dotnet

Run, build, and manage .NET applications

TLDR

Initialize a new .NET project

$ dotnet new [template_short_name]

Restore NuGet packages

$ dotnet restore

Build and execute the .NET project in the current directory

$ dotnet run

Run a packaged dotnet application (only needs the runtime, the rest of the commands require the .NET Core SDK installed)

$ dotnet [path/to/application.dll]

new
    Initializes a new .NET project.

build
    Builds a .NET project.

run
    Runs a .NET application.

test
    Runs unit tests in a .NET project.

publish
    Publishes a .NET application for deployment.

add
    Adds a package reference or tool reference to a project.

remove
    Removes a package reference or tool reference from a project.

restore
    Restores dependencies specified in the project file.

nuget
    Provides commands for working with NuGet packages.

sdk-info
    Displays information about the installed .NET SDKs.

tool
    Installs, uninstalls, updates and runs tools.

--info
    Displays .NET information.

--version
    Displays the version of the .NET CLI.

DESCRIPTION

The .NET command-line interface (CLI) is a cross-platform toolchain for developing, building, running, and publishing .NET applications. It provides a common entry point for .NET development tasks, abstracting away complexities of the underlying platform and SDK.
The dotnet command serves as the driver for various .NET operations, including creating new projects, restoring dependencies, building applications, running tests, publishing deployments, and managing .NET SDK versions. It uses subcommands to execute a range of tasks.
It is an essential component of the .NET development workflow, enabling developers to easily manage their projects from the command line. The tool is designed for both interactive use and integration into automated build processes.

CAVEATS

Requires the .NET SDK to be installed on the system. The available commands and options may vary depending on the installed SDK version and project type.

TEMPLATES

The dotnet new command uses templates to generate different types of .NET projects, such as console applications, web APIs, class libraries, and more. You can list available templates using dotnet new list and install new templates using dotnet new install.

GLOBAL TOOLS

.NET global tools are console applications that are installed from NuGet packages and can be invoked from any directory on the system. They provide a way to extend the functionality of the .NET CLI.

HISTORY

The dotnet CLI was introduced with .NET Core 1.0 as part of the effort to create a cross-platform, open-source .NET runtime. It has evolved through subsequent .NET releases (.NET Core 2.x, .NET Core 3.x, .NET 5, .NET 6, .NET 7, .NET 8, etc.) with significant improvements in performance, features, and usability. It is now a core component of modern .NET development.