How to distribute .NET application without requiring users to install the framework?

[Saint Nick]

I've made an application in .NET that I want to be able to post online for download. However, I don't want users to be required to install the .NET 4.0 and 4.5 frameworks just to use my simple app.

Is there a way I can package only specific DLLs into my project/compiled exe? That way the user is not required to download and install the bulky Frameworks.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jaydip]

People who wants to run your program needs the appropriate version of the .NET Framework installed. There is no walk-around.You can't compile .NET code down to any kind of a "native binary" and you can't distribute only the portions of the framework that you need.If you develop in C++ you should include the latest runtime too.


Your have to bundle the .NET Framework along with your application's installer. The easier way is to use Visual Studio to create a setup project that will automatically install the .NET Framework if they don't have it already and then install your application.Creating such setup projects in VS is pretty easy.File -> New Project -> Other Project Types -> Setup & Deployment -> Visual Studio Installer.Follow the onscreen instructions.


With .Net 4.0 there are two versions of this framework: the full version and the "Client Profile". The client profile is lightweight but lacks certain classes so if your application depends on them you have no choice but to incorporate the full version.

 

[Saint Nick]

Thanks for the response Jaydip. Is there a way to tell if my project is able to utilize the client profile only? I'm guessing it's based on the Imports?

 

[Markbnj]

There actually is a way, but I don't recommend it unless it's a real issue, i.e. your users by definition will not have the framework. It's not worth it just because you don't want them to have to download it. Virtually every windows system now has the framework installed at some release level. Anyway...

http://spoon.net/studio

 

[Train]

Is there a way I can package only specific DLLs into my project/compiled exe?

If you know your dependencies are only on specific DLL's, you can try this:

Remove references to the dependencies, copy those DLL's to your BIN folder, re-add the dependencies, but only by pointing to those DLL's specifically.

Change the compile target from 4.0 to 2.0 or whatever.

Be sure to include the needed DLL's in your installer project (though this should be automatic if you've added them as references)

This actually works on SOME classes, but certain language features need a specific runtime, so if your targeted classes use any of those, they won't work.

 

[Jaydip]

Thanks for the response Jaydip. Is there a way to tell if my project is able to utilize the client profile only? I'm guessing it's based on the Imports?

Check the "Target Framework" settings for your application, under the project Properties. If it's not set to Client Profile already, try changing it and see if it will compile. That's the quickest way to tell if this deployment option is available to you. But there's only ~ 15% difference in size between the two frameworks so don't fret too much.