Question 1

How to add a custom task in MSBuild?

Accepted Answer

Implement the ITask interface from Microsoft.Build.Framework in a .NET assembly, then reference it in your project file. This allows you to extend build logic, as outlined in the extensibility documentation.

Question 2

MSBuild vs dotnet build: which is better for .NET projects?

Accepted Answer

Use dotnet build for simpler, cross-platform .NET Core/5+ projects as it provides a cleaner CLI. MSBuild is essential for complex, customized builds and full .NET Framework projects due to its deeper control and Visual Studio integration.

Question 3

How to run MSBuild on Linux without Visual Studio?

Accepted Answer

Install the .NET Core SDK and use the 'dotnet msbuild' command or run msbuild directly if available. Ensure project files are compatible with .NET Core MSBuild, as per the cross-platform setup instructions in the README.

Question 4

Why does my MSBuild project fail with NuGet package errors?

Accepted Answer

Check your NuGet.config for correct sources and ensure TargetFramework is set properly in the .csproj file. Common issues include network timeouts or mismatched package versions, which MSBuild logs can help debug.

Question 5

Can I use MSBuild with GitHub Actions for CI/CD?

Accepted Answer

Yes, GitHub Actions supports MSBuild through custom scripts or the setup-dotnet action. You can invoke msbuild.exe or dotnet msbuild in workflow steps to automate .NET builds in the cloud.

Question 6

How to speed up MSBuild builds with parallel processing?

Accepted Answer

Use the /m or /maxcpucount switch when running msbuild.exe to specify the number of concurrent processes. This leverages multiple CPU cores for faster incremental builds, especially in large projects.

MSBuild

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