This is probably super basic, but I swear I just can’t figure it out. It’s just a console app, so not much Note: I’m a complete noob so you can’t be too detailed
build–>publish
One caveat here; is this a .NET Core app or a framework app?
If it is a framework app, you may need .NET Runtime installed on the target machine. Bundling the app in an installer can take care of that for you.
As others have mentioned, you’ll first want to “Publish” your app. This creates an executable without debugging symbols, making it a bit smaller and more optimized compared to the debug build you’ve been using.
Then; for .NET Core, you have a few options:
– Take the entire “build/release” directory, copy that over
– Set PublishSingleFile to “true”. Publish again, and you’ll have a single executable (not really, but let’s say something that contains all the target would need). See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/single-file
– Create an installer from VS
For .NET Framework, you don’t have the “PublishSingleFile” option and the target will require .NET framework installed.
First you need to compile it, then in your solution explorer right click on your project and hit “Show in File Explorer”. You then go into your release or debug folder and there you go.
Basically the entire Debug or Release folder is your installation files. All the files your project needs. And the .exe file is your application start file.
I remember when I had no idea how to do this lol. Basically you go into the project folder (usually [User]/source/[ProjectName]/bin/debug and the file there is what you want
It’s better to use Publish functionality in the Visual Studio, it will add some flexibility as well.
<solution folder>/<project folder>/bin/<release | debug> will have a working exe and all supporting dlls in it for projects that generate an executable. You do not need an installer.
Nothing like gatekeeping people trying to learn
If you haven’t learned to code your own OS in Objective-C while performing handstand-pushups on top of a skyscraper, you’ve missed a cucial step in learning how to code.