Sdk: Object reference not set to an instance of an object after publish

[kgosciniak-insys]

I'm having trouble when publishing my application.
Published output doesn't work, with error:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Steps to reproduce

1. Create Empty ASP.NET Core Web Application (.NET Core)
2. Setup simple project.json

{
  "dependencies": {
    "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
      "version": "1.0.0-rc2-3002702"
    },
    "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.IISIntegration": "1.0.0-rc2-final",
    "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.Kestrel": "1.0.0-rc2-final"
  },

  "tools": {
    "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.IISIntegration.Tools": {
      "version": "1.0.0-preview1-final",
      "imports": "portable-net45+win8+dnxcore50"
    }
  },

  "frameworks": {
    "netcoreapp1.0": { }
  },

  "buildOptions": {
    "emitEntryPoint": true
  },

  "runtimes": {
    "osx.10.11-x64": { },
    "win8-x64": { },
    "win10-x64": { },
    "ubuntu.14.04-x64": { }
  },

  "publishOptions": {
    "include": [
      "wwwroot",
      "web.config"
    ]
  },

  "scripts": {
    "postpublish": [ "dotnet publish-iis --publish-folder %publish:OutputPath% --framework %publish:FullTargetFramework%" ]
  }
}

1. dotnet restore
2. dotnet run
3. "Hello world" is visible in browser at http://localhost:5000
4. dotnet publish -r win8-x64 -o "c:tmp\Publish"
5. Navigate to output directory "c:tmp\Publish"
6. dotnet run
7. dotnet run -p WebApplication4.dll - doesn't work either
   

   Expected behavior

Application will start the same way as before publish

Actual behavior

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Environment data

dotnet --info output:

.NET Command Line Tools (1.0.0-preview1-002702)

Product Information:
 Version:     1.0.0-preview1-002702
 Commit Sha:  6cde21225e

Runtime Environment:
 OS Name:     Windows
 OS Version:  6.2.9200
 OS Platform: Windows
 RID:         win8-x64

[dasMulli]

It should generate and run with WebApplication4.exe (no dotnet ... call required for standalone apps).
The nullref comes from run not finding a project.json/project.lock.json and afaik has been fixed in newer builds.

[blackdwarf]

@dasMulli is right. For a standalone app, you will get an EXE file that you run.

Can you try with the latest builds and see if the dotnet run behavior is correct (not throwing)?

[TheRealPiotrP]

preview2 does indeed include a fix:

The current project is not valid because of the following errors:
/Users/piotrp/.dotnet(1,0): error DOTNET1017: Project file does not exist '/Users/piotrp/.dotnet/project.json'.

[johnkattenhorn]

I've followed this issue and pulled the latest build and I get the fix but I still don't get a standalone .exe, what have I missed ?

[blackdwarf]

@johnkattenhorn can you share your project.json?

[johnkattenhorn]

Hey @blackdwarf, I figure it out just now, I needed to remove the platform line from the project.json.

Thanks for following it up

[tmds]

To run a published application, don't use run, just dotnet myapp.dll.

[johnkattenhorn]

Yep, I was reading some comments in the dotnet run not run in here earlier. I can see why it's confusing for people.

[stevenshort]

Ugh, @tmds
thank you :)