Publishing a self-contained .NET Core application involves the following steps:
1. Modify the project file: Add the desired runtime identifier (RID) and set the “PublishReadyToRun” property to true for optimized performance.
2. Publish command: Use the ‘dotnet publish’ command with the RID, specifying the output folder and configuration.
Example:
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>netcoreapp3.1</TargetFramework>
<RuntimeIdentifier>win-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
<PublishReadyToRun>true</PublishReadyToRun>
Command:
dotnet publish -r win-x64 -c Release --self-contained true -o ./publish
Major benefits of using this deployment approach include:
– No dependency on shared framework: The application includes all necessary components, eliminating the need for users to install .NET Core separately.
– Simplified version management: Avoids conflicts between different versions of .NET Core installed on the target system.
– Increased compatibility: Ensures the application runs consistently across various environments, as it carries its own runtime.