Creating a NuGet Package from Command Line – A Comprehensive Guide

Developers often find themselves needing to package their libraries in a way that is easily distributable and manageable. NuGet, with its package manager for .NET, provides a seamless solution to this problem. Let’s explore how you can create a NuGet package from the command line efficiently.

Step 1: Install NuGet Command Line Tools

Before diving into creating your package, ensure you have the NuGet CLI tools installed. You can do this using the following command:

Step 2: Initialize Your Project

Start by creating a directory structure for your project. Inside the project root, use the following command to initialize it as a NuGet package:

Step 3: Edit the Package Metadata

Open the generated .nuspec file and update the metadata with relevant information about your package. Pay attention to details like ID, version, authors, description, and dependencies.

Step 4: Add Your Content

Include the files you want to package in a folder structure that mirrors how they should be installed on the target machines. Use the following command to create the package:

Step 5: Distribute Your Package

Once successfully packed, you can distribute your NuGet package to your organization or the public repository. Execute the following command to push your package:

By following these steps, you can efficiently create and distribute NuGet packages directly from the command line interface. This approach streamlines the process and makes package management easier than ever before.