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.NET CLI

Introduction​

The .NET Command Line Interface (CLI) is a cross-platform tool that allows developers to create, build, test, run, and publish .NET applications directly from the command line. It's an essential tool for .NET developers as it provides a fast and efficient way to work with .NET projects without requiring a full-fledged Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

Whether you're working with C#, F#, or Visual Basic, the .NET CLI provides a consistent experience across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it an incredibly versatile tool for modern development workflows.

Getting Started with .NET CLI​

Installation​

Before using the .NET CLI, you need to install the .NET SDK (Software Development Kit). You can download it from the official .NET website.

To verify your installation, open a terminal or command prompt and run:

bash
dotnet --version

This command should display the installed .NET SDK version:

7.0.306

Basic Structure of .NET CLI Commands​

All .NET CLI commands follow this pattern:

dotnet [command] [arguments] [options]

Where:

  • dotnet is the command-line driver
  • command is the .NET CLI command you want to execute
  • arguments are specific to the command
  • options are flags that modify the command's behavior

Essential .NET CLI Commands​

Getting Help​

One of the most useful commands to remember is the help command:

bash
dotnet --help

This displays a list of available commands and brief descriptions. You can also get help for specific commands:

bash
dotnet new --help

Creating New Projects​

The new command creates new projects, configuration files, and solution files based on templates:

bash
dotnet new console -n MyFirstApp

This command creates a new console application named "MyFirstApp". The output will look something like:

The template "Console App" was created successfully.

Processing post-creation actions...
Running 'dotnet restore' on MyFirstApp\MyFirstApp.csproj...
  Determining projects to restore...
  Restored MyFirstApp\MyFirstApp.csproj (in 112 ms).
Restore succeeded.

Common project templates include:

  • console - Console application
  • classlib - Class library
  • web - ASP.NET Core empty web application
  • webapi - ASP.NET Core Web API
  • mvc - ASP.NET Core Model-View-Controller application
  • razor - Razor Page application

To see all available templates:

bash
dotnet new list

Building Projects​

To compile your application:

bash
dotnet build

A successful build looks like:

Microsoft (R) Build Engine version 17.6.8+c70978d4d for .NET
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

  Determining projects to restore...
  All projects are up-to-date for restore.
  MyFirstApp -> C:\Projects\MyFirstApp\bin\Debug\net7.0\MyFirstApp.dll

Build succeeded.
    0 Warning(s)
    0 Error(s)

Time Elapsed 00:00:01.57

Running Projects​

To run your application:

bash
dotnet run

If your project has multiple files, you can specify the project:

bash
dotnet run --project MyFirstApp.csproj

Publishing Projects​

To create a production-ready version of your application:

bash
dotnet publish -c Release

The -c Release flag specifies a Release configuration, which optimizes the code for production use.

Managing Solutions and Projects​

Creating Solutions​

A solution is a container for organizing related projects:

bash
dotnet new sln -n MySolution

Adding Projects to Solutions​

After creating a solution, you can add projects:

bash
dotnet sln MySolution.sln add MyFirstApp/MyFirstApp.csproj

Managing NuGet Packages​

To add a package reference:

bash
dotnet add package Newtonsoft.Json

To restore packages for a project:

bash
dotnet restore

Practical Examples​

Example 1: Creating and Running a Simple Console Application​

Let's create a simple "Hello World" application:

bash
dotnet new console -n HelloWorld
cd HelloWorld

Examine the Program.cs file, which should contain:

csharp
// See https://aka.ms/new-console-template for more information
Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");

Run the application:

bash
dotnet run

Output:

Hello, World!

Example 2: Working with a Multi-Project Solution​

Let's create a solution with a class library and a console app that uses it:

bash
# Create a solution
dotnet new sln -n LibraryDemo

# Create a class library
dotnet new classlib -n MathLibrary
cd MathLibrary

# Edit the class library to add functionality

Now modify the Class1.cs file in the MathLibrary project:

csharp
namespace MathLibrary
{
    public class Calculator
    {
        public int Add(int a, int b)
        {
            return a + b;
        }
        
        public int Subtract(int a, int b)
        {
            return a - b;
        }
    }
}

Continue with creating the console application:

bash
cd ..
dotnet new console -n CalcApp

# Add projects to the solution
dotnet sln LibraryDemo.sln add MathLibrary/MathLibrary.csproj CalcApp/CalcApp.csproj

# Add a reference from CalcApp to MathLibrary
dotnet add CalcApp/CalcApp.csproj reference MathLibrary/MathLibrary.csproj

Now modify the Program.cs file in the CalcApp project:

csharp
using MathLibrary;

// Create a calculator instance
Calculator calc = new Calculator();

// Use the calculator
int sum = calc.Add(5, 3);
int difference = calc.Subtract(10, 4);

// Display results
Console.WriteLine($"5 + 3 = {sum}");
Console.WriteLine($"10 - 4 = {difference}");

Run the application:

bash
cd CalcApp
dotnet run

Output:

5 + 3 = 8
10 - 4 = 6

Example 3: Creating a Simple Web API​

Let's create a basic Web API:

bash
dotnet new webapi -n SimpleApi
cd SimpleApi

Examine the generated code, then run the API:

bash
dotnet run

You'll see output showing the API is running, typically at https://localhost:5001 and http://localhost:5000. You can access the Swagger UI for the API by navigating to https://localhost:5001/swagger in your browser.

Advanced .NET CLI Features​

Global Tools​

The .NET CLI supports global tools, which are special NuGet packages that can be installed and run from any directory:

bash
dotnet tool install -g dotnet-ef

This installs the Entity Framework Core command-line tools globally.

Creating Custom Templates​

You can create your own templates for use with dotnet new:

bash
dotnet new -i <PATH_TO_YOUR_TEMPLATE>

Common Workflows with .NET CLI​

Testing​

Create a test project:

bash
dotnet new xunit -n MyTests

Run tests:

bash
dotnet test

Continuous Integration​

In CI environments, you often need to build and test without user interaction:

bash
dotnet build --no-incremental --no-restore
dotnet test --no-build

Summary​

The .NET CLI is a powerful, cross-platform tool that simplifies the development process for .NET applications. It allows you to:

  • Create new projects from templates
  • Build, run, and publish applications
  • Manage solutions and projects
  • Work with NuGet packages
  • And much more!

Learning to use the CLI effectively can significantly improve your productivity as a .NET developer, especially when working in environments where a full IDE is not available or when automating build processes.

Additional Resources​

Exercises​

  1. Create a new console application and modify it to accept command-line arguments.
  2. Create a solution with three projects: a class library, a console app, and a test project.
  3. Install a popular NuGet package (like Newtonsoft.Json) and use it in your application.
  4. Create a web API and add a new controller with custom endpoints.
  5. Experiment with different build configurations (Debug vs Release) and observe the differences in output.

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