Stop/Run windows service and building a solution

Question

Hello,

I'd like to have a script that stops a certain windows service,build or rebuild a solution and runs the service after the build process finished.

Should I use Msbuild for this ? Or is there any other way ?

Answer 1

You can use a batch file that will stop the service, build the solution then start the service:

net stop "service name"
<path to msbuild>\msbuild.exe <path to solution file>
net start "service name"

See how to start/stop services from the command line, and the msbuild command line reference.

Your other option, as mentioned is to use the MSBuild community tasks. There are many of them - ServiceController is the specific one for your need.

Answer 2

MSBuild is your answer. Controlling the services can be accomplished easily by using the Community Tasks, specifically the service controller task.

http://msbuildtasks.tigris.org/

Answer 3

Is the service you are stopping the same executable you are building in the solution? If so, why not do dynamic code in the service?