Creating and referencing class libraries with dotnet CLI and VSCode just like you can do in Visual Studio

Question

I want to start using vscode to develop .net core apps, but I am a bit confused about how to create class libraries as separate projects and reference them.

For example: In a Visual Studio Solution I would add a Web API project and then several class libraries to that solution. Right click the Web API project and Add Reference as necessary.

Can this same thing be done with VS Code and dotnet CLI even though there is no solution concept?

Answer 1

Create Solution Folder

c:\Projects>mkdir SampleDotNet
c:\Projects>cd SampleDotNet

Create SampleDotNet solution

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet>dotnet new sln

Create src folder (optional)

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet>mkdir src 

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet>cd src

Create Web API Project

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet\src>dotnet new webapi -n SampleDotNet.Api

Create Class Library Project

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet\src>dotnet new classlib -n SampleDotNet.Services

Reference Library Project to Web API Project

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet\src>dotnet add SampleDotNet.Api/SampleDotNet.Api.csproj reference SampleDotNet.Services/SampleDotNet.Services.csproj

Finally Add Projects to Solution

c:\Projects\SampleDotNet\src>cd ..
c:\Projects\SampleDotNet>dotnet sln add src/SampleDotNet.Api/SampleDotNet.Api.csproj
c:\Projects\SampleDotNet>dotnet sln add src/SampleDotNet.Services/SampleDotNet.Services.csproj

Commands

Result

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio