dotnet-install

dotnet-install

Install .NET executables to PATH — like cargo install and go install. Build from source, install from NuGet, or clone from GitHub.

Install sources

Each source requires an explicit flag. With no arguments, dotnet-install in a directory with a project builds and installs it (like dotnet publish). With nothing to act on, it prints help.

# Local project (default — works like dotnet publish)
dotnet-install                                # current directory
dotnet-install src/my-tool                    # positional path
dotnet-install --project src/my-tool          # explicit (like dotnet run --project)
dotnet-install app.cs                         # file-based app

# NuGet package (no SDK required)
dotnet-install --package dotnetsay
dotnet-install --package dotnet-counters@9.0.0  # pinned version

# GitHub repository
dotnet-install --github owner/repo            # tracks default branch, updatable
dotnet-install --github owner/repo --branch main   # tracks branch, updatable
dotnet-install --github owner/repo --tag v2.0      # pinned, no updates
dotnet-install --github owner/repo --rev abc123    # pinned, no updates
dotnet-install --github owner/repo@v2.0            # shorthand, pinned
dotnet-install --github owner/repo --ssh           # clone via SSH

# Any git URL
dotnet-install --git https://example.com/repo.git
dotnet-install --git https://example.com/repo.git --tag v1.0

--path is an alias for --project. When combined with --github or --git, --project specifies a sub-path within the cloned repository.

Git ref options

Flag	Pinned	Example
(none)	no	default branch, tracks upstream
--branch	no	named branch, tracks upstream
--tag	yes	fixed tag, no updates
--rev	yes	fixed commit SHA, no updates
@ref	yes	shorthand in --github spec

Pinned installs are skipped by dotnet-install update. To change versions, uninstall and reinstall.

Subcommands

dotnet-install ls                # list installed tools
dotnet-install rm <tool>         # remove a tool
dotnet-install update [tool]     # update one or all tools
dotnet-install search <query>    # search NuGet
dotnet-install info <tool>       # show tool details
dotnet-install outdated          # check for newer versions
dotnet-install run <pkg> [args]  # run without installing
dotnet-install doctor            # diagnose PATH and config
dotnet-install env               # print environment info
dotnet-install completion <sh>   # shell completion setup

Install directory

Tools are installed to ~/.dotnet/bin/ by default. Override with DOTNET_TOOL_BIN env var, -o <dir>, or --local-bin (uses ~/.local/bin/).

PATH configuration

dotnet-install uses a dedicated env file (~/.dotnet/bin/env) that is sourced from the shell's rc file. Run dotnet-install doctor --fix to configure PATH automatically. To activate in the current shell without restarting:

. "$HOME/.dotnet/bin/env"          # sh/bash/zsh
source "$HOME/.dotnet/bin/env.fish" # fish

Reliable behavior

• Git updates verify that the remote history is a continuation of the local history. If a force push is detected, the update is refused — the user must uninstall and reinstall the tool.
• Pinned installs (--tag, --rev, @ref) are immutable. update skips them and reports the pinned ref. Changing versions requires an explicit uninstall and reinstall.
• Building from source requires the .NET SDK; --package works without the SDK.
• NuGet installs auto-enable roll-forward if the tool targets an older runtime.
• --require-sourcelink enforces SourceLink metadata in installed assemblies.