Golden NuGet!

For anyone using VS2010, one tool you need to try out is NuGet (actually pronounced new-get according to Microsoft, but what do they know?!).

What is it?

NuGet is Microsoft’s answer to the much-lamented gap in the .Net space for a package management tool like Ruby’s Gems or Linux’s RPM.

NuGet simply looks after the download and installation of tools and libraries you use in your projects.  It will get the appropriate version of all needed DLLs, configuration files, and related tools, put them in a folder, and do any configuration if needed.  Simple!  Also useful is the fact that it will download any dependencies – so for example if we want to install Shouldly, which uses Rhino Mocks, NuGet will get the appropriate version of that as well.

And that’s about it.  So it won’t change your world, but it will save you a good few hours each year hunting for, downloading, and installing tools.

History

NuGet started out as NuPack, which kind of took over from the Nu open source project.  Indeed, NuGet is itself open source, continuing Microsoft’s trend of a more transparent and community-involving future, which is nice.

There are other package managers for .Net, including:

• OpenWrap
• Horn
• Bricks
• NGems

However, as usual, things don’t tend to take off in the .Net community until Microsoft makes their version, which then becomes king. I haven’t tried any of those package managers, but I wouldn’t want to bet on them being too successful now NuGet’s out.

Anyway, enough of the history lesson, how do I use this thing?!

Installation

Firstly, you need to get it installed, which is simple as it’s in the Visual Studio Extension Manager (Tools -> Extension Manager).  Search the Online Gallery for ‘NuGet’ and you should find it:

VS2010 Extension Manager

A couple of clicks later and you’re ready to go!

Putting it to Use

There are two interfaces.  You can either right-click on a project and select ‘Add Library Reference’, and find what you need with a handy visual interface (the same as the Extension Manager):

NuGet Visual Interface

Or, by selecting Tools -> Library Package Manager -> Package Manager Console,  you can use the Powershell-based console version, like a real developer!

NuGet Console

(Check out some NuGet Console Commands, if that’s how you want to roll.)

Either way, you’ll end up with a new ‘packages’ folder in your solution, containing the bits you need (as well as having references automatically added to your project, and configuration set):

Packages Folder

Et voilá!  You’re ready to log/unit test/mock/whatever to your heart’s content.

You can also delete packages, update packages, and so on – it’s all pretty straightforward, so I’ll leave you to work that out.

So what are you waiting for?  Go and nu-get it now!!  (sorry..)