dotnet-pack-multilib

Project dependencies sample packing into single NuGet package.

This solution contains a project with two other dependencies:

• MultiLib.Project
  • MultiLib.Dependency1
  • MultiLib.Dependency2

Problem

dotnet pack command can create NuGet packages but it always produces separate NuGet packages for each project (see NuGet/Home#3891). This works that way also for dependent projects from the same solution.

Packing dependencies into single NuGet

External nuget.exe tool supports packing multiple assemblies into single NuGet package. The simplest way of generating it can be:

dotnet build
nuget.exe pack MultiLib.Project\MultiLib.Project.csproj -IncludeReferencedProjects

Using NuSpec files

It is possible to define common manifest information using predefined nuspec file.

See local example: MultiLib.Project.nuspec

Unfortunately, most of information will be hard-coded in this file but using variables like $version$ or $configuration$ helps a little. Assemblies which should be included in the NuGet package can be specified under <files> tag.

Creating a package with nuspec file is simple:

dotnet build -c Release -p:Version=1.5.6
nuget pack MultiLib.Project.nuspec -Version 1.5.6 -Properties Configuration=Release

Providing parameters (like "Version") will overwrite values from project files.