Understanding the Different Types of .NET Publish

Introduction

Publishing your .NET application is the crucial step that transforms your code from a developer environment artifact into a deployable package ready to run in production. But did you know that .NET provides multiple ways to publish your app, each suited for different deployment scenarios? Whether you want a lightweight package that relies on an existing runtime, or a fully self-contained executable that runs anywhere without prerequisites, understanding the types of .NET publish options available is key. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the major publish types — framework-dependent, self-contained, single-file, ready-to-run, and trimmed deployments — and help you decide which one fits your project’s needs perfectly.

What is .NET Publish?

Before diving into the different publish types, let’s clarify what “publishing” means in the .NET context.

When you run the dotnet publish command, the .NET SDK compiles your application and prepares it for deployment. This process bundles your app’s assemblies (DLLs), dependencies, configuration files, and optionally the .NET runtime into a folder. This output is what you deploy to your servers, cloud environment, or end-user devices.

Publishing is different from building (dotnet build) because it produces a deployable package instead of just compiling your code. The published output is optimized for execution and usually does not contain source files or debug symbols unless explicitly configured.

Types of .NET publish

1. Framework-Dependent Deployment (FDD)

Framework-Dependent Deployment (FDD) means your app needs the .NET runtime to already be installed on the computer where it will run. When you publish your app this way, it includes only your code and the libraries it uses — but not the .NET runtime itself. This keeps the app smaller, but it won’t work if the target machine doesn’t have the right version of .NET installed.

Advantages

  • Smaller package size since the runtime isn’t bundled.

  • Updates to the .NET runtime can be applied independently without republishing your app.

  • Ideal for environments where you control or know the runtime will be pre-installed (such as most servers).

Disadvantages

  • The target environment must have the exact or compatible .NET runtime installed.

  • Deployment can fail if the runtime is missing or the wrong version.

When to Use

  • Deploying to servers or containers where the .NET runtime is managed separately.

  • When minimizing package size is a priority.

Example Command

    dotnet publish -c Release

This publishes your app in Release mode as framework-dependent by default.

Output

A folder with DLL files for your application and dependencies, but no executable or runtime files.


2. Self-Contained Deployment (SCD)

Self-Contained Deployment means your app comes with everything it needs to run, including the .NET runtime. So even if the target computer doesn’t have .NET installed, your app will still work. It’s like packing all the tools with your app so it can run anywhere on its own.

Advantages

  • Runs on any machine, regardless of whether the .NET runtime is installed.

  • You control the runtime version and configuration.

  • Great for deploying to environments with unknown or unmanaged runtimes.

Disadvantages

  • Larger output size because the runtime is included.

  • Runtime updates require republishing and redeploying your app.

When to Use

  • Deploying to client machines, IoT devices, or servers without guaranteed runtime availability.

  • Scenarios requiring complete isolation from host environment runtime changes.

Example Command

    dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained true

Replace win-x64 with the appropriate runtime identifier (RID) for your target platform.

Output

A folder containing an executable (.exe on Windows) alongside the runtime files and your application DLLs.



3. Single-File Deployment

Single-file deployment means your whole app — including its code, libraries, and the .NET runtime — is packed into one single executable file. This makes it easy to share and run your app, since everything is in just one file.

Advantages

  • Simplifies deployment — just distribute one file.

  • Easier to manage, especially for CLI tools or desktop apps.

  • Reduces clutter in deployment directories.

Disadvantages

  • The single file can be larger and might have a slight startup delay due to extraction or runtime overhead.

  • Some advanced scenarios may need extra configuration to work correctly.

When to Use

  • Simple distribution scenarios.

  • Tools or apps where ease of installation and deployment matters most.

Example Command

    dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 /p:PublishSingleFile=true --self-contained true

Output

A single executable file containing your app and all dependencies



4. ReadyToRun (R2R) Compilation

ReadyToRun (R2R) is a feature that makes your app start faster by precompiling some parts of it before it's run. Instead of waiting to convert code when the app starts, it does that work ahead of time, so the app can launch more quickly.

Advantages

  • Faster startup performance compared to just-in-time (JIT) compilation.

  • Can be combined with framework-dependent or self-contained deployments.

Disadvantages

  • Larger binary size.

  • Increased build times.

  • May not improve performance for all workloads.

When to Use

  • Performance-critical applications where startup time matters (e.g., CLI tools, web apps).

Example Command

dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 /p:PublishReadyToRun=true


5. Trimmed Deployment

Trimming helps make your app smaller by removing any code and libraries that your app doesn’t actually use. This reduces the final size of your app, which is helpful when you want faster downloads or are limited on storage space.

Advantages

  • Smaller package size.

  • Reduced attack surface.

Disadvantages

  • Can remove code used dynamically via reflection.

  • Requires thorough testing.

When to Use

  • Deploying to size-constrained environments such as containers or embedded systems.

Example Command

dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 /p:PublishTrimmed=true --self-contained true


6. Container Deployment

Publishing is also important when using containers, because it prepares your app in a way that makes it easy to include inside a container image for deployment.

  • You usually publish your app to a folder, then copy the published files into a container image.

  • This separation keeps builds efficient and container layers clean.

Example Dockerfile snippet

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnet:7.0 AS base
WORKDIR /app
COPY ./publish .
ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "YourApp.dll"]
Conclusion:
Understanding the different ways to publish a .NET application can help you optimize for size, speed, 
and flexibility. Whether you're deploying to a cloud server, distributing a desktop app, or building a 
Docker image, choosing the right publish type ensures your app runs smoothly in the target environment.
Try out each type and use what best fits your deployment scenario.


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