dotnet / dotnet/docs

Class Library Projects Can't be Published as DLL Files

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dotnet-fundamentals/svc
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Description

I understand that a DLL file can be found in the bin/debug folder of the project, however that would require moving that file from the plugin project folder over to the application folder every time there's an update. Luckily, we have a publish button that lets us specify where to output the file, so now all we have to do is publish after making changes then run the application to see the effects of the plugin.

Or at least that's what we should be able to do. Unfortunately, with Class Libraries, we are forced to publish as a nupkg file which is pretty useless as a plugin.

The entire point of creating a system that accepts user-created plugins is so the user can toss those plugin DLLs straight into the plugin folder of the already-published system. As such, it would make sense that the tutorial on how to build such a system would show how to do this in a way that makes sense.

Because this tutorial doesn't show how to do this, I'm led to believe this ideal scenario simply isn't possible and you've missed the point of having plugins to begin with.

The fix for this is easy, but it does depend on what is actually available.

1. If there is a way to publish a class library as a DLL from project A and put it in project B's Plugin directory, then this should be shown in the tutorial.
2. If there's not a way to do 1, then make it possible. Class Libraries generate a DLL file when building debug versions, so why am I not allowed to publish as a DLL? This doesn't make any sense at all.

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#### Document Details

⚠ *Do not edit this section. It is required for docs.microsoft.com ➟ GitHub issue linking.*

* ID: 06023407-704f-0ace-e89a-eedd9f95a007
* Version Independent ID: f25a6e1a-cb10-867b-0522-a377bf9d016b
* Content: [Create a .NET Core application with plugins - .NET](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tutorials/creating-app-with-plugin-support)
* Content Source: [docs/core/tutorials/creating-app-with-plugin-support.md](https://github.com/dotnet/docs/blob/master/docs/core/tutorials/creating-app-with-plugin-support.md)
* Product: **dotnet-fundamentals**
* GitHub Login: @jkoritzinsky
* Microsoft Alias: **jekoritz**

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