title	description	keywords	author	manager	ms.date	ms.topic	ms.prod	ms.technology	ms.devlang	ms.assetid
project.json reference	project.json reference	.NET, .NET Core, project.json	aL3891	wpickett	07/06/2016	article	.net-core	.net-core-technologies	dotnet	3aef32bd-ee2a-4e24-80f8-a2b615e0336d

project.json reference

Note

This topic is preliminary and subject to change in the next release. You can track the status of this issue through our public GitHub issue tracker.

name

Type: String

The name of the project, used for the assembly name as well as the name of the package. The top level folder name is used if this property is not specified.

For example:

{
    "name": "MyLibrary"
}

version

Type: String

The Semver version of the project, also used for the NuGet package.

For example:

{
    "version": "1.0.0-*"
}

description

Type: String

A longer description of the project. Used in the assembly properties.

For example:

{
    "description": "This is my library and it's really great!"
}

copyright

Type: String

The copyright information for the project. Used in the assembly properties.

For example:

{
    "copyright": "Fabrikam 2016"
}

title

Type: String

The friendly name of the project, can contain spaces and special characters not allowed when using the name property. Used in the assembly properties.

For example:

{
    "title": "My Library"
}

entryPoint

Type: String

The entrypoint method for the project. Main by default.

For example:

{
    "entryPoint": "ADifferentMethod"
}

testRunner

Type: String

The name of the test runner, such as NUnit or xUnit, to use with this project. Setting this also marks the project as a test project.

For example:

{
    "testRunner": "NUnit"
}

authors

Type: String[]

An array of strings with the names of the authors of the project.

For example:

{
    "authors": ["Anne", "Bob"]
}

language

Type: String

The (human) language of the project. Corresponds to the "neutral-language" compiler argument.

For example:

{
    "language": "en-US"
}

embedInteropTypes

Type: Boolean

true to embed COM interop types in the assembly; otherwise, false.

For example:

{
    "embedInteropTypes": true
}

preprocess

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern

Specifies which files are included in preprocessing.

For example:

{
    "preprocess": "compiler/preprocess/**/*.cs"
}

shared

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern

Specifies which files are shared, this is used for library export.

For example:

{
    "shared": "shared/**/*.cs"
}

dependencies

Type: Object

An object that defines the package dependencies of the project, each key of this object is the name of a package and each value contains versioning information.

For example:

"dependencies": {
    "System.Reflection.Metadata": "1.3.0",
    "Microsoft.Extensions.JsonParser.Sources": {
      "type": "build",
      "version": "1.0.0-rc2-20221"
    },
    "Microsoft.Extensions.HashCodeCombiner.Sources": {
      "type": "build",
      "version": "1.1.0-alpha1-21456"
    },
    "Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyModel": "1.0.0-*"
}

tools

Type: Object

An object that defines package dependencies that are used as tools for the current project, not as references. Packages defined here are available in scripts that run during the build process, but they are not accessible to the code in the project itself. Tools can for example include code generators or post-build tools that perform tasks related to packing.

For example:

{
    "tools": {
        "MyObfuscator": "1.2.4"
    }
}

scripts

Type: Object

An object that defines scripts run during the build process. Each key in this object identifies where in the build the script is run. Each value is either a string with the script to run or an array of strings containing scripts that will run in order. The supported events are:

precompile
postcompile
prepublish
postpublish

For example:

{
    "scripts": {
        "precompile": "generateCode.cmd"
        "postcompile": [ "obfuscate.cmd", "removeTempFiles.cmd" ]
    }
}

buildOptions

Type: Object

An object whose properties control various aspects of compilation. The valid properties are listed below. Can also be specified per target framework as described in the frameworks section.

For example:

"buildOptions": {
  "allowUnsafe": true,
  "emitEntryPoint": true
}

define

Type: String[]

A list of defines such as "DEBUG" or "TRACE" that can be used in conditional compilation in the code.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "define": ["TEST", "OTHERCONDITION"]
    }
}

nowarn

Type: String[]

A list of warnings to ignore.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "nowarn": ["CS0168", "CS0219"]
    }
}

This ignores the warnings The variable 'var' is assigned but its value is never used and The variable 'var' is assigned but its value is never used

additionalArguments

Type: String[]

