Installing NuGet Packages via Command Line

When it comes to managing dependencies and packages in your .NET projects, NuGet is an essential tool. While most developers rely on Visual Studio’s package manager GUI, there are situations where you might need to install NuGet packages via the command line. This guide will walk you through the steps to achieve this seamlessly.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the command line installation process, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• .NET Core SDK or Visual Studio installed
• A basic understanding of the command line interface

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

Begin by opening the command prompt on your Windows machine. You can do this by searching for “cmd” in the Start menu.

Step 2: Navigate to Your Project Directory

Use the cd command to navigate to your project’s directory where you want to install the NuGet package. For example:

cd C:YourProjectDirectory

Step 3: Install the NuGet Package

Next, use the dotnet add package command followed by the package name to install the NuGet package. For instance:

dotnet add package PackageName

Step 4: Verify the Installation

Once the installation is completed, you can verify the presence of the package in your project by checking the project file or using the package manager console in Visual Studio.

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips to enhance your NuGet package management experience:

• Use the --version flag to specify a particular version of the package
• Consider creating a script for batch installations of multiple packages

Conclusion

Mastering the command line installation of NuGet packages can significantly streamline your development workflow and provide a deeper understanding of package management in .NET projects. Next time you find yourself without access to Visual Studio, remember these steps to effortlessly install NuGet packages via the command line.