Global tools in the .NET ecosystem are command-line applications that can be installed and run from any location on your system. They extend the functionality of the .NET CLI and provide additional capabilities for developers. This guide will walk you through the steps to install a global tool using the .NET Command Line Interface (CLI).

What is a Global Tool?

A global tool is a .NET Core application that is installed globally on your machine, allowing you to run it from any command prompt or terminal window. Global tools are useful for tasks such as code generation, project management, and other development utilities. They are installed using the dotnet tool install command.

How to Install a Global Tool

To install a global tool using the CLI, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Your Command Line Interface

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

Step 2: Use the dotnet tool install Command

Use the following command to install a global tool:

dotnet tool install --global ToolName

In this command, replace ToolName with the name of the global tool you want to install. For example, to install the dotnet-ef tool, which is used for managing Entity Framework Core migrations and database updates, you would run:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef

After executing this command, the dotnet-ef tool will be installed globally, and you can use it from any command prompt or terminal window.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

To verify that the global tool has been installed successfully, you can run the following command:

dotnet tool list --global

This command will display a list of all global tools installed on your system, including their versions and installation paths. You should see dotnet-ef listed among the installed tools.

Example of Installing a Global Tool

Here’s a complete example of installing the dotnet-ef tool:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef

After running this command, you should see output indicating that the tool has been installed successfully. You can then use the dotnet ef command to manage your Entity Framework Core migrations and database updates.

Common Global Tools

Some commonly used global tools in the .NET ecosystem include:

• dotnet-ef: A tool for managing Entity Framework Core migrations and database updates.
• dotnet-sql-cache: A tool for managing SQL Server distributed cache.
• dotnet-outdated: A tool for checking for outdated NuGet packages in your projects.

Conclusion

Installing a global tool using the CLI is a straightforward process that enhances your development workflow. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily install and manage global tools that extend the functionality of the .NET CLI. Understanding how to work with global tools is essential for any .NET developer looking to leverage the full capabilities of the .NET ecosystem.