A list of extra arguments that will be passed to the compiler.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "additionalArguments": ["/parallel", "/nostdlib"]
    }
}

warningsAsErrors

Type: Boolean

true to treat warnings as errors; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "warningsAsErrors": true
    }
}

allowUnsafe

Type: Boolean

true to allow unsafe code in this project; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "allowUnsafe": true
    }
}

emitEntryPoint

Type: Boolean

true to create an executable; false to produce a .dll file. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "emitEntryPoint": true
    }
}

optimize

Type: Boolean

true to enable the compiler to optimize the code in this project; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "optimize": true
    }
}

platform

Type: String

The name of the target platform, such as AnyCpu, x86 or x64.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "platform": "x64"
    }
}

languageVersion

Type: String

The version of the language used by the compiler: ISO-1, ISO-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or Default

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "languageVersion": "5"
    }
}

keyFile

Type: String

The path for the key file used for signing this assembly.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "keyFile": "../keyfile.snk"
    }
}

delaySign

Type: Boolean

true to delay signing; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "delaySign": true
    }
}

publicSign

Type: Boolean

true to enable signing of the resulting assembly; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "publicSign": true
    }
}

debugType

Type: String

Indicates the type of symbol file (PDF file) to generate. The options are "portable" (for .NET Core projects), "full" (the traditional Windows-only PDB files) or "none".

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "debugType": "portable"
    }
}

xmlDoc

Type: Boolean

true to generate XML documentation from triple-slash comments in the source code; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "xmlDoc": true
    }
}

preserveCompilationContext

Type: Boolean

true to preserve reference assemblies and other context data to allow for runtime compilation; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "preserveCompilationContext": true
    }
}

outputName

Type: String

Change the name of the output file.

For example:

{
    "buildOptions": {
        "outputName": "MyApp"
    }
}

compilerName

Type: String

The name of the compiler used for this project. csc by default. Currently, csc (the C# compiler) or fsc (the F# compiler) are supported.

For example:

{
    "compilerName": "fsc"
}

compile

Type: Object

An object containing properties for compilation configuration.

include

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

Specifies which files to include in the build. The patterns are rooted at the project folder. Defaults to none.

For example:

{
    "include":["wwwroot", "Views"]
}

exclude

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

Specifies which files to exclude from the build. The exclude patterns have higher priority than the include patterns, so a file found in both will be excluded. The patterns are rooted at the project folder. Defaults to none.

For example:

{
    "exclude": ["bin/**", "obj/**"]
}

includeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

A list of file paths to include. The paths are rooted at the project folder. This list has a higher priority than the include and exclude globbing patterns, hence a file listed here and in the exclude globbing pattern will still be included. Defaults to none.

For example:

{
    "includeFiles": []
}

excludeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

A list of file paths to exclude. The paths are rooted at the project folder. This list has a higher priority than globbing patterns and the include paths, hence a file found in all will be excluded. Defaults to none.

For example:

{
    "excludeFiles":[],
}

builtIns

Type: Object

The defaults provided by the system. It can have include and exclude globbing patterns which are merged with the corresponding values of the include and exclude properties.

For example:

{
    "builtIns":{}
}

mappings

Type: Object

Keys to the object represent destination paths in the output layout.

Values are either a string or an object representing the source path of files to include. The object represtation can have its own include, exclude, includeFiles and excludeFiles sections.

String example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path": "./src/path"
    }
}

Object example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path":{
            "include":"./src/path"
        }
    }
}

embed

Type: Object

An object containing properties for compilation configuration.

include

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "include":["wwwroot", "Views"]
}

exclude

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

Specifies which files to exclude from the build.

For example:

{
    "exclude": ["bin/**", "obj/**"]
}

includeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "includeFiles":[],
}

excludeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "excludeFiles":[],
}

builtIns

Type: Object

{
    "builtIns":{}
}

mappings

Type: Object

Keys to the object represent destination paths in the output layout.

Values are either a string or an object representing the source path of files to include. The object represtation can have its own include, exclude, includeFiles and excludeFiles sections.

String example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path": "./src/path"
    }
}

Object example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path":{
            "include":"./src/path"
        }
    }
}

copyToOutput

Type: Object

An object containing properties for compilation configuration.

include

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "include":["wwwroot", "Views"]
}

exclude

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

Specifies which files to exclude from the build.

For example:

{
    "exclude": ["bin/**", "obj/**"]
}

includeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "includeFiles":[],
}

excludeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "excludeFiles":[],
}

builtIns

Type: Object

{
    "builtIns":{}
}

mappings

Type: Object

Keys to the object represent destination paths in the output layout.

