Setting Up a .NET Standard Project

Introduction

.NET Standard is a formal specification of .NET APIs that are intended to be available on all .NET implementations. It serves as a base class library that can be used across different .NET platforms, including .NET Core, .NET Framework, Xamarin, and more. By targeting the .NET Standard, developers can ensure their libraries are compatible with multiple .NET environments. In this article, we will walk through the steps to set up a .NET Standard project.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following installed.

• Visual Studio 2019 or later (Community, Professional, or Enterprise editions)
• .NET Core SDK

Step-by-Step Guide
 

1. Creating the .NET Standard Project

1. Open Visual Studio.
2. Click on "Create a new project."
3. In the "Create a new project" dialog, search for ".NET Standard" in the search box.
4. Select "Class Library (.NET Standard)" and click "Next."
5. Configure your new project by providing a project name, location, and solution name, then click "Create."

2. Choosing the .NET Standard Version

After creating the project, you need to choose the appropriate .NET Standard version to target. The version you select should depend on the platforms you need to support. Higher versions of .NET Standard include more APIs but are supported by fewer platforms.

1. Right-click on the project in Solution Explorer and select "Properties."
2. In the "Target Framework" dropdown, select the desired .NET Standard version (e.g., .NET Standard 2.0).

3. Adding Project References

To leverage existing libraries or projects, you can add references to your .NET Standard project.

1. Right-click on the project in Solution Explorer and select "Add" > "Reference."
2. In the Reference Manager, choose the projects or assemblies you want to reference and click "OK."

4. Adding NuGet Packages

You may need to add NuGet packages to your .NET Standard project for additional functionality.

1. Right-click on the project in Solution Explorer and select "Manage NuGet Packages."
2. In the NuGet Package Manager, browse or search for the desired packages and click "Install."

5. Writing Code

With your .NET Standard project set up, you can now start writing code. Create classes, interfaces, and other types as needed. Here's a simple example of a class in a .NET Standard library.

namespace MyStandardLibrary
{
    public class GreetingService
    {
        public string GetGreeting(string name)
        {
            return $"Hello, {name}!";
        }
    }
}

6. Building and Testing

To ensure your .NET Standard project builds and functions correctly, perform the following steps.

1. Build the project by clicking on "Build" > "Build Solution" or pressing Ctrl+Shift+B.
2. If you have a test project, add a reference to your .NET Standard project and write unit tests to verify the functionality.

7. Using the .NET Standard Library in Other Projects

To use your .NET Standard library in other projects, add a reference to the .NET Standard project from the consuming projects.

1. Right-click on the consuming project in Solution Explorer and select "Add" > "Reference."
2. In the Reference Manager, choose the .NET Standard project and click "OK."

Summary

Setting up a .NET Standard project is a straightforward process that offers great flexibility and reusability across different .NET platforms. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create, configure, and use a .NET Standard library in your applications. Whether you're developing for desktop, mobile, or web, .NET Standard provides a unified way to share code and ensure compatibility across the .NET ecosystem.