The dotnetcorecli task in Azure DevOps Pipelines is a versatile tool for working with .NET Core applications. When you mentioned “dotnetcorecli 2”, it suggests you are referring to tasks involving .NET Core CLI (Command-Line Interface) within Azure DevOps, specifically in a version 2.x context.

Here’s a general overview of how the dotnetcorecli task is used in Azure DevOps Pipelines:

Basic Understanding

• Task Keyword: DotNetCoreCLI@2
• Purpose: This task is used for building, testing, packaging, or publishing a .NET Core application using the .NET Core CLI.

Common Usage Scenarios

1. Building a .NET Core Project:
   • The dotnet build command is used to compile the project and its dependencies into a set of binaries.
2. Running Tests:
   • The dotnet test command is used to run tests in a project.
3. Publishing Artifacts:
   • The dotnet publish command is used to compile the application, read through its dependencies specified in the project file, and publish the resulting set of files to a directory.
4. Packaging NuGet Packages:
   • The dotnet pack command is used to create NuGet packages.

Sample YAML Snippet

Here’s an example of how the dotnetcorecli task might be used in a YAML pipeline for building and testing a .NET Core application:

In this example:

• The pipeline triggers on a push to the master branch.
• It uses a Windows-based agent.
• The pipeline performs three steps: restore dependencies, build the project, and run tests.

Key Points

• Version: Ensure that you are using a version of .NET Core that is compatible with your project. The DotNetCoreCLI@2 task supports .NET Core 2.x and above.
• Agent Pool: Select an agent pool that has the required .NET Core SDK installed.
• Project Files: Specify the path to the project or solution file as needed.
• Arguments: You can pass additional arguments to the .NET Core CLI commands as required.

This task is a cornerstone for CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps for teams working with .NET Core, providing a streamlined and efficient way to integrate .NET Core builds, tests, and deployments into your DevOps workflow.