Values are either a string or an object representing the source path of files to include. The object represtation can have its own include, exclude, includeFiles and excludeFiles sections.

String example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path": "./src/path"
    }
}

Object example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path":{
            "include":"./src/path"
        }
    }
}

publishOptions

Type: Object

An object containing properties for compilation configuration.

include

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "include":["wwwroot", "Views"]
}

exclude

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

Specifies which files to exclude from the build.

For example:

{
    "exclude": ["bin/**", "obj/**"]
}

includeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "includeFiles":[],
}

excludeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "excludeFiles":[],
}

builtIns

Type: Object

{
    "builtIns":{}
}

mappings

Type: Object

Keys to the object represent destination paths in the output layout.

Values are either a string or an object representing the source path of files to include. The object represtation can have its own include, exclude, includeFiles and excludeFiles sections.

String example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path": "./src/path"
    }
}

Object example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path":{
            "include":"./src/path"
        }
    }
}

runtimeOptions

Type: Object

Specifies parameters to be provided to the runtime during initialization.

configProperties

Type: Object

Contains configuration properties to configure the runtime and the framework.

System.GC.Server

Type: Boolean

true to enable server garbage collection; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "configProperties": {
            "System.GC.Server": true
        }
    }
}

System.GC.Concurrent

Type: Boolean

true to enable concurrent garbage collection; otherwise, false. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "configProperties": {
            "System.GC.Concurrent": true
        }
    }
}

System.GC.RetainVM

Type: Boolean

true to put segments that should be deleted on a standby list for future use instead of releasing them back to the operating system (OS); otherwise, false.

For example:

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "configProperties": {
            "System.GC.RetainVM": true
        }
    }
}

System.Threading.ThreadPool.MinThreads

Type: Integer

Overrides the number of minimum threads for the ThreadPool worker pool.

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "configProperties": {
            "System.Threading.ThreadPool.MinThreads": 4
        }
    }
}

System.Threading.ThreadPool.MaxThreads

Type: Integer

Overrides the number of maximum threads for the ThreadPool worker pool.

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "configProperties": {
            "System.Threading.ThreadPool.MaxThreads": 25
        }
    }
}

framework

Type: Object

Contains shared framework properties to use when activating the application. The presence of this section indicates that the application is a portable app designed to use a shared redistributable framework.

name

Type: String

Name of the shared framework.

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "framework": {
            "name": "Microsoft.DotNetCore"
        }
    }
}

version

Type: String

Version of the shared framework.

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "framework": {
            "version": "1.0.1"
        }
    }
}

applyPatches

Type: Boolean

true to use the framework from either the same or a higher version that differs only in the SemVer patch field. false for the host to use only the exact framework version. The default is true.

{
    "runtimeOptions": {
        "applyPatches": false
    }
}

packOptions

Type: Object

Defines options pertaining to the packaging of the project output into a NuGet package.

summary

Type: String

A short description of the project.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "summary": "This is my library."
    }
}

owners

Type: String[]

An array of strings with the names of the owners of the project.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "owners": ["Fabrikam", "Microsoft"]
    }
}

releaseNotes

Type: String

Release notes for the project.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "releaseNotes": "Initial version, implemented flimflams."
    }
}

iconUrl

Type: String

The URL for an icon that will be used in various places such as the package explorer.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "iconUrl": "http://www.mylibrary.gov/favicon.ico"
    }
}

projectUrl

Type: String

The URL for the homepage of the project.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "projectUrl": "http://www.mylibrary.gov"
    }
}

licenseUrl

Type: String

The URL for the license the project uses.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "licenseUrl": "http://www.mylibrary.gov/licence"
    }
}

requireLicenseAcceptance

Type: Boolean

true to cause a prompt to accept the package license when installing the package to be shown; otherwise, false. Only used for NuGet packages, ignored in other uses. The default is false.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "requireLicenseAcceptance": true
    }
}

repository

Type: Object

Contains information about the repository where the project is stored.

type

Type: String

Type of the repository. The default value is "git".

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "repository": {
            "type": "git"
        }
    }
}

url

Type: String

URL of the repository where the project is stored.

For example:

{
    "packOptions": {
        "repository": {
            "url": "http://github.com/dotnet/corefx"
        }
    }
}

files

include

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "include":["wwwroot", "Views"]
}

exclude

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

Specifies which files to exclude from the build.

