C#•4y ago

Compile .NET Framework class library with NuGets to single DLL [Answered]

I have a .NET Framework 4.8.1 (unable to upgrade) class library which references a number of NuGet packages. I would like to compile this library to a single, self-contained DLL file. Is this possible? How?

eroOP•8/19/22, 11:42 AM

Hm, Costura.Fody seems to work. Is there another way? It kinda bloats my library with a bunch of NuGets that I don't even use.

AccordAPP•8/19/22, 6:05 PM

This post has been marked as answered!

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:42 PM

so, let me try to cover what happened

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:43 PM

i'm trying to create a .NET Framework class library for a program which allows a sort of plugin-system. what it does is load specified DLL files and then interacts with their code

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:44 PM

this means that i have (almost) free reign about what i put into that library. it's obviously sandboxed, only allowing specific calls to interact with the program

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:45 PM

now, unfortunately this system means that i cannot actually use any NuGets or other referenced libraries in my own plugin

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:45 PM

the reason is that calling any methods or using any types from those libraries will result in a for the target assembly

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:46 PM

i was hoping i could compile my plugin to a single file with all references embedded

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:47 PM

i was playing around with this yesterday, trying out different combinations of CLI commands, csproj tags, Costura, and ILMerge

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:48 PM

and for some odd reason, i was eventually able to simply compile, and the s would simply not throw at all anymore

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:48 PM

without Costura, and without ILMerge

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:49 PM

unfortunately i wasn't smart enough to use source control, and i fiddled around a bit with the solution and project settings, and it broke again

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:49 PM

and i have absolutely no clue how this worked in the first place

eroOP•8/20/22, 2:49 PM

does anyone have even the slightest idea?

eroOP•8/20/22, 4:53 PM

yeah so i just added the Costura.Fody nuget package, compiled my project, and removed it again, and now all my referenced types are embedded...

eroOP•8/20/22, 4:53 PM

no idea what's going on

AccordAPP•8/20/22, 4:53 PM

This post has been marked as answered!