LINQPadless

LINQPadless compiles and runs LINQPad query files as stand-alone .NET Core applications without the need for LINQPad.

The compilation is cached and re-used until the source query file changes.

The LINQPad query file can be run on any platform where .NET Core is supported however it is the responsibility of the query author to ensure that the code and packages referenced are compatible with .NET Core and the execution platform.

Usage Examples

Compile and run a single LINQPad query file in the current directory:

lpless Foobar.linq

Compile but don't run:

lpless -x Foobar.linq

Force a re-compilation before running even if the LINQPad query file has not changed since the last run:

lpless -f Foobar.linq

For more information, see help:

lpless -h

Motivation

Why does LINQPadless exist?

LINQPad is an excellent alternative to Visual Studio when you want to script some code but don't want all the ceremony of a Visual Studio solution or project. You can use NuGet packages, get the same experience as IntelliSense, even debug through your code and all the while maintaining a single source file. What's there not to love about it? However, when you want to ship that code to someone or automate it, you are tied to LINQPad when that dependency is not necessary. That's where lpless comes in. It turns your LINQ Query file into a C# script or an executable that you can then run without LINQPad.

What's different from lprun?

lprun is a good solution when you need 100% compatibility and parity with LINQPad features at run-time. On the other hand, when all you are doing is using LINQPad as a lightweight IDE to script some task that doesn't need its bells and whistles then turning those queries into compiled executables enables them to be shipped and run without LINQPad.

Limitations

Requires .NET SDK 6+ for execution.

LINQPad Query files must be either C# Statements, Expression or Program.

LINQPad-specific methods like Dump and those on its Util class will cause compilation errors.

In loaded (#load) queries:

• the Hijack hook method is not supported.
• only an absolute path and a path relative to where the query is saved are supported in the #load directive.