How to build a .NET website using Nant

Question

I usually use web applications in Visual Studio and the MSBUILD taks in Nant builds them without any problems:

<msbuild project="MySolution.sln">
  arg value="/property:Configuration=release" />
</msbuild>

I now have a website (not a web application) in a VS Solution and it won't build - I get a lot of namespace errors.

Should I be able to build the solution with MSBUILD even though it contains a website? Or do I need to use CSC?

Answer 1

You should try using the devenv.exe command if msbuild.exe is failing for you. Also you may be interested in Web Deployment Projects.

Answer 2

In your MSBuild arguments use the OutDir option to set an output directory. You then get the following:

1. All the DLLs in your project.
2. A directory called _PublishedWebsite. This gives you the same output a Publish command in Visual Studio.

This is what we do to build our web apps through MSBuild.

Answer 3

devenv.exe /rebuild debug mywebsite.sln

I found I had to use debug rather than release or the build was skipped.