Wow! eBook
Building CLI Applications with C# and .NET: A step-by-step guide to developing cross-platform CLI apps—from coding and testing to deployment
Author(s): Tidjani Belmansour (Author)
- Publisher: Packt Publishing
- Publication Date: 17 Feb. 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 300 pages
- ISBN-10: 1835882757
- ISBN-13: 9781835882740
Book Description
Unlock the potential of .NET to design, test, and deploy robust CLI applications, including development, security, and monitoring
Free with your book: DRM-free PDF version + access to Packt’s next-gen Reader
Key Features
- Receive expert guidance on building CLI applications with .NET
- Implement advanced techniques for creating cross-platform, modular, and robust CLI applications
- Put your knowledge into practice through hands-on exercises and real-world projects
- Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Book Description
Developers and system administrators often face challenges like inefficient workflows, complex system operations, and the growing demand for robust automation tools. CLI applications provide a powerful solution by enhancing flexibility, efficiency, and productivity in various environments. This book will guide you through mastering the development of robust command-line tools using .NET.
Written by a Microsoft Azure MVP, the book’s hands-on approach ensures practical experience with real-world projects. You’ll start with an overview of foundational principles, essential concepts, and best practices for CLI application development. From there, you’ll advance to creating interactive interfaces, integrating with external APIs and services, and implementing security measures to safeguard your applications. Each chapter will build progressively from basic to advanced topics.
Beyond development, you’ll learn how to enhance application quality through testing, package for efficient distribution, and deploy effectively. The book also teaches strategies to optimize performance to ensure your applications run efficiently under heavy usage.
By the end of this book, you’ll have gained a deep understanding of CLI application development with .NET to build modular, extensible, and easy-to-maintain applications.
What you will learn
- Master CLI application development principles to enhance productivity
- Build modular and extensible CLI applications that adapt to evolving needs
- Develop interactive CLI applications for engaging user experiences
- Integrate external APIs and services to extend functionality
- Implement robust security measures to ensure data protection
- Improve quality and reliability through comprehensive testing
- Package and deploy CLI applications efficiently for smooth releases
- Optimize performance to achieve high efficiency and effectiveness
Who this book is for
This book is for software developers, architects, and DevOps engineers aiming to enhance their existing SaaS platforms or optimize system operations. It focuses on providing users with CLI applications that automate and streamline workflows, unlocking operational efficiency. A basic understanding of programming concepts and prior experience with .NET and C# is expected, as this book doesn’t cover introductory material.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to CLI Applications
- Setting Up the Development Environment
- Basic Concepts of Console Applications in .NET
- Command-Line Parsing
- Input/Output and File Handling
- Error Handling and Logging
- Interactive CLI Applications
- Building Modular and Extensible CLI Applications
- Working with External APIs and Services
- Testing CLI Applications
- Packaging and Deployment
- Performance Optimization and Tuning
- Security Considerations for CLI Applications
- Additional Resources and Libraries
Editorial Reviews
Review
“The book is divided into five parts, each progressively building upon previous concepts. This structured approach makes it easy to follow and digest. […] I love the detail, and the hands-on nature of building real-world applications, the book is excellent and would be a valuable addition to any developer’s library.”
Gregor Suttie, Azure Architect at Intercept, 6 times Azure MVP and MCT, LinkedIn Learning Instructor
“Tidjani Belmansour really does it nicely in his rendition, walking through the creation, evolution, and enhancement of a sample app from the beginning of the book to the end. He covers all sorts of interesting topics, from argument parsing to Spectre.Console to testing, and it’s just a great exploration of modern console development with .NET. I was also delighted to find my first technical book, Refactoring with C#, referenced in the final chapter. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to build command line programs using C#.”
Matt Eland, Wizard & AI Specialist at Leading EDJE, Microsoft MVP in AI & Developer Technologies
“I use CLI tools every day —such as Git, dotnet CLI, kubectl—however, I’ve never tried to develop a full-function CLI app beyond some simple console demos. This book guides readers from scratch, covering the foundational concepts of CLI development to more advanced topics. The content is comprehensive and packed with practical code samples. I particularly appreciate the “Your turn!” challenges at the end of each chapter, which offer an engaging way to test your understanding and ensure that you can apply the skills to your application. The book also covers some advanced content, such as error handling, performance optimization, and security considerations. If you’re looking to build robust, cross-platform CLI applications using .NET, give this book a read!”
Xiaodi Yan, Microsoft MVP and MCT, and Lead Engineer at Kiwibank
“This book provides a great introduction to console applications through to much more advanced topics. I should add that I have spent the last 3 years building console applications and the result of reading this book has me thinking on how I could go and improve those applications. Specifically concepts such as error handling and logging, performance optimization and tuning, and testing have really improved the next CLI application that I build!
If you are looking to learn about building a CLI application or even the concepts that I mentioned above, then I would thoroughly recommend this book.”
Shaun Lawrence, Microsoft MVP, Principal Software Engineer at TINYSOFT LTD, Author of Introducing .NET MAUI
“Building CLI Applications with C# and .NET by Tidjani Belmansour is a practical, well-structured guide that bridges theory and real-world application. As a fellow MVP deeply involved in automation and tooling, I found the book particularly valuable for its clear walkthroughs, thoughtful design patterns, and emphasis on platform development.
Tidjani has done a great job making complex concepts accessible, whether you’re building your first CLI app or aiming to structure production-grade tooling. From command parsing to packaging and deployment, the book provides a solid foundation and actionable insights that every .NET developer can benefit from.
Highly recommended for engineers looking to elevate their developer experience through robust CLI tooling.”
Mohamed Radwan, Head of Advisory (UK) Microsoft MVP, Principal DevOps Consultant
About the Author
Tidjani Belmansour is an expert in developing and architecting solutions on the Microsoft Azure platform, particularly in .NET, with over 21 years of experience. His passion for development began early—he wrote his first program in QuickBasic at the age of eight and has never stopped since. He is currently the Director of the Azure Centre of Excellence at Cofomo, where he collaborates with organizations of all sizes, across both public and private sectors, and on projects around the globe. Since 2019, Tidjani has been recognized as a Microsoft Azure MVP. He is also the co-host of the Azure Quebec Community, a trainer, a blogger, and an international speaker. Tidjani holds a BSc in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Engineering.
