You should learn some MSBuild Gone Mobile

The conversation covers various topics related to MSBuild and project files. It starts with an introduction and a discussion about the weather. The hosts then delve into the history and evolution of MSBuild, including the transition to SDK style projects. They explain the structure of new project files and highlight the benefits of using CS Proj for managing NuGet packages and CI. The conversation also covers customizing project files for platform-specific assets and the use of conditions in project files. The hosts discuss the importance of workloads and the rationale behind different SDKs. They also touch on the future of workloads and the challenges associated with them. This conversation explores various aspects of MSBuild, including workloads, importing MSBuild from NuGet packages, building custom entitlements, adding items to build from NuGet packages, customizing build props and targets, writing custom MSBuild tasks, using custom tasks and source generators, incremental source generation, and Michaela's MSBuild Editor Extension. The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding MSBuild and encourage listeners to explore and experiment with CSProj files to optimize their build processes.


Takeaways


MSBuild is a powerful tool for managing project files and building applications.
SDK style projects provide a more streamlined and approachable format for project files.
CS Proj files can be customized to include platform-specific assets and configurations.
Using CS Proj for managing NuGet packages and CI can simplify the development process.
Workloads in MSBuild provide a way to manage and organize project dependencies and configurations. MSBuild is a powerful build system that allows for customization and automation of the build process.
Importing MSBuild from NuGet packages provides an easier way to test nightly builds and service releases.
Customizing build props and targets allows for fine-grained control over the build process and the inclusion of specific assets.
Writing custom MSBuild tasks in C# can be a powerful way to extend the build system and perform complex build operations.
Using custom tasks and source generators can enhance the build process and improve performance.
Mikayla's MSBuild Editor Extension provides helpful features like IntelliSense and package version management for CSProj files.


People


Hosts: Jon Dick, Allan Ritchie
Audio Engineer: Jim Heath


Chapters


00:00 Introduction and Weather
00:20 Introduction to MSBuild
01:12 Acquiring Taste for MSBuild
03:17 Slim CS Proj
04:03 Structure of New Project Files
05:12 Default Maui Project Template
06:36 Using CS Proj for NuGet Packages
07:56 Benefits of Using CS Proj for CI
08:26 Customizing Project Files for Platform-Specific Assets
09:53 Leveraging MSBuild for Customization
10:57 Command Line vs. CS Proj
11:33 Importing Files and Directory Build Props
12:37 Multiple SDK Imports
13:15 Properties and Item Groups in Project Files
14:05 Conditions in Project Files
19:48 Rationale for Different SDKs
22:19 Directory Build Props for Performance
24:07 Workloads and SDK Imports
26:17 Future of Workloads
29:08 Challenges with Workloads
31:09 MSBuild and Workloads
32:03 Importing MSBuild from NuGet Packages
33:12 Custom Entitlements and Build Props
34:09 Building Custom Entitlements
36:29 Adding Items to Build from NuGet Packages
37:38 Automatically Making Apps Work with Libraries
38:36 Customizing Build Props and Targets
39:40 Doing Build-Related Tasks in MSBuild
42:10 Writing Custom MSBuild Tasks
44:23 Using Custom Tasks and Source Generators
46:19 Incremental Source Generation
49:46 Michaela's MSBuild Editor Extension
56:19 Getting Started with MSBuild