I have a simple class I like to use when I do unit tests. I'd like to create a NuGet package so I can easily use it and spread out updates between my solutions.
Will I have to create an assembly of it, or is it possible to create a NuGet package which contains just a source file which is then compiled together with everything else? If so, how would you configure that package?
If you want to create a package with just a source code file, it is trivial to do. For more explanation, see this blog post.
First of all, create your code file, and save it as (for example) myFile.cs.pp (note the pp (pre-processor) extension.
You can do some pre-processing on the file for things like namespace. To add a namespace of .MySubNameSpace, change the declaration in your code file to be
namespace $rootnamespace$.MySubNameSpace
Add this file to the content section of the nuget package.
Build the package, and you're all set.
Your .nupec package file would then look something like the following.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2010/07/nuspec.xsd">
<metadata>
<id>MyPackageName</id>
<version>1.0.0</version>
<title>My Package Name</title>
<authors>Your Name</authors>
<owners />
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>My package description.</description>
</metadata>
<files>
<file src="content\myCodeFile.cs.pp" target="content\myCodeFile.cs.pp" />
</files>
</package>
You can do all of this through the NuGet Package Explorer.
EDIT: As other answers have said, NuGet can allow you to distribute simple source codes. However, I would strongly recommend that you take the more mainstream approach of just providing an assembly. NuGet makes it pretty quick to do so - you'll have to go through the "pain" of creating a separate project for this one source file, and create a package for that assembly, but it's all pretty simple.
This has the additional benefit that when you (nearly inevitably) want to add more types, it won't give any problems to the projects depending on it.
Simply use the content folder as referenced here Nuspec Reference (look for the 'Content Files' section)
<file src="css\mobile\*.css" target="content\css\mobile" />
Related
I'm working on a .NET Standard 2.0 project called ComputeSharp and I'm having some trouble creating a NuGet package from it. Some info:
The project only targets .NET Standard 2.0
The project uses 2 referenced projects in the same solution, each using some other NuGet packages. Here is a screen of my current solution.
One of the project, ComputeSharp.Shaders also references two .dll files, dxcompiler.dll and dxil.dll. These two are referenced by that project with the following snipped in its .csproj file. I made a PR to DotNetDxc with the update .dll files, so I'll no longer need to manually bundle the two .dll files into my project. So this is no longer an issue ✅
In the folder for the main ComputeSharp project, I also have a .nuspec file with the following structure, which also lists all the NuGet packages used by all 3 projects (note that the path for the *.mustache file goes up one directory because it's inside the ComputeSharp.Shaders project, and not the one from which I'm building the NuGet package, which is just ComputeSharp:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<package >
<metadata>
<id>ComputeSharp</id>
...
<dependencies>
<dependency id="SharpDX.Direct3D12" version="4.2.1-beta0-gab36f12303" />
...
</dependencies>
<contentFiles>
<files include="..\ComputeSharp.Shaders\Renderer\Templates\*.mustache" buildAction="None" copyToOutput="true" />
</contentFiles>
</metadata>
</package>
In order to create the NuGet package, I first build ComputeSharp in Release mode, then open a cmd in the folder for that project, and run:
nuget pack ComputeSharp.csproj -Prop Configuration=Release -IncludeReferencedProjects
This does create a package that kinda looks ok. It contains the assemblies for all 3 projects, the two .dll files I use and the .mustache content file from the ComputeSharp.Shaders project.
Once uploaded to NuGet I can see the list of all the dependencies for the package, as you can see in this screen. So, that looks is ok as well.
PROBLEM: once I create a test project and install the NuGet package, I notice two things: first get this nice exception when I try to use any APIs, which makes me thing the other NuGet packages haven't been installed correctly at all, and then I can't find any of the APIs from either of those packages (eg. I don't see the SharpDX namespace at all), which makes me thing the previous point is probably correct. I have one last issue: the .mustache file (and relative parent folders) are not created in the build output directory, so I can't load it at runtime. I'm not sure why that is, since I did specify copyToOutputDirectory="true" in the .nuspec file.
I might be missing something obvious here, and I did check both the documentation and countless other SO questions on NuGet packages and whatnot, but I really couldn't figure out what I'm doing wrong here. I do have other NuGet packages uploaded, using the same method of including the referenced NuGet packages in the .nuspec file, and they work just fine when installed.
Thank you for your help!
