Install extentions for C#
If you want to create Azure Functions with C# then you first need to install .Net Core SDK. Make sure to install the version to Build apps (Run Apps is not sufficient). The minimum version is .NET Framework 4.7.2 or .NET Core 2.2, but try the most recent version depending on your needs and the Runtime version of Azure Functions. If you forget this then you will recieve an error while trying to create a C# Function.
 |
| Receive an error when have not installed .NET Core SDK |
Furthermore you should install the C# extension from Microsoft. This extension is not mandatory, but will be recommended when creating your first C# Azure Function.
 |
| Install C# extension for Visual Studio code |
Note: You can also use the Extensions icon in the left menu of Visual Studio code to search for this specific extension.
4) Install extensions for Azure Functions
Next extension is Azure Functions for Visual Studio code. When clicking on the install button on the website it will ask to open it in Visual Studio Code. Within Visual Studio Code you have to click on the install button again.
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-azuretools.vscode-azurefunctions
 |
| Azure Functions for Visual Studio Code |
Note: You can also use the Extensions icon in the left menu of Visual Studio code to search for this specific extension.
5) Install Azure Functions Core Tools
To make you able to debug the Azure Function code locally we need Azure Functions Core Tools, but to install that we first need to install Node Package Manager (NPM) which is included in nodejs (more detailed info here).
https://nodejs.org/en/download/
 |
| Install NodeJS with NPM |
Last step of this installation is to open a Command Promt (or PowerShell promt) in Administrator mode to install Azure Functions Core Tools. With the command npm -v you can check your npm version. Now use the following command for the installation (more detailed info here):
npm i -g azure-functions-core-tools@3 --unsafe-perm true
 |
| Install Azure Functions Core Tools via command prompt |
Conclusion
In this introduction post you read which tools and extensions to install to create Azure Functions. Quite a lot installations, but manageable when following the steps above. We focused on the most popular languages (in the DWH scene) C# and Python, but there are way more languages to choose from like Java(script) or PowerShell. Each with its own extensions.
As mentioned before the next post about Azure Functions will be about deploying your first simple function with Python or C#. After that we will focus on the more functional Azure Functions solutions, but with a focus on the DWH scene. Also bringing Azure Key Vault to the game is a must for Azure Functions.
