I want to use mstest.exe to run my unit test on build server, but I don't want to install visual studio on the build server. Can I just install mstest without visual studio?
+2
A:
I think you probably can, but its definitely not supported.
I've found this blog article written by someone who claims to have MSTest working without Visual Studio installed.
Kragen
2010-08-04 05:47:00
Any URL with the word Hacking really requires questioning the value of effort if MS decide to change its implementation your environment could be volatile and unexpected things could happen with each Windows update (we keep regular updates, right?).
Russell
2010-08-04 05:52:15
In this case, it seems to be unlikely that a windows update will break the hack. But newer version of mstest (for example, within a newer version or service pack of VS) may work differently.
Doc Brown
2010-08-04 06:25:13
@Russell - Personally I'd either shell out for an extra VS license, or just use NUnit instead.
Kragen
2010-08-04 06:34:44
Thanks for all the replies, I will just get an extra VS license.
crocpulsar
2010-08-05 01:51:42
As the author of the above Blog Post, I can attest that it does work, and that it is highly unlikely to break. At least for VS2008. I haven't looked at this for VS2010. MSTest being so deeply integrated into VS is a huge weakness of the test kit, but I don't think MS will fix it, since it encourages people to use Team System.
foxxtrot
2010-08-28 16:08:58
A:
@crocpulsar You need to install Visual Studio on your Build server, but you do NOT need to buy an additional licence.
There are just way too many dependancies to getting build & MSTest to work without VS installed and it is most definaly not supported.
As long as the person who starts the build has a licence you do not need one for the build server. This has been the case since the dark days of 2005 and as long as there is eddition parity then you are OK. If everyone in your team has Ultimate then you are free to install it on the build server, but if one of your team had Premium then you should idealy install premium on the Builkd server.
This also enables lost of other bits like Code Coverage, Test Impact Analysis, Architecture Validation among others.
MrHinsh
2010-08-07 21:54:16
For reference here's a post from microsoft on this http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jeffbe/archive/2008/03/18/licensing-team-system-editions-for-your-build-machine.aspx
Maslow
2010-08-19 14:31:24