Generate Binary Logs

Generate Binary Logs

Pass the /bl switch when running any MSBuild-based command. This is a non-negotiable requirement for all .NET builds.

Commands That Require /bl

You MUST add the /bl:{} flag to:

• dotnet build
• dotnet test
• dotnet pack
• dotnet publish
• dotnet restore
• msbuild or msbuild.exe
• Any other command that invokes MSBuild

Preferred: Use {} for Automatic Unique Names

Note: The {} placeholder requires MSBuild 17.8+ / .NET 8 SDK or later.

The {} placeholder in the binlog filename is replaced by MSBuild with a unique identifier, guaranteeing no two builds ever overwrite each other — without needing to track or check existing files.

# Every invocation produces a distinct file automatically
dotnet build /bl:{}
dotnet test /bl:{}
dotnet build --configuration Release /bl:{}

PowerShell requires escaping the braces:

# PowerShell: escape { } as {{ }}
dotnet build -bl:{{}}
dotnet test -bl:{{}}

Why This Matters

1. Unique names prevent overwrites - You can always go back and analyze previous builds
2. Failure analysis - When a build fails, the binlog is already there for immediate analysis