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For a live-coding demo, make the code easy to read, use shortcuts your hands already know, transfer a verified setup to the demo machine, and rehearse Rider’s save and recovery behavior. JetBrains documents Presentation mode for audience-facing code, settings sync and export for moving preferences, and automatic saves tied to common IDE actions. The steps below reflect Rider 2026.2 documentation; exact menu labels can change between versions.
Make the code readable with Presentation mode
Rider’s Presentation mode is designed for showing code to an audience: it expands the editor, increases the font size, and hides other interface elements. You can reveal those elements again with shortcuts or through the main menu. Rehearse both entering the mode and bringing back anything you need before the demo begins. JetBrains: IDE viewing modes.
Do not confuse Presentation mode with Distraction-free mode. Distraction-free mode centers the current source file and hides tool windows, toolbars, and tabs; Presentation mode specifically enlarges the text for an audience. Full Screen is another distinct viewing mode. Choose the one that supports the task you will actually perform on screen.
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Choose a keymap your hands already know
Rider offers several predefined keymaps. JetBrains recommends the Visual Studio 2022 keymap for Windows users coming from plain Visual Studio, and IntelliJ keymaps for people accustomed to IDEs built on the IntelliJ platform. Rider’s shortcut documentation also lists choices such as VS Code and ReSharper. On macOS, choose a keymap with the macOS suffix when following JetBrains’ recommendation for that platform.
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If a shortcut needs changing, customize a copy rather than altering the predefined map. Rider creates a copy when you change a predefined keymap, and custom keymaps can be shared. Before presenting a shortcut, confirm it works with the selected keymap and operating system; a shortcut remembered from a different setup may not behave the same way. JetBrains: Keymap.
Carry a known setup to the demo machine
Rider provides two ways to move settings between instances: Backup and Sync, which is account-based, and export/import using a ZIP archive. Backup and Sync can include themes, keymaps, color schemes, system and UI settings, editor settings, code completion, live templates, code styles, and enabled or disabled plugin states. Export and import cover selected settings too, including additional settings such as debugger and Git configuration. Choose the method that suits the machines and settings involved, then check the destination Rider instance rather than assuming the transfer produced the exact setup you expect.
- For account-based sync: Configure Backup and Sync and select the settings categories you want to carry over.
- For a portable archive: Export the selected settings to a ZIP, move it to the demo machine, and import it into Rider there.
- Verify the result: Open the project on the target machine and confirm the theme, keymap, editor behavior, and relevant tools before rehearsing.
JetBrains: IDE settings backup and sync.
Keep plugins purposeful
Review installed plugins ahead of time and disable ones the demo does not need. Rider can install plugins from its Marketplace or from a local ZIP or JAR archive, and lets you enable, disable, update, or remove installed plugins. JetBrains says disabling unnecessary plugins can increase performance, but does not establish a particular improvement or guarantee. Avoid changing plugin state just before presenting unless you have tested the resulting setup. JetBrains: Plugins.
Understand saving and recovery before you start
JetBrains states: “JetBrains Rider automatically saves changes that you make in your files.” Its documentation lists compiling, running, debugging, version-control operations, closing files or projects, and quitting among events that trigger saves. Options can also save when you switch applications or after a configured idle period. Review these settings and practice the actions you expect to use during the demo. JetBrains: Save and revert changes.
Rider’s documentation says changes can be found in Local History, which can help recover a prior file state. Treat that as a recovery aid, not a complete backup or a replacement for version control: use version control to manage project history and shared work.
Rehearse the setup, not just the code
Rider’s first-run setup asks you to choose a theme, color scheme, and keymap, and allows unnecessary bundled plugins to be disabled. These choices form a useful baseline, whether you are configuring Rider for the first time or checking an existing installation. JetBrains: Run JetBrains Rider for the first time.
- Open the project on the machine you will present from and confirm it builds in its current state.
- Enter Presentation mode and verify that the code is legible from the audience’s viewing distance; practice revealing and hiding interface elements.
- Run through the exact shortcuts and UI actions you plan to demonstrate using the selected keymap.
- Make a harmless edit, trigger a save event you expect to use, and confirm you can locate the intended file state in Local History.
- Check that the required plugins and tools are available and that unused plugins are not part of the setup.
Recover settings only when needed
If a settings change leaves Rider in a bad state, its documentation describes restoring directory-based settings from a backup directory or an exported ZIP. Resetting directory-based settings creates a backup directory. Layer-based settings are stored separately; JetBrains advises copying relevant .DotSettings files before resetting those layers. Use the documented restore or reset route that matches the type of setting involved. JetBrains: Restore default settings.
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