We want to reduce build time by skipping execution of referenced projects multiple times during compilation. Example: We have 10 projects for compilation. Each project has referenced with multiple projects. like project1 has referenced with 3,5,6,7 project2 has referenced with 1,5,6,8 project3 has referenced with 6,5,9 .... here project5 & 6 runs 3 times during project 1,2 & 3 build, but we want run Project 5 & 6 only once. is there any way to achieve this? Thanks in advance.

Skip project build multiple times in referenced projects

Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati 0

We want to reduce build time by skipping execution of referenced projects multiple times during compilation.

Example:

We have 10 projects for compilation. Each project has referenced with multiple projects. like

project1 has referenced with 3,5,6,7
project2 has referenced with 1,5,6,8
project3 has referenced with 6,5,9 ....

here project5 & 6 runs 3 times during project 1,2 & 3 build, but we want run Project 5 & 6 only once.

is there any way to achieve this?

Thanks in advance.

Viorel 119.2K Reputation points

2023-05-04T11:26:36.3533333+00:00

I think that usually it should not rebuild the dependent C# projects.

Maybe there are some specific details in your environment, or projects depend on different configurations (x86, x64,, Debug, Release, etc.), which need separate compilation.
Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati 0 Reputation points

2023-05-04T12:32:04.2766667+00:00

Configuration is same for all projects
Tianyu Sun-MSFT 32,421 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-05-04T14:03:47.28+00:00

Hi @Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Normally .dll files(for example 5.dll, 6.dll) will be copied to the project folder(1,2,3), and maybe .pdb files for debugging. If 5.dll and 6.dll files already exist, there's no need to build project 5,6 again, VS should skip to build and copy files and use them only.

The situation looks a little complex as in your example, project 5, project 6 may be changed. If so, they should build again to update and generate new 5.dll and 6.dll files.

But still if newly generated 5.dll or 6.dll files exist(build once), VS should skip it.

Can you confirm that VS exactly builds/compiles it for several times?
Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati 0 Reputation points

2023-05-05T14:06:24.2833333+00:00

Hi @Tianyu Sun-MSFT

Thank you for your reply.

Build process is through MSBuild from command line not from VS.

When we call 1.dll build it generates 5.dll and 6.dll, all files are copied to respective project folders. 5.dll and 6.dll compiled during 2.dll,3.dll which we want skip.
Tianyu Sun-MSFT 32,421 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-05-10T09:55:49.4166667+00:00

Hi @Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati ,

Thank you for your reply.

Based on my test, the build processes for project 5,6 are skipped automatically and the time for building reduced.

Is this issue reproducible on your side with newly created projects?
Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati 0 Reputation points

2023-05-23T09:55:30.6+00:00

Hi @Tianyu Sun-MSFT

Thank you for your replay.

Even i too find the same content "Skipping target "CoreCompilation"", but the build time is same.
Tianyu Sun-MSFT 32,421 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-06-02T08:12:53.81+00:00

Hi @Sambasiva Rao Vankayalapati ,

Did you clean the cache(bin, obj and the hidden .vs folder) to test again? If you have built the project before, some files have already been generated.

I suggest try to clean the cache and build again. I tested again and the time is different. If the targets like CoreCompile do skip, the time should reduce.

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Skip project build multiple times in referenced projects

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