Is there a way to make a console application run using only a single file in .NET Core?

Question

In .NET framework, you can make a single .EXE file that will run from the command line without having any extra config files (and if using ILMerge, you can put

Answer 1

It is possible in .NET Core 3.0+

The feature is enabled by the usage of the following property in your project file (.csproj):

    true

There are other options as well, such as packaging the pdb into the bundle, or leaving certain files out.

Documentation can be found here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/#publish-self-contained

True it just works:

Combine this technique with the Self Contained Deployment workflow, you can get a true "it just works" experience for your user, they don't even have to install the .NET Core runtime for your app to run.

I am currently deploying applications to my clients as single .exe files.

Read more about that here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/#self-contained-deployments-scd