Cannot use MSBuildWorkspace in .NET Core Console Application

[joeltankam]

I'm moving a project from .Net Framework 4.6.1 to .Net Core and I have a problem with MSBuildWorkspace

Version Used: 2.7.0

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a new .NET Core Console Application project (VS Professional 2017 Version 15.7.5, .Net Core 2.1.202)
2. Install nuget-packages for Microsoft.CodeAnalysis
3. In the main method write code:
   var workspace = MSBuildWorkspace.Create();

Expected Behavior:

MSBuildWorkspace should compile by using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild.

Actual Behavior:

Compilation error : 'MSBuildWorkspace' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)
Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.MSBuild is not present under Microsoft.CodeAnalysis package.

[Tornhoof]

#17974 (comment) might help.
but it's still not .net core. according to #17974 (comment)

[daveaglick]

Yep, not .NET Standard/Core yet (from the thread @Tornhoof linked):

Note that, because the MSBuild bits are still not available in .NET Standard/Core, your project has to target .NET Framework 4.6 or higher.

[joeltankam]

Thanks @Tornhoof @daveaglick
Is there any workaround ?

[daveaglick]

I’ll just leave this here: https://github.com/daveaglick/Buildalyzer/blob/master/README.md#roslyn-workspaces (be warned that version 1.0 with a totally refactored API is right around the corner)

[jmarolf]

Is there any workaround ?

Today MSBuildWorkspace depends on the .NETFramework MSBuild. If you need something for .NET Core you can use AdHocWorkspace like @daveaglick has done on https://github.com/daveaglick/Buildalyzer

[sharwell]

Duplicate of #17974

[sharwell]

@DustinCampbell Let me know if there's a better tracking issue for the xplat story of the new MSBuildWorkspace 👍

[EamonNerbonne]

In case sometime finds this after some googling, to use MSBuildWorkspace on .net core you can follow these instructions: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/msbuild/updating-an-existing-application - essentially adding a reference to Microsoft.Build.Locator; adding ExcludeAssets="runtime" to other Microsoft.Build.??? <PackageReferences>, and calling MSBuildLocator.RegisterDefaults(); at the start of your program.