---
title: Configure a development environment
slug: cms-12/docs/set-up-a-development-environment
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-10T15:56:02.000Z
---

Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) is installed with templates through Visual Studio or the dotnet command-line interface tool, providing everything you need to get a website up and running and start developing.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
See the [Optimizely system requirements](https://world.optimizely.com/documentation/system-requirements/) for detailed production and development environment requirements.
:::

## Install Visual Studio

Visit [Microsoft Visual Studio](https://www.visualstudio.com/free-developer-offers/) to download a suitable version if you do not already have Visual Studio installed.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
Visual Studio 2022 or Visual Studio Code is required for developing ASP.NET 6 applications. Also, if you are [upgrading to CMS 12](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/content-management-system/docs/upgrade-to-cms12), see [Upgrade assistant](docId\:kIE_2cy5bUjS82B_PBkgH).
:::

## Install the Optimizely templates

```shell
dotnet new -i EPiServer.Templates
```

## Install the Episerver CLI Tool

```shell
dotnet tool install EPiServer.Net.Cli --global --add-source https://nuget.optimizely.com/feed/packages.svc/
```

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
The latest version of the EPiServer.Templates and CLI Tool require .NET 6.
:::

## Licenses

A license is not required when running on `localhost` or `domainname.local`.

Eventually, you will need a commercial Optimizely license for testing and production environments. You can order a time-limited demo license for evaluation purposes from the [Optimizely License Center](https://license.optimizely.com).

## Exploring advanced features

When you want to explore more advanced features such as multi-site and language support and test deployment locally, you will need a more production-like development environment using [Internet Information Services (IIS)](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48264).

When you test deployment and backup and restore databases, you should install [SQL Express or SQL Server Developer Edition and Management Studio](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/sql-server/sql-server-downloads).