dotnet-fba 0.6.1-preview

dotnet-fba-tool

File-based app source scaffolding tool for .NET 10.0 and later

Overview

dotnet-fba-tool helps you scaffold a “File‑Based App (FBA)” in a single C# file that can include SDK declarations, project properties, and package references. It generates a runnable template file. You can later convert it to a regular project with dotnet project convert, or keep using it as-is in your build pipeline.

This repository itself is authored in a file-based style (dotnet_fba.cs). After converting, you can dotnet pack to create a .NET Global Tool.

Quickstart

• Install as a .NET Global Tool (recommended):

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-fba
dotnet-fba --help
# or alias
dotnet fba --help

• Run without installing (DNX, .NET 10+):

dnx -y dotnet-fba -- --help

• Stream and run (zero-install):

curl -sSL -o - https://rkttu.github.io/dotnet-fba-tool/dotnet_fba.cs | dotnet run - -o - | dotnet run -

• First scaffold example (after installing the tool):

dotnet-fba -o ./Program.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

Templates

dotnet-fba-tool provides ready-to-use templates you can select with -t|--template:

• Console (default): Minimal console app that prints "Hello, World!".
• GenericHost: Uses Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting to build and run a generic host with console logging.
• WebHost: Minimal ASP.NET Core Web app (Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web) with a single GET / endpoint.
• AspireAppHost: App Host template using .NET Aspire (adds Aspire.AppHost.Sdk@9.4.2 and package Aspire.Hosting.AppHost@9.4.2) with example containers (MySQL, phpMyAdmin, WordPress). Requires a container runtime—Podman recommended (Docker also works).
• StdioMcpServer: Minimal Model Context Protocol server over stdio (adds ModelContextProtocol@0.3.0-preview.4) with a sample tool IpAddressTool that returns the public IP address. Intended for MCP-compatible clients; running via dotnet run typically serves a single client at a time.

Example:

# Console (default)
dotnet-fba -o ./Program.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

# WebHost
dotnet-fba -t WebHost -o ./WebApp.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

# Aspire AppHost (container runtime required; Podman recommended)
dotnet-fba -t AspireAppHost -o ./AppHost.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

# Stdio MCP server (stdio transport)
dotnet-fba -t StdioMcpServer -o ./McpServer.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

Quick start

Create a one-file app scaffold and run with minimal properties:

dotnet-fba -o ./hello.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

More examples and options:

• Basic usage and variations: see docs/usage.md
• CLI options reference: see docs/cli-options.md
• Templates overview and examples: see [docs/usage.md#template-presets]

Install as a .NET Global Tool

Install from NuGet:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-fba

Include prerelease versions:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-fba --prerelease

Update/Uninstall:

dotnet tool update    --global dotnet-fba
dotnet tool uninstall --global dotnet-fba

Run after install:

dotnet-fba --help
# or
dotnet fba --help

Run directly from the web

Stream and run without cloning or installing:

curl -sSL -o - https://rkttu.github.io/dotnet-fba-tool/dotnet_fba.cs | dotnet run - -o - | dotnet run -

Details and variations: see docs/streaming.md

Run with DNX (NuGet, .NET 10+)

Run the tool directly from NuGet without installing a global tool.

• Latest stable:

dnx -y dotnet-fba -- --help

• Include prerelease versions:

dnx -y --prerelease dotnet-fba -- --help

Pass options after -- just like the installed tool, for example:

dnx -y dotnet-fba -- -o ./Program.cs -p TargetFramework=net10.0 -p OutputType=Exe

Notes:

• Requires .NET SDK 10.0 or later (DNX).
• Use --prerelease if the NuGet package version you want is a prerelease.
• You can pin versions and configure feeds; see dnx --help for advanced usage.
• Security: as with any streamed/remote execution, run packages from sources you trust.
• Templates: you can pass -t WebHost, -t GenericHost, or -t AspireAppHost after -- to choose a preset (default: Console).
• Templates: you can pass -t WebHost, -t GenericHost, -t AspireAppHost, or -t StdioMcpServer after -- to choose a preset (default: Console).

Helper scripts

Automate local build/pack and global tool install/update from this repo:

• Install/update: ./scripts/install-local-tool.*
• Uninstall: ./scripts/uninstall-local-tool.*

See details: docs/scripts.md

Notes and caveats

• Security: You are executing streamed code. Only run from sources you trust. Consider pinning to a specific commit/tag by hosting a fixed URL.
• PowerShell tip: Use curl.exe (the native curl) to avoid the curl alias to Invoke-WebRequest which returns objects instead of raw bytes.
• Requirements: .NET SDK 10.0 or later with File‑Based App support and internet access for the first stage.
• Persisting output: If you want to keep the generated file, replace the middle -o - with a path (e.g., -o ./Program.cs) and then run it separately.

Documentation

• Getting Started (local build/install): docs/getting-started.md
• Usage examples: docs/usage.md
• CLI options: docs/cli-options.md
• Streaming (zero-install): docs/streaming.md
• Generated output reference: docs/generated-output.md
• Helper scripts: docs/scripts.md
• Tips and caveats: docs/tips.md

NuGet tool packaging (summary)

Short version: convert → pack → install from local feed. See docs/getting-started.md for full commands.

Helper scripts for local development

To make local development and testing faster, this repository includes helper scripts that automate the local build, pack, and installation of the tool from the generated local feed. They replicate the manual steps above and add safe uninstall commands.

Install or update the tool from this repo (automated):

• CMD (Windows):

.\scripts\install-local-tool.cmd

• PowerShell (pwsh):

.\scripts\install-local-tool.ps1

• Bash/Zsh (Linux/macOS/WSL):

chmod +x ./scripts/install-local-tool.sh
./scripts/install-local-tool.sh

Uninstall the tool (automated):

• CMD (Windows):

.\scripts\uninstall-local-tool.cmd

• PowerShell (pwsh):

.\scripts\uninstall-local-tool.ps1

• Bash/Zsh (Linux/macOS/WSL):

chmod +x ./scripts/uninstall-local-tool.sh
./scripts/uninstall-local-tool.sh

What the install script does:

• Cleans the projects directory if present.
• Converts the file-based project (dotnet_fba.cs) to a regular project under ./projects.
• Runs dotnet pack to create a local .nupkg under ./projects/nupkg.
• Installs the global tool from the local feed; if already installed, it attempts an update.

Notes:

• Requirements: .NET SDK 10.0+ and the dotnet project convert command available.
• Uninstall scripts are safe to run even if the tool is not installed—they exit without error.
• After installing a global tool, you may need to open a new shell session so your PATH updates are recognized (depending on your environment).

CI/CD

See docs/ci-cd.md for CI workflow and publishing rules.

License

Licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.