dotnet-build

name	dotnet-build
description	Build and test .NET projects using dotnet CLI or MSBuild. Use when the user asks to build, compile, run tests, or debug a .NET, C#, F#, .NET Core, or .NET Framework project, or when working with .sln, .csproj, or .fsproj files.

Build and test .NET

When to use

• User asks to "build", "compile", or "rebuild" a .sln or .csproj project
• User asks to run .NET tests or unit tests
• User mentions "msbuild", "dotnet build", "dotnet test", or "nuget restore"
• User references a .sln, .csproj, or .fsproj file
• User mentions "CI" in context of a .NET solution

Decision logic

1. Find the .sln file the user wants to build
2. Read the .sln file to determine the project type:
   • If project GUIDs use {FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC} (classic C#) and Visual Studio format without SDK-style projects → use .NET Framework workflow
   • If projects use SDK-style format (<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">) or target netcoreapp/net5+/net6+/net7+/net8+ → use .NET Core workflow
3. Use the appropriate build and test commands below

.NET Framework

setup

user defined function to build .NET Framework

# windows msbuild path
MSBUILD_FW_TOOL_PATH="/mnt/c/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/18/Professional"

# .NET Framework build function: restore nuget from the .nuget project folder then run msbuild from windows
# usage: msbuildfw solution.sln
msbuildfw() {
  local MSBUILD="${MSBUILD_FW_TOOL_PATH}/MSBuild/Current/Bin/amd64/MSBuild.exe"
  local NUGET=".nuget/NuGet.exe"
  local SLN="${1:?usage: msbuildfw solution.sln}"
  "$NUGET" restore -ConfigFile .nuget/NuGet.Config "$SLN" && "$MSBUILD" /t:Clean,Build "$SLN"
}

# .NET Framework test unit runner function to run tests with vstest console host.
# usage: vstestfw assembly.Tests.dll
vstestfw() {
  local ASSEMBLY_PATH="${1:?usage: vstestfw assembly.Tests.dll}"
  local TEST="${MSBUILD_FW_TOOL_PATH}/Common7/IDE/Extensions/TestPlatform/vstest.console.exe"
  "$TEST" /Parallel /collect:"Code Coverage;Format=Cobertura" "${ASSEMBLY_PATH}"
}

build

msbuildfw solution.sln

test

vstestfw assembly.Tests.dll

.NET Core

build

dotnet.exe build solution.sln

test

dotnet.exe test solution.sln --filter "Category!=Integration" \
  /p:CollectCoverage=true \
  /p:CoverletOutputFormat=cobertura \
  /p:ExcludeByAttribute="GeneratedCodeAttribute"