EDIT #1: the indirect dependencies are now loaded correctly, so the last remaining issue is the content file not being copied to the build output directory (see changes above).
EDIT #2: closing this as it's too broad in scope, and the first part has been resolved already (.dll files and indirect package references). Opening a follow up question just for the issue about the content files not being copied here.
I want to make small pieces of source code (e.g. helper classes) available for use in .NET Core projects (.csproj).
At this point I packaged the source code with NuGet in many different ways according to different blog posts and the official nuget docs. I used a nuspec file to control where my source files will end up in the nuget package, e.g.:
<files>
<file src="*.cs" target="content/LruCache" />
<file src="*.cs" target="contentFiles/cs/any/LruCache" />
</files>
I did not include any msbuild targets file or install script.
Whenever I install the NuGet package into a .NET Core project (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/csproj) I simply don't get anything there. No source files will be included into my project. I tried different settings for the <PackageReference/> node in the .csproj (PrivateAssets, etc.) without success.
Is it meant to be possible at all? If so, how should it be done?
Background:
The reason for doing this is some kind of diamond problem where we have projects B and C both using helper class A and a third project D using B and C.
In this situation I don't want to deal with assembly version conflicts when different (incompatible) versions of A have been used in B and C.
Is it meant to be possible at all? If so, how should it be done?
The answer is yes. Since you test project type is .net core. You should use contentFiles instead of content. content is used for packages.config. Check the Using the contentFiles element for content files and blog NuGet ContentFiles Demystified for more details.
So your .nuspec file should be:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2011/08/nuspec.xsd">
<metadata>
<id>MyTestCore</id>
<version>5.0.0</version>
<authors>TestContentFile</authors>
<owners>TestContentFile</owners>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>Package Description</description>
<contentFiles>
<files include="any/any/Test.cs" buildAction="content" flatten="true" copyToOutput="true"/>
</contentFiles>
</metadata>
<files>
<file src="contentFiles/any/any/Test.cs" target="contentFiles/any/any/LruCache" />
</files>
</package>
The nuget package should look like:
Note: When you create a new package, do not forgot to remove the nuget cache for this package in the C:\Users\<UserName>\.nuget\packages folder, otherwise, it always install the old package.
With this method, the source files will be included into your project.
Hope this helps.
How do you copy a text file that has been included along with the DLLs within a NuGet package?
When I use my custom NuGet package in another solution (c:\dev\ for this example), the resulting file structure within c:\dev\package\projectId\lib\netstandard2.0\ has many DLLs and a text file, say file.txt. The DLLs are all copied upon building the solution, but the text file is left behind.
Within the .nuspec file, I originally included the file under <files><file src="foo\file.txt" target="lib\netstandard2.0"/></files>. The file.txt ends up in the packages folder when the NuGet package is restored, but it's not copied into the build directory.
Attempt 1: I tried using the contentFiles property within the nuspec file, since the nuspec reference points there a few times. I got nuget.exe pack command to work with this new property (i.e. no syntax errors), but there was no change in how the content (file.txt) was handled.
Attempt 2: I tried using a projectId.targets file. This uses a Target that has an ItemGroup that includes the file. Then, I tried using a Copy event, pointing to the destination folder as $(OutputPath).
It seems awfully hard to copy a file that is included in the package to the build directory, having to dive into MSBuild events and the like.
I'm at a loss here, and any pointers would be welcome.
Edits # 1:
I tried adding this section to the metadata, per a suggestion below:
<contentFiles>
<files include="any\any\file.txt" buildAction="EmbeddedResource" />
</contentFiles>
This works in a small test case. The file.txt shows up nicely in both Visual Studio and in the build directory. Weirdly, it doesn't work in my main project using the same exact syntax (I'm using .NET Core 2.0 in both). Also, in NuGet Package Explorer, it shows up in the package contents when it's alone. But when I add something under <files><file src="lib\netstandard2.0\test.dll" target="lib\netstandard2.0"/></files>, it disappears from that view.
Edits # 2:
I think there's something else going on... Here is the .nuspec file from our main project. When I add a content file with the working suggestions below, it still doesn't show up (for either .NET Core 2.0 or .NET Framework 4.7.1). Is the .targets file messing this up somehow?
How to copy a text file from NuGet package during build of C# code that uses the package?
You should use contentFiles property and set copyToOutput="true" for the text file file.txt.
