Getting started with scripting automated builds

I'm trying to find some good resources on how to script a VS build. Our
solution is fairly large, and includes a WinForm app, web services, a couple
of websites, etc. I'm trying to find a way to automate the build and partial
builds by scripting them.

So far, I've been trying to simply grab the commands in the Output window
and using those. However, it appears that not ALL of the steps are included
in the build output, particularly things like website building.

We're using VS 2005 and are not using Team System.

Does anyone have some suggestions about how I can get started with this task
and where to look for some good info?

After looking around a bit, I've found that Team System automated builds is
not an option, and NAnt appears to be overly complicated for what I want to
do. I simply want to compile the solution or projects in the solution, in
either release or debug modes, or deploy a project, after changing a few
project properties.

As far as I can tell, using devenv.exe and various command-line parameters
should work for this. One outstanding issue I'm still grappling with,
however, is:

How do I build and deploy a Website that is part of my solution? All of the
examples I've seen for compiling one project of a solution require a .csproj
file to be specified, and of course, a Website "project" of a solution
doesn't have an associated .csproj file. So, how is it done?

Quimbly wrote:

I'm trying to find some good resources on how to script a VS build. Our
solution is fairly large, and includes a WinForm app, web services, a
couple
of websites, etc. I'm trying to find a way to automate the build and
partial builds by scripting them.

If you are using VS 2005, it should be using msbuild behind the scene.

If you project file is called something.somethingproj, try, on a command
line:

msbuild something.somethingproj

Check the docs for msbuild for more options.

Regards,

Mads

--
Med venlig hilsen/Regards

Systemudvikler/Systemsdeveloper cand.scient.dat, Ph.d., Mads Bondo
Dydensborg
Dansk BiblioteksCenter A/S, Tempovej 7-11, 2750 Ballerup, Tlf. +45 44 86 77
34

On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:48:25 -0700, Quimbly
<Quimbly (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote:

I'm trying to find some good resources on how to script a VS build. Our
solution is fairly large, and includes a WinForm app, web services, a couple
of websites, etc. I'm trying to find a way to automate the build and partial
builds by scripting them.

So far, I've been trying to simply grab the commands in the Output window
and using those. However, it appears that not ALL of the steps are included
in the build output, particularly things like website building.

We're using VS 2005 and are not using Team System.

Does anyone have some suggestions about how I can get started with this task
and where to look for some good info?

Take a look at NAnt http://nant.sourceforge.net/ ... this should be
able to do what you're looking for

--
http://bytes.thinkersroom.com