Introduction

Deploying .NET desktop applications involves making your application available to end-users. This process requires careful consideration of how your application will be installed, updated, and what dependencies it will have on the target machines. .NET offers several deployment models and tools to simplify this process.

Choosing the right deployment strategy depends on factors such as the target operating system, whether the .NET runtime is already installed on the target machine, and the desired user experience for installation and updates.

Deployment Models

There are two primary deployment models for .NET applications:

Framework-Dependent Deployment (FDD)

In Framework-Dependent Deployment, your application is deployed without the .NET runtime. The assumption is that the target machine already has a compatible version of the .NET runtime installed. This results in smaller application packages.

• Pros: Smaller deployment size, leverages existing runtime installations, easier to update the runtime globally.
• Cons: Requires a specific .NET runtime version to be installed on the target machine, which might not always be the case.

To publish an FDD application:

dotnet publish -f net8.0  # Or your target framework
                

The output will contain your application assemblies and a runtime configuration file. The user will need to have the .NET runtime (e.g., .NET 8 Runtime) installed on their machine.

Self-Contained Deployment (SCD)

In Self-Contained Deployment, your application is deployed with a specific version of the .NET runtime. This means your application has no external dependencies on the .NET runtime installed on the target machine. This guarantees that your application will run with its intended runtime environment.

• Pros: No runtime dependency on the target machine, greater control over the runtime version, ensures consistent behavior.
• Cons: Larger deployment size, as the runtime is included.

To publish an SCD application, you need to specify the runtime identifier (RID):

dotnet publish -f net8.0 --self-contained true --runtime win-x64  # Example for Windows x64
                

Replace win-x64 with the appropriate RID for your target platform (e.g., linux-x64, osx-x64).

Packaging and Distribution

.NET provides several mechanisms for packaging and distributing your desktop applications.

ClickOnce

ClickOnce is a deployment technology that enables developers to deploy Windows Forms and WPF applications, as well as other applications. It allows users to install applications by clicking a link on a web page or from a network share. ClickOnce supports automatic updates.

Key Features:

• Easy installation via web or network share.
• Automatic updates.
• Application isolation (each application runs in its own sandbox).
• Signing for security.

You can configure ClickOnce publishing through Visual Studio or by using the dotnet publish command with specific project settings.

MSI Installers

Microsoft Installer (.msi) is a traditional Windows installer technology. You can create MSI packages for your .NET desktop applications using third-party tools like WiX Toolset, InstallShield, or Advanced Installer. This provides a familiar installation experience for Windows users.

Pros: Standard Windows installation, robust registry management, and system integration.

Cons: Can be more complex to create and manage compared to ClickOnce.

Portable Executables

For simpler deployments or scenarios where a full installer is not desired, you can distribute your application as a set of portable files. This is often used with self-contained deployments where users simply extract a zip file and run the executable.

Pros: Simple distribution, no installation required.

Cons: Lacks automatic updates and robust uninstallation capabilities.

App Bundles (for specific platforms)

For macOS and Linux, you might package your application into platform-specific bundles or archives. For example, on macOS, you would create a `.app` bundle. On Linux, you might distribute it as a `.deb` or `.rpm` package, or a tarball.

Dependency Management

Ensure all necessary NuGet packages and their dependencies are correctly resolved during the build and publish process. When using FDD, the target machine must have the required .NET runtime version. For SCD, all runtime dependencies are included in the published output.

Use the dotnet list package --recursive command to inspect your project's dependencies.

Runtime Identifier (RID)

A Runtime Identifier (RID) is a string that uniquely identifies a runtime environment, including the OS and architecture. For example:

• win-x64: Windows on a 64-bit x86 processor.
• linux-x64: Linux on a 64-bit x86 processor.
• osx-arm64: macOS on an Apple Silicon (ARM64) processor.

RIDs are crucial for self-contained deployments to ensure the correct runtime is bundled with your application.

You can find a comprehensive list of RIDs in the official .NET documentation.

Best Practices

• Choose the right deployment model: FDD for smaller size if runtime is guaranteed, SCD for greater control and fewer external dependencies.
• Use versioning: Clearly version your application and any associated installers or packages.
• Sign your code: For security and trust, code signing is highly recommended, especially for ClickOnce and MSI deployments.
• Provide clear instructions: If distributing as portable files, give users clear instructions on how to run the application.
• Test thoroughly: Test your deployment on clean environments that mimic your target user's setup.
• Consider updates: Plan for how users will receive updates. ClickOnce and package managers offer built-in update mechanisms.
• Minimize dependencies: Only include what is necessary for your application to run.