required files to distribute a .net application

Question

I'm trying to figure out what files are needed when I distribute an application that I have written. In the release folder after I have built the application I have the following:

app.exe (obviously needed)

app.exe.config (obviously needed for my config settings)

app.pdb

app.vshost.exe

app.vshost.exe.config

app.vshost.exe.manifest

Answer 1

• app.exe is needed
• app.exe.config is needed

The others are not needed:

• app.pdb is debugging info, which will reveal internals of your code. You should not distribute it.
• app.vshost.exe.* are visual studio debug host files, which should not be distributed.

Answer 2

Both ClickOnce and Deployment projects tend to take care of including everything necessary. These also take care of installing the appropriate version of the framework.