My test .nuspec file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2011/08/nuspec.xsd">
<metadata>
<id>MyTestCore</id>
<version>5.0.0</version>
<authors>TestContentFile</authors>
<owners>TestContentFile</owners>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>Package Description</description>
<contentFiles>
<files include="any/any/file.txt" buildAction="content" flatten="true" copyToOutput="true"/>
</contentFiles>
</metadata>
<files>
<file src="contentFiles/any/any/file.txt" target="contentFiles/any/any" />
</files>
</package>
After pack this .nuspec file, then add the nuget package to the project, build the project, the text file will copy to the build directory:
Check the update answer for the similar issue for some more details.
You have to define build action to the file.
<contentFiles>
<!-- Include Assets as Content -->
<files include="foo\file.txt" buildAction="EmbeddedResource" />
</contentFiles>
I have a custom made command line tool, which performs some code generation operations. Basically, it takes one assembly as input and, through reflection, searches for certaing custom attributes, used to trigger generation of external (JavaScript) files.
Everything works (almost) fine, but the distribution and execution of the tool is somewhat disorganized. I would like to pack it as a Nuget package (hosted in a private repository), which would essentially contain the tool and a build target that should trigger the execution of the tool.
How should I package the tool? I read about the special Nuget tool, content, and build folders, and I don't know where to put what, and how to setup a custom target.
I don't know if the question is "too broad", but even if I know pretty exactly what I need, I'm in kind of a blank page syndrome.
I would put the tool into the build directory inside the NuGet package and then have a custom MSBuild .targets file in the same build directory. This MSBuild .targets file would then be written in such a way so it is called at some point during the build process.
\build
\MyPackage.targets
Then your build targets file would insert itself into the build process:
<PropertyGroup>
<BuildDependsOn>
$(BuildDependsOn);
MyCustomTarget
</BuildDependsOn>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name=“MyCustomTarget“>
<!-- Execute tool -->
</Target>
The above should run the MyCustomTarget as the last item during the build.
In post build action specify $(SolutionDir).nuget\nuget.exe pack $(ProjectPath) -IncludeReferencedProjects.
Also you can specify nuspec file. As described here https://docs.nuget.org/create/nuspec-reference.
Example:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<package >
<metadata>
<id>SDK</id>
<version>$version$</version>
<title>$title$</title>
<authors>$author$</authors>
<owners>$author$</owners>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>$description$</description>
<releaseNotes>Initial release</releaseNotes>
<copyright>Copyright 2016</copyright>
<tags>SDK</tags>
</metadata>
<files>
<file src="tools\install.ps1" target="tools\install.ps1" />
</files>
</package>
I have a small c# library that wraps Dapper.net and I want to create a nuget package for this library. I've created a folder that contains the following:
Nuget-Package\
Nuget-Package\Package.nuspec
Nuget-Package\lib\
Nuget-Package\lib\DapperWrapper.dll
Here's the nuspec
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2010/07/nuspec.xsd">
<metadata>
<id>GoDaddy.Data</id>
<version>1.0.0</version>
<authors>Owner Name</authors>
<owners>Owner Name</owners>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>I provide a fast and slim layer between your code and stored procedures that your application needs to use. This layer provides more straight-forward access to procs than straight ADO and less overhead than using Entity or Linq. It currently uses Dapper.Net to do some of this work.</description>
<releaseNotes>Initial Release</releaseNotes>
<copyright>Copyright 2014</copyright>
<tags>ADO Dapper Proc "Stored Procedure"</tags>
<dependencies>
<dependency id="Dapper" version="1.13" />
</dependencies>
</metadata>
</package>
I then copy the resulting DapperWrapper1.0.0.0.nupkg over to my local nuget server.
After this I attempt to install it on a console application. I open a simple console application right click on references and say manage nuget packages. I find and select my package and select install and get the following error:
Attempting to resolve dependency 'Dapper (≥ 1.13)'.
External packages cannot depend on packages that target projects.
What am I doing wrong here?
Seems too simple to fail and yet I cant seem to find a good explanation of this error anywhere.
The answer can be found here.
http://www.marcusoft.net/2011/12/creating-tools-only-nuget-package.html
Apparently nuget wont resolve dependencies unless you have both "lib" and "content" folders even if you're not using them.
Wow that's a bug IMO.
See this nuget workitem: http://nuget.codeplex.com/workitem/595
You could try adding a files section to your nuget package, referencing the files in your project.