For example:

{
    "exclude": ["bin/**", "obj/**"]
}

includeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "includeFiles":[]
}

excludeFiles

Type: String or String[] with a globbing pattern.

{
    "excludeFiles":[]
}

builtIns

Type: Object

{
    "builtIns":{}
}

mappings

Type: Object

Keys to the object represent destination paths in the output layout.

Values are either a string or an object representing the source path of files to include. The object representation can have its own include, exclude, includeFiles and excludeFiles sections.

String example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path": "./src/path"
    }
}

Object example:

{
    "mappings": {
        "dest/path":{
            "include":"./src/path"
        }
    }
}

analyzerOptions

Type: Object

An object with properties used by code analysers.

For example:

{
    "analyzerOptions": { }
}

languageId

Type: String

The id of the language to analyze. "cs" represents C#, "vb" represents Visual Basic and "fs" represents F#.

For example:

"analyzerOptions": {
  "languageId": "vb"
  }
}

configurations

Type: Object

An object whose properties define different configurations for this project, such as Debug and Release. Each value is an object that can contain a buildOptions object with options specific for this configuration.

For example:

"configurations": {
  "Release": {
    "buildOptions": {
      "allowUnsafe": false
    }
  }
}

frameworks

Type: Object

Specifies which frameworks this project supports, such as the .NET Framework or Universal Windows Platform (UWP). Must be a valid Target Framework Moniker (TFM). Each value is an object that can contain information specific to this framework such as buildOptions, analyzerOptions, dependencies as well as the properties in the following sections.

For example:

"frameworks": {
    "netcoreapp1.0": {
        "buildOptions": {
            "define": ["FOO", "BIZ"]
        }
    }
}

dependencies

Type: Object

Dependencies that are specific for this framework. This is useful in scenarios where you cannot simply specify a package-level dependency across all targets. Reasons for this can include one target lacking built-in support that other targets have, or requiring a different version of a dependency than other targets.

For example:

"frameworks": {
    "netstandard1.5": {
        "dependencies": {
            "Microsoft.Extensions.JsonParser.Sources": "1.0.0-rc2-20221"
        }
    }
}

frameworkAssemblies

Type: Object

Similar to dependencies but contains reference to assemblies in the GAC that are not NuGet packages. Can also specify the version to use as well as the dependency type. This is used when targeting .NET Framework and Portable Class Library (PCL) targets. You can only build a project with this specified on Windows.

For example:

"frameworks": {
    "net451": {
        "frameworkAssemblies": {
            "System.Runtime": {
                "type": "build",
                "version": "4.0.0"
            }
        }
    }

wrappedProject

Type: String

Specifies the location of the dependency project.

For example:

"frameworks": {
    "net451": {
        "wrappedProject": "MyProject.csproj"
        }
    }

bin

Type: Object

An object with a single property, assembly, whose value is the assembly path.

For example:

"frameworks": {
  "netcoreapp1.0": {
     "bin": {
       "assembly" :"c:/otherProject/otherdll.dll"
    }
  }
}

imports

Type: String

Specifies other framework profiles that this project is compatible with.

For example:

"frameworks": {
  "netcoreapp1.0": {
     "imports": "portable-net45+win8"
  }
}

Will cause other packages targeting portable-net45+win8 to be usable when targeting netcoreapp1.0 with the current project.

Files

project-json.md

Latest commit

History

project-json.md

File metadata and controls

project.json reference

name

version

description

copyright

title

entryPoint

testRunner

authors

language

embedInteropTypes

preprocess

shared

dependencies

tools

scripts

buildOptions

define

nowarn

additionalArguments

warningsAsErrors

allowUnsafe

emitEntryPoint

optimize

platform

languageVersion

keyFile

delaySign

publicSign

debugType

xmlDoc

preserveCompilationContext

outputName

compilerName

compile

include

exclude

includeFiles

excludeFiles

builtIns

mappings

embed

include

exclude

includeFiles

excludeFiles

builtIns

mappings

copyToOutput

include

exclude

includeFiles

excludeFiles

builtIns

mappings

publishOptions

include

exclude

includeFiles

excludeFiles

builtIns

mappings

runtimeOptions

configProperties

System.GC.Server

System.GC.Concurrent

System.GC.RetainVM

System.Threading.ThreadPool.MinThreads

System.Threading.ThreadPool.MaxThreads

framework

name

version

applyPatches

packOptions