--- title: .NET 8 Preview 3: Simplified Output Path format for Builds published: true date: 2023-04-20 19:31:26 UTC tags: canonical_url: --- If you're like me, you're used to finding your .NET build artifacts in `/bin` and `/obj` directories inside your source projects. It's been this way my whole career. In .NET 8 Preview 3, this can be changed to dump the `/bin` and `/obj` artifacts into an `.artifacts` directory instead of the source root. .NET Manager Chet Husk Writes about it [in the comments of 'What's new in .NET 8 Preview 3' discussion](https://github.com/dotnet/core/issues/8135#issuecomment-1483357684). I'd like to test this little feature out. First, I needed to install [.NET 8 Preview 3](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/8.0). It required a system restart. First, a new console app in a directory `testartifactsoutput`. ``` ~#@❯ dotnet new console ❮  Welcome to .NET 8.0! --------------------- SDK Version: 8.0.100-preview.3.23178.7 Telemetry --------- The .NET tools collect usage data in order to help us improve your experience..... *SNIP* Read more about .NET CLI Tools telemetry: https://aka.ms/dotnet-cli-telemetry ---------------- Installed an ASP.NET Core HTTPS development certificate. To trust the certificate run 'dotnet dev-certs https --trust' (Windows and macOS only). Learn about HTTPS: https://aka.ms/dotnet-https ---------------- Write your first app: https://aka.ms/dotnet-hello-world Find out what's new: https://aka.ms/dotnet-whats-new Explore documentation: https://aka.ms/dotnet-docs Report issues and find source on GitHub: https://github.com/dotnet/core Use 'dotnet --help' to see available commands or visit: https://aka.ms/dotnet-cli -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The template "Console App" was created successfully. Processing post-creation actions... Restoring C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput\testartifactsoutput.csproj: Determining projects to restore... Restored C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput\testartifactsoutput.csproj (in 76 ms). Restore succeeded. ``` The default behavior is still to build to the `/bin` directory. ``` ~#@❯ dotnet build ❮  MSBuild version 17.6.0-preview-23174-01+e7de13307 for .NET Determining projects to restore... All projects are up-to-date for restore. C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\8.0.100-preview.3.23178.7\Sdks\Microsoft.NET.Sdk\targets\Microsoft.NET.RuntimeIdentifierInference.targ ets(287,5): message NETSDK1057: You are using a preview version of .NET. See: https://aka.ms/dotnet-support-policy [C:\danschnaupr ojects\testartifactsoutput\testartifactsoutput.csproj] testartifactsoutput -> C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput\bin\Debug\net8.0\testartifactsoutput.dll ``` Then, we create a `Directory.Build.Props` file. ``` ~#@❯ dotnet new buildprops ❮  The template "MSBuild Directory.Build.props file" was created successfully. ``` The buildprops file is pretty sparse. ``` ``` We add the `UseArtifactsOutput` flag to the file: ``` true ``` Now I cleaned up the build by deleting the `/bin` and `obj` directories. ``` ~#@❯ ls ❮  Directory: C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 4/20/2023 3:25 PM 212 Directory.Build.props -a---- 4/20/2023 3:20 PM 105 Program.cs -a---- 4/20/2023 3:20 PM 252 testartifactsoutput.csproj ``` And now, a build: ``` ~#@❯ dotnet build ❮  MSBuild version 17.6.0-preview-23174-01+e7de13307 for .NET Determining projects to restore... Restored C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput\testartifactsoutput.csproj (in 64 ms). C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\8.0.100-preview.3.23178.7\Sdks\Microsoft.NET.Sdk\targets\Microsoft.NET.RuntimeIdentifierInference.targ ets(287,5): message NETSDK1057: You are using a preview version of .NET. See: https://aka.ms/dotnet-support-policy [C:\danschnaupr ojects\testartifactsoutput\testartifactsoutput.csproj] testartifactsoutput -> C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput\.artifacts\bin\testartifactsoutput\debug\testartifactsoutput.dll Build succeeded. 0 Warning(s) 0 Error(s) Time Elapsed 00:00:01.20 ``` Ooh, I see the `.artifacts` directory in the output there. The `/bin` and `/obj` directories are now in their own `/.artifacts` folder. Sweet. ``` ~#@❯ ls ❮ 1s 452ms   Directory: C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 4/20/2023 3:26 PM .artifacts -a---- 4/20/2023 3:25 PM 212 Directory.Build.props -a---- 4/20/2023 3:20 PM 105 Program.cs -a---- 4/20/2023 3:20 PM 252 testartifactsoutput.csproj ~#@❯ ls .\.artifacts\ ❮  Directory: C:\danschnauprojects\testartifactsoutput\.artifacts Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 4/20/2023 3:26 PM bin d----- 4/20/2023 3:26 PM obj ```

dsschnau

.NET 8 Preview 3: Simplified Output Path format for Builds

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