MSBuild By Example

C# Online - MSBuild: By Example

"Even if you have experience using an XML task-based build tool, such as Ant or NAnt, MSBuild is significantly different. In fact, MSBuild is different not only in execution but also in syntax. Therefore, to really get a feel for MSBuild, you must get your hands dirty using the tool. As you begin to explore what MSBuild has to offer to your projects, you will naturally seek more knowledge of MSBuild. This chapter will help you get your hands dirty by showing you several examples of how you can use MSBuild. Also, this chapter will present some important techniques for using MSBuild effectively. We will provide a variety of tips, covering topics such as integrating MSBuild into Visual Studio and formatting your output. These samples are set up to be mostly independent. This is because each sample expresses a set of specific ideas, so you will be able to examine and try each concept on its own. After this chapter, you should have a much greater feel for building your applications with MSBuild. Following this chapter, we will continue the coverage of MSBuild by showing how to use some of its more advanced features.

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This is the MSBuild Chapter from Deploying .NET Applications, Apress in wiki form.

While you're on C# Online, make sure you check out it. There's allot of great information (and not just C# stuff, but Visual Studio, .Net Framework and CLR, etc)

Buck also recommends reading, Compile Apps Your Way With Custom Tasks For The Microsoft Build Engine

(via Buck Hodges - MSBuild by Example)