Sdk: Feature request, compile dotnet to one self contained executable file

[29e7e280-0d1c-4bba-98fe-f7cd3ca7500a]

This is a feature request. The current dotnet build result (even self contained build) will output a executable file and much more dll.
Can we built them all in one single executable file?

golang/rust can build into one executable file(which good for redistribute). hope dotnet have the same ability

[svick]

Related: https://github.com/dotnet/corefx/issues/13329

[maikebing]

executable file “”dotnet”,'dotnet.exe' looks like "java.exe" "jave", It is freak,Whether it is linux or windows, the process is a bunch of dotnet or java,After the deployment of dozens of folders or even hundreds of dll.

[dasMulli]

Also related:

1. CoreRT project which aims to create standalone native executables
2. https://github.com/dotnet/announcements/issues/30 IL Linker to create a minimum deployment (addressing the "hundreds of dll" issue).

[maikebing]

@dasMulli
There is no IDE support for corert or il link and hav't anything options in IDE!

It seems that Microsoft did not think good? Or can not publish?

[0xced]

If you are wondering, it is possible to create a self contained executable file with CoreRT, here is how:

1. Clone the CoreRT repository.
2. Follow the instructions to build the ILCompiler.

I have tested with a Hello World program on macOS 10.12:

$ ls
HelloWorld.csproj Program.cs

Beware, use <Project> instead of <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

$ cat HelloWorld.csproj 
<Project>
  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp2.0</TargetFramework>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildSDKsPath)/Microsoft.NET.Sdk/Sdk/Sdk.props"/>
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildSDKsPath)/Microsoft.NET.Sdk/Sdk/Sdk.targets"/>
  <Import Project="$(IlcPath)/build/Microsoft.NETCore.Native.targets" Condition="'$(IlcPath)' != ''"/>
</Project>

Basic Hello World:

$ cat Program.cs 
using System;

namespace HelloWorld
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");
        }
    }
}

Publish with the ILCompiler (mine was built in ~/Projects/dotnet/corert/bin/OSX.x64.Debug):

$ dotnet publish --configuration Release --runtime osx-x64 --output native /p:IlcPath=${HOME}/Projects/dotnet/corert/bin/OSX.x64.Debug
Microsoft (R) Build Engine version 15.5.180.51428 for .NET Core
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

  Restoring packages for /private/tmp/HelloWorld/HelloWorld.csproj...
  Generating MSBuild file /private/tmp/HelloWorld/obj/HelloWorld.csproj.nuget.g.props.
  Generating MSBuild file /private/tmp/HelloWorld/obj/HelloWorld.csproj.nuget.g.targets.
  Restore completed in 254.61 ms for /private/tmp/HelloWorld/HelloWorld.csproj.
  HelloWorld -> /private/tmp/HelloWorld/bin/Release/netcoreapp2.0/osx-x64/HelloWorld.dll
  /usr/bin/clang
  Generating native code
clang : warning : argument unused during compilation: '-pthread' [-Wunused-command-line-argument] [/private/tmp/HelloWorld/HelloWorld.csproj]
  HelloWorld -> /private/tmp/HelloWorld/native/

The file is a standalone 14 MB native macOS executable that writes Hello World! 🎉

$ file native/HelloWorld
native/HelloWorld: Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64
$ du -h native/HelloWorld
 14M    native/HelloWorld
$ native/HelloWorld 
Hello World!

Now, it would be nice to have this feature builtin to the .NET Core SDK, without having to build the ILCompiler and tweak the csproj file.

@livarcocc: How do the .NET Core team envision this feature? Integrating CoreRT in the .NET Core SDK? Something else?

[jkotas]

Integrating CoreRT in the .NET Core SDK?

@0xced We have recently started publishing NuGet packages for CoreRT. These packages integrate with .NET Core SDK. Take a look at our samples: https://github.com/dotnet/corert/tree/master/samples/WebApi

If you have any additional feedback about this, CoreRT repo is the best place for it.

[robertmiles3]

For those interested, thanks to @0xced and @jkotas I created a simple example that's a bit easier now that ILCompiler is a NuGet package.

[robertmiles3]

...and I just found there was already a hello world example out there on the CoreRT repo. Doh!