Simplified DotNet CLI Script

profile.md

If, like me, you create new DotNet projects using the same layout and options; the following script should help.

Type $profile in your Powershell Windows Terminal and edit the file at the path given by putting the following code in:

# ---------- dot net new simple alias for project creation
function Show-Menu {
  param (
      [string]$Title
  )
  Clear-Host;
  Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "================ $Title ================";

  Write-Host "1: " -NoNewline; Write-Host -ForegroundColor Yellow "C# Console Application";
  Write-Host "2: " -NoNewline; Write-Host -ForegroundColor Yellow "C# Library";
  Write-Host "3: " -NoNewline; Write-Host -ForegroundColor Yellow "C# ASP.Net WebApp";
  Write-Host "Q: " -NoNewline; Write-Host -ForegroundColor Yellow "Press 'Q' to quit";
}

function dotnetnew() {
  param (
      [switch]$Verbose = $false,
      [switch]$OmitTest = $false,
      [string]$Name
  )

  $dir = Get-Location;

  $command = "";
  do {
    $title = "Create new dotnet project";
    if ($Name -ne "") {
      $Title = $Title + ": $($Name)";
    }

    Show-Menu -Title $title;

    $selection = Read-Host "What app do you want to create?";
    switch ($selection) {
      '1' { $command = "console" }
      '2' { $command = "classlib" }
      '3' { $command = "webapp" }
    }
  } until ($selection -eq 'q' -or $command -ne '');
  
  if ($selection -eq 'q') {
    Write-Host;
    Break;
  }

  while ($Name -eq '') {
    $Name = Read-Host "What name do you want to give this '$($command)' project?";
  }
  
  if ($Verbose -eq $true) {
    Write-Host -ForegroundColor Yellow "`nCreating project '$($Name)' into '$dir'.";
    $continue = Read-Host "Are you sure you want to continue (y/n)?";
    if ($continue -ne 'y' -and $continue -ne 'Y') {
      Write-Host;
      Break;
    }
  }

  # Create project
  Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "`nCreating..." -NoNewline;
  $projectOptionsArgs = @()
  $projectOptionsArgs = $projectOptionsArgs + "--framework"
  $projectOptionsArgs = $projectOptionsArgs + "net6.0"
  $projectOptionsArgs = $projectOptionsArgs + "--language"
  $projectOptionsArgs = $projectOptionsArgs + "c#"

  # dotnet new $($command) --name $($Name) $($projectOptions)
  $commandArgs = @()
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "new"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + $command
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "--name"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "$($Name)"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + $projectOptionsArgs
  & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
  if ($Verbose -eq $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "`nCreated $($command) project"; }
  else { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }
  
  # Create test project with references
  if ($OmitTest -eq $false) {
    # dotnet new mstest --name $($Name).Tests --output ./Tests/ $($projectOptions)
    $commandArgs = @()
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "new"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "mstest"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "--name"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "$($Name).Tests"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "--output"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./$($Name)/Tests/"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + $projectOptionsArgs
    & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
    if ($Verbose -ne $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }

    # dotnet add package FluentAssertions
    $commandArgs = @()
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "add"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./$($Name)/Tests/$($Name).Tests.csproj"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "package"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "FluentAssertions"
    & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
    if ($Verbose -ne $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }

    # dotnet add reference ./$($Name).csproj
    $commandArgs = @()
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "add"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./$($Name)/Tests/$($Name).Tests.csproj"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "reference"
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./$($Name)/$($Name).csproj"
    & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
    if ($Verbose -eq $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "Created tests project"; }
    else { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }
  }

  # Create solution and add both projects

  # change into project directory
  & cd $Name

  # dotnet new sln
  $commandArgs = @()
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "new"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "sln"
  & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
  if ($Verbose -ne $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }

  # dotnet sln ./$($Name).sln add ./$($Name).csproj ./Tests/$($Name).Tests.csproj
  $commandArgs = @()
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "sln"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./$($Name).sln"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "add"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./$($Name).csproj"
  if ($OmitTest -eq $false) {
    $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "./Tests/$($Name).Tests.csproj"
  }
  & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
  if ($Verbose -eq $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "Created solution file"; }
  else { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }

  # dotnet new gitignore
  $commandArgs = @()
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "new"
  $commandArgs = $commandArgs + "gitignore"
  & dotnet $commandArgs | out-null
  if ($Verbose -eq $true) { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "Created gitignore file"; }
  else { Write-Host -ForegroundColor Gray "." -NoNewline; }

  # Change directory back
  & cd ..
  
  # Finished
  Write-Host -ForegroundColor Blue "`n`nAll Finished. Project has been created in '$($dir)\$($Name)'`n"
}

Set-Alias dn -value "dotnetnew"

Then all you need to do is type dn and you get some simple options to create a basic C# console, library or webapp project including a tests project.

You can also use the command line parameters to bypass some of the options:

# Create project without an MSTest project
dn -Name "MyProject" -OmitTest

# Create project and output verbose logging
dn -Name "MyProject" -Verbose