.NET Package Management:    NuGet and Beyond

Rick Tuttle

@ricktuttle

Package Management

• Package: code you want in your project
• Registry: public repository of packages
• Package Manager: gets the stuff for you and puts it in your project

You have used one of these...

• Windows Update
• Web Platform Installer
• rpm (RedHat)
• apt-get (Debian, Ubuntu)
• Homebrew (Mac OS X)
• App Store

ASP.NET Adoption of Web Tooling and OSS

• 2007: MVC (Rails)
• 2010 NuGet (Ruby gems)
• Scaffolding
• Node, NPM, Bower, Grunt/Gulp

Good artists copy. Great artists steal.

- Steve Jobs

NuGet

• nuget.org
• Part of Visual Studio
• Package Manager Console
• Package Manager Dialog
• Can deliver front/back end components
• Best for .NET Components

Adding a NuGet Package

• Package contents downloaded to packages folder
• References added to binaries
• Support files added to project
• Web.config parameters added

NuGet Demo

(and a little choco)

We Have Issues

• NuGet works great for .NET binaries
• Not so good for front-end components
• Files get added to project inconsistently
• We need more control!

Bower

• bower.io
• Requires Node, npm, git
• Can be used in alongside Nuget
• Manage your javascript, css, font assets

Node.js

• Server runtime built with Javascript
• Can be used as a harness to run front end utilities like bower, grunt, gulp, yeoman, etc.
• Install on Win or Mac using an install executable/dmg
• OR install with Chocolatey

NPM

• Node Package Manager
• Use it to install software that "runs in" Node.js
• Even if not using Node.js for your project you use NPM to manage your "tooling" to build your project

Bower

• Installs packages in your project
• Front-end Assets like JS, CSS, Fonts
• Uses public registry like NuGet except WAY more packages/projects available
• Gets source from github repos
• Manage versions
• Flexible configuration

Bower + Gulp

• Manage the versions of your front-end assets with Bower
• Use Gulp to add your .js and .css <script> includes
• Use Gulp for minification, combining scripts, running tests, cache busting!
• Grunt is another alternative

Bower + Gulp Demo

The Future's So Bright...

• ASP.NET 5 and VS 2015
• Node, NPM, Bower, Grunt, Gulp
• You're in control bro, rock on!
• OMG. I'm in control. Bruh.

Some References

• John Papa - Pluralsight - Javascript Build Automation with Gulp
• Channel 9 - Build 2015 Mads Kristensen - Modern Web Tooling in Visual Studio 2015
• docs.asp.net

Questions?

Rick Tuttle

@ricktuttle