Microsoft Build Sidekick v1

General

MSBuild Sidekick is a visual editor providing rich Graphic User Interface for editing MSBuild project files. The build project files may be either created as Microsoft Visual Studio^© 2005 build projects, Team Foundation Team Build build types or custom build scripts.

Version 2 of MSBuild Sidekick is available.

View screenshot

MSBuild Sidekick provides the following features (since version 1.0):

• Load and modify any file complying to MSBuild schema
• View build project structure in a tree view that displays tasks used in build, property groups and properties, item groups and items, targets and targets tasks and imported build projects.
• Show or hide presentation of imported definitions in a project tree view
• View MSBuild project raw XML source as you modify the project
• Modify project default targets
• Add or remove tasks used in build project from external assembly
• Add, remove or modify property groups
• Add, remove or modify properties in property groups
• Add, remove or modify item groups
• Add, remove or modify items in item groups
• Add, remove or modify targets
• Add, remove or modify selected target's tasks, tasks order
• Modify selected task properties (including output properties specification)
• Import or remove external build projects
• Open any imported project from the loaded project

• Inputs and Outputs attributes of target elements are supported in UI
• Load and allow modification of invalid (with missing imports) MSBuild projects
• Elements unsupported in UI are not affected during modification
• BUG FIX: when loading, updating and saving existing MSBuild project, the elements order in file is not changed
• BUG FIX: when loading invalid MSBuild project, extended error information is supplied
• BUG FIX: comments removed according to elements modified/removed

• BUG FIX: when loading project with import elements with conditions, the imports were not loaded if condition evaluated to false
• BUG FIX: when assembly with identically named MSBuild tasks is loaded (even when tasks are in different namespaces), it is impossible to select tasks for using task element. Most importantly, SDC tasks assemblies were affected by that bug
• BUG FIX: when loading certaing invalid projects, application failed instead of exiting gracefully with an error message

See Sidekicks blog for more details and usage patterns.

See also Team Foundation Sidekicks and Team Foundation Sidekick add-in applications.

Download

Download version 1.1.2 of Microsoft Build Engine Build Sidekick

Legal

The application version 1.1.2 is a freeware and may be used for any commercial or noncommercial purpose under the license.

Intended usage

MSBuild Sidekick application's objective is to assist MSBuild users in creating and supporting large and complicated MSBuild project files. The project elements are displayed in tree view hierarchy structure so viewing of even complicated projects structure becomes easy.

The application provides concise and efficient GUI for the purpose of creating, modifying or removing any element supported by MSBuild schema, so in-depth knowledge of XSD schema details becomes unnecessary.

The Sidekick user may easily add any build task defined in external assembly. The assembly task may be added by using assembly file path or assembly name; the user may choose to use all or specific build tasks available in the assembly. MSBuild defaut tasks are available without any special configuration.

The imported project files are open with single click and are avilable for view or modification in the new instance of MSBuild sidekick. Alternatively, the user may view all imported elements in same project view.

Implementation notes

The application uses custom XML-based  object model for the purpose of editing MSBuild project files. The compliance to MSBuild schema and imports handling is assured using MSBuild object model classes.

Feedback

We would be very thankful for any feedback on application usage, desirable features and found bugs.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank for participation (order does not imply anything):

• Justin Angel
• Sayed Hashimi
• Steve St. Jean
• Jesper Hogstrom
• Doron Neumann
• Nathan Jones
• John Moshakis
• Vipin Goal