Useful .NET CLI (dotnet) commands.
Use --help to see all the optional arguments
Command Description Run from
dotnet restore Restores the NuGet packages for all the
projects in the solution.
Solution folder
dotnet build Builds all the projects in the solution. To
build in
Release mode, use the -c
switch.
Solution folder
dotnet run Runs the project in the current folder. Use
during development to run your app.
Project folder
dotnet publish -c Release –o
<Folder>
Publishes the project to the provided
folder. This copies all the required files to
the provided output folder so that it can be
deployed.
Project folder
dotnet test Builds the project and executes any unit
tests found in the project. Requires the
.NET Test SDK and a testing framework
adapter (see chapter 20).
Project folder
dotnet add package <Name> Installs the NuGet package with the pro-
vided name into the current project.
Optionally, specify a package version, for
example -v 2.1.0.
Project folder
dotnet new --list Views all the installed templates for creat-
ing ASP.NET Core apps, libraries, test proj-
ects, solution files, and much more.
Anywhere
dotnet new --install
<PackageName>
Installs a new template from the provided
NuGet package name. For example,
dotnet new --install
"NetEscapades.Templates::*"
.
Anywhere
dotnet new <Template> –o <Folder>
-n <NewName>
Creates a new item from the provided tem-
plate, specifying the folder in which to
place the item, and the name for the item.
Anywhere, empty
folder for new
projects
dotnet ef --help Displays help for managing your database
and migrations using EF Core. Requires
the EF Core tools (see chapter 12).
Project folder
dotnet ef migrations add <Name> Adds a new EF Core migration to the proj-
ect with the provided name.
Project folder
dotnet ef database update Applies pending EF Core migrations to a
database. Warning—this will modify your
database!
Project folder
