how can i automate the vs project using python to compile and build

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how can i automate the vs project using python to compile and build

Lakshay Goel 10

i want to write a python script to automate the building process for the visual studio projects

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Answer 1

Michael Taylor 60,161

The VS build process consists of just calling MSBuild and passing it the name of the project/solution and any customized parameters (such as configuration). Use the standard Python script that can invoke another process to do this.

msbuild mysolution.sln -t:rebuild -property:configuration=Release

Note that you need to ensure the environment is set up properly for this. Refer to the "Developer Command Prompt" that was created when you installed VS. It references a command shell script that sets up the environment needed to build in VS. Replicate the setting of the env vars that you need for your environment and then call MSBuild.

Lakshay Goel 10 Reputation points

2023-03-16T06:28:19.4833333+00:00

i am looking for python scripit
Michael Taylor 60,161 Reputation points

2023-03-16T14:26:52.5933333+00:00

A quick google as I'm not a Python person.

https://gist.github.com/rcravens/1093434

https://heejune.me/2015/12/08/writing-a-python-build-script-for-your-visual-c-project/

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14528843/calling-msbuild-in-python-script

https://groups.google.com/g/jenkinsci-users/c/zwvr8vDK2uY

It's literally just calling a process from Python so I don't know what issues you may be running into in trying to implement this.
Lakshay Goel 10 Reputation points

2023-03-23T17:28:17.27+00:00

any alternative to ms build ,i want to use just plain command line
Michael Taylor 60,161 Reputation points

2023-03-23T18:15:22.09+00:00

Why? msbuild is a CLI (command line) tool. You didn't specify what type of project you're building but at a bare minimal you'll have to call the compiler which is a CLI tool. The compiler requires that you pass it a bunch of data including the file(s) to compile.

Additionally if the project uses dependency management then you have to run those tools as well. Projects may have custom work to do as well such as compiling scripts, generating additional files, copying files, etc. You would have to know what needs to happen for each project you're compiling. Needless to say this requires a tremendous amount of code, especially since this is an extensible system so the project may be relying on custom build tasks.

That is exactly what msbuild does. It handles all this for you. All you literally have to do is call the CLI tool and specify the project. It'll handle all the rest of the work. This is much less work for you to do then even calling the compiler from the command line.

Are you running into a particular issue when trying to run msbuild such that you think it would be easier to do this work manually in your script?

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how can i automate the vs project using python to compile and build

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