The .NET Command Line Interface (CLI) provides a comprehensive help system that allows you to get detailed information about specific commands, their options, and usage. This is particularly useful for developers who are new to the CLI or need clarification on how to use certain commands effectively. This guide will walk you through the steps to get help for a specific command in the ASP.NET CLI.

Using the --help Option

The most straightforward way to get help for a specific command is to use the --help option. You can append this option to any command to display detailed information about that command, including its syntax, available options, and examples.

Step 1: Open Your Command Line Interface

Open your terminal (macOS/Linux) or command prompt (Windows).

Step 2: Use the --help Option with a Command

To get help for a specific command, type the command followed by --help. For example, if you want to get help for the dotnet new command, you would run:

dotnet new --help

This command will display detailed information about the dotnet new command, including a list of available templates, options, and usage examples.

Example Output

After running the command, you might see output similar to the following:

Usage: dotnet new [options]

Options:
  -h|--help            Show command line help.
  -n|--name <NAME>    The name of the project to create.
  -o|--output <OUTPUT> The output directory for the created project.
  -lang|--language <LANGUAGE> The programming language to use.
  --list               List templates available for creation.
  --install <PACKAGE>  Install a template package.
  --uninstall <PACKAGE> Uninstall a template package.

This output provides a clear overview of the command's options and how to use them.

Getting Help for Specific Templates

You can also get help for specific templates by using the dotnet new command followed by the template name and the --help option. For example, to get help for the webapp template, you would run:

dotnet new webapp --help

This command will display detailed information about the webapp template, including its options and usage.

Using the dotnet help Command

Alternatively, you can use the dotnet help command to get a list of all available commands and a brief description of each. This can be useful for exploring the capabilities of the .NET CLI.

dotnet help

This command will display a list of commands, including new, build, run, and more, along with a short description of each command.

Conclusion

Getting help for a specific command in the ASP.NET CLI is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your productivity and understanding of the CLI. By using the --help option or the dotnet help command, you can access detailed information about commands and templates, ensuring that you can use the CLI effectively in your development workflow. Understanding how to navigate the help system is essential for any developer working with the .NET ecosystem.