Question 1

How do I run MSBuild on macOS or Linux?

Accepted Answer

MSBuild can run on Unix systems via .NET Core; install the .NET SDK and use the 'dotnet msbuild' command or the standalone msbuild executable. Refer to the wiki for setup instructions on building and testing.

Question 2

MSBuild or CMake for C++ projects?

Accepted Answer

MSBuild is integrated with Visual Studio for C++ but has limited support outside .NET; CMake is often better for cross-platform C++ builds due to its native support and flexibility with various compilers.

Question 3

How to write a custom MSBuild task?

Accepted Answer

Create a class that implements ITask from Microsoft.Build.Framework, define inputs and outputs, and reference it in your project file. Use Microsoft.Build.Utilities for helper methods, as described in the component documentation.

Question 4

Can I use MSBuild with non-.NET languages like Python?

Accepted Answer

While possible, MSBuild is optimized for .NET and lacks built-in tasks for other languages; you'd need custom extensions, making it less efficient than language-specific build tools like setuptools for Python.

Question 5

What's the difference between MSBuild and dotnet build?

Accepted Answer

dotnet build is a CLI command that uses MSBuild under the hood for .NET Core projects; MSBuild is the underlying engine with more granular control, especially for complex or legacy .NET Framework projects.

Question 6

How to debug an MSBuild script?

Accepted Answer

Use verbose logging with the '/v:diag' flag in msbuild.exe to see detailed output, or integrate with Visual Studio's debugger for tasks. The README points to documentation for more advanced debugging techniques.

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