StartDotNet - C# Automated Rapid Project Setup

Introduction

StartDotNet is a tool designed to simplify the setup process for new C# projects using the .NET framework. It automates the creation of project directories, solution files, and project files, streamlining the initialization process for developers. StartDotNet can be used either through a Python script or as a standalone executable file.

Features

• Interactive Setup: Guides users through the setup process with prompts for project names and types.
• Project Type Support: Supports various project types including console applications, web APIs, class libraries, and test projects (xUnit, MSTest).
• Automation: Automatically generates and executes .NET CLI commands to set up the project.
• Multiple Usage Options: Available as a Python script or a Windows executable file.

Prerequisites

For Python Script:

• Python 3.x
• .NET SDK

For Executable File:

• .NET SDK

You can check if the .NET SDK is installed by running dotnet --version in your terminal or command prompt.

Installation

Python Script

1. Download the StartDotNet.py script to your local machine.

Executable File

1. Download the StartDotNet.exe executable file to your local machine.

Usage

Using the Executable File

1. Open a Command Prompt: Navigate to the folder where you've downloaded StartDotNet.exe.

2. Run the Executable: Simply double-click on StartDotNet.exe or run it from the command prompt:

   StartDotNet.exe

3. Follow the Prompts: The executable will guide you through the same process as the script.

Using the Python Script

1. Open a Terminal or Command Prompt: Navigate to the folder where you've saved StartDotNet.py.

2. Run the Script: Execute the script by running the following command:

   python StartDotNet.py

3. Follow the Prompts: The script will guide you through the process. You'll be asked to enter a project name and select a project type.

Command Line Arguments

For both the Python script and the executable, you can use command line arguments to specify the project name, directory, and type:

• -d, --directory: Specify the directory where the project should be created.
• -t, --type: Specify the type of .NET project (console, webapi, mvc).

Example for the Python script:

python StartDotNet.py MyNewProject -d ./Projects -t console

Example for the executable:

StartDotNet.exe MyNewProject -d .\Projects -t console

Contributing

We welcome contributions to StartDotNet! If you have suggestions for improvements or encounter any issues, please feel free to submit an issue or pull request on our GitHub repository.

License

StartDotNet is open-sourced under the GNU General Public License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

Acknowledgments

Created by John Akujobi in March 2024.

Special thanks to the .NET community and my classmates in CSC 346 OOP SP24 for being the first users and providing feedback.