Introduction to MSBuild – Quick Intro Guide

Introduction to MSBuild

• Microsoft supported build engine
• XML-based configuration file
• Intellisense available from Visual Studio using supplied schema
• Ships with .NET Framework 2.0, it is NOT part of Team Foundation Server
• Both Visual Studio and Team Foundation Server leverage MSBuild
• Command-line utility – MSBuild.exe

MSBuild Concepts

1. Project
2. Property
3. Item
4. Target
5. Task

Projects

–        The root concept in MSBuild

–        Defines the build process

Example:

    Build

Properties

–        Name/value pairs

Items

–        Set of objects (commonly files)

–        Can specify meta-data to be applied to the objects

Example:

Targets

–        Defines a number of sequential tasks

–        Projects can have initial and/or default targets

Example:

Tasks

–        Performs an operation

–        Uses properties and items

–        Extensible

Exmaple:

    <MakeDir

        Directories="$(BuildDir)" />

Some Reference Link:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms171452%28VS.90%29.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0k6kkbsd.aspx

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/aspnet/Automate_Builds.aspx

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/aspnet/Automate_Builds.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSBuild

Rajesh Kumar

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