How Do I Compile and Run a C# Program from the Command Line?

Command-Line C# Compilation and Execution

This guide demonstrates compiling and running C# code directly from the command line, a valuable skill when an IDE isn't readily available.

The process utilizes the C# compiler (csc.exe), located within the .NET Framework directory (e.g., c:windowsMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv3.5).

Windows:

1. Open a command prompt and navigate to your source code directory.
2. Execute the compilation command:

<code class="language-batch">c:\windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\bin\csc.exe /t:exe /out:MyApplication.exe MyApplication.cs ...</code>

Replace MyApplication.exe and MyApplication.cs with your desired output and source file names respectively. Use the /r flag to include additional modules or assembly references. Remember that your code must contain a Main() method as an entry point.

3. Run the compiled executable by typing its name (e.g., MyApplication) and pressing Enter.

For advanced options, consult the MSDN documentation on the command-line compiler. Alternatively, Visual Studio users can leverage the Visual Studio command prompt, which pre-configures necessary environment variables.

macOS:

The macOS process is similar, using csc for compilation and mono for execution:

<code class="language-bash">$ csc /target:exe /out:MyApplication.exe MyApplication.cs ...
$ mono MyApplication.exe</code>

Beyond Basic Compilation:

While command-line compilation offers flexibility, robust build processes often benefit from dedicated build tools like NAnt or MSBuild. These tools provide a more comprehensive and manageable build environment for larger projects.

The above is the detailed content of How Do I Compile and Run a C# Program from the Command Line?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!