Difference between dotnet Restore, Build & Run ( 01-D)

Some developers struggle to understand what happens when you run these 3 commands. Understanding the difference let you made better decisions during the development workflow especially when creating a CI/CD pipeline to ship your code into different environment.

Dotnet Restore :

• Downloads all the external packages (NuGet packages) your project depends on. Think of it like , Checking your shopping list and downloading everything from the store before you start cooking

  What it does:

  • Reads your .csproj or packages.config

  • Connects to NuGet

  • Downloads the required packages into your local machine (usually in ~/.nuget/packages/)

  • Usually happens automatically with dotnet build in .NET Core and later versions

Dotnet Build :

• Compiles your project source code into a .dll or .exe file. Think of it like, Cooking the meal using the ingredients you got from the store.

  What it does:

  • Runs the compiler (Roslyn)

  • Turns your .cs files into IL (Intermediate Language)

  • Outputs into the /bin/Debug or /bin/Release folder

Dotnet Run

• • The dotnet run command builds and immediately executes your .NET application. Think of it like pressing the "Play" button in Visual Studio — your app compiles and launches

    What Happens When You Run

    It performs these steps under the hood:

    1. Restores NuGet packages (if needed)

    2. Builds the project (compiles code)

    3. Runs the app