How Do I Compile and Run C# Code from the Command Prompt?

Command-Line C# Compilation and Execution

This guide details compiling and running C# code (.cs files) directly from your command prompt.

Using the C# Compiler (csc.exe)

1. Access your command prompt (Windows: Start > cmd.exe; macOS: Terminal).

2. Use the cd command to navigate to the directory containing your .cs file.

3. Compile using the csc.exe compiler:

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

   • /t:exe: Specifies an executable file as the output.
   • /out:MyApplication.exe: Sets the output executable's name and path. You can change MyApplication.exe to your desired name.
   • MyApplication.cs: Your C# source code file.

Running Your Executable

After successful compilation, execute the created file:

<code class="language-bash">MyApplication.exe</code>

(On Windows, omit the .exe extension if you're already in the directory containing the executable).

Alternative Approaches

Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt

If you have Visual Studio installed, use its developer command prompt (accessible from the Start menu). This pre-configures the necessary environment variables.

Build Tools for Advanced Projects

While the command-line compiler is useful, consider build tools like NAnt, MSBuild, or FinalBuilder for more complex projects and streamlined build processes.

macOS Compilation and Execution

On macOS, the process is similar:

Compilation:

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

Execution:

<code class="language-bash">$ mono MyApplication.exe</code>

Remember to replace MyApplication.exe and MyApplication.cs with your actual file names.

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