Automate Builds using SVN, MSBuild, Cruise Control

Introduction

This article will explain how to use SVN, MSBuild, Cruise control and CCtray to automate the build process.

msbuild.xml

msbuild document is used to build the .NET solution file. Below is the snapshot of the msbuild document.

It starts with tag Project and we must have to import the msbuild path installed on our local system.

There are Target tags (can be more than one) and we can give them any name. The compiler will search for the tag Build and starts with that tag. Before that, it will go through the tags specified in DependsOnTarget.

Code Snap of msbuild.xml

Below is the code snippet displayed in the image to copy in your application.

<Project DefaultTargets="Build" 
	xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
    
    <Import Project=
      "C:\Program Files\MSBuild\MSBuildCommunityTasks\MSBuild.Community.Tasks.Targets"/>

    <Target Name="GetSource">
            <Message Text="Checking out trunk into $(SourceDirectory)" />
            <SvnCheckout RepositoryPath="PATH TO SVN" 
                LocalPath="LOCAL PATH TO FOLDER"
                UserName="USERNAME OF SVN"
                Password="PASSWORD OF SVN">
                <Output TaskParameter="Revision" PropertyName="Revision" />
            </SvnCheckout>
            <Message Text="Have got revision: $(Revision)"/>
        </Target>

    <Target Name="Build" DependsOnTargets="GetSource;Clean;" />
    
    <Target Name="Clean">
        <!-- Clean, then rebuild entire solution -->
        <MSBuild Projects="D:\Projects\SOLUTIONFILENAME.sln" Targets="Clean;Rebuild" /> 
    </Target>

</Project>

Configure Cruise Control

Now go to “C:\Program Files\CruiseControl.NET\server” and open “ ccnet.config”

<cruisecontrol>
<project name="YOURPROJECTNAME">
         <webURL>http://SERVERIPADDRESS/ccnet/</webURL>

        <triggers>
            <intervalTrigger seconds="14400" buildCondition="ForceBuild" />
        </triggers>

        <tasks>
            <msbuild>
                <executable>C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\MSBuild.exe
		</executable>
                <workingDirectory>PATH OF WORKING DIRECTORY</workingDirectory>        
                                <buildArgs>MSBUILDFILENAME.msbuild 
				/p:Configuration=Debug</buildArgs>
                <timeout>1800</timeout>
                <!--  30 minutes -->
                <logger>C:\Program Files\CruiseControl.NET\server\
			ThoughtWorks.CruiseControl.MSBuild.dll</logger>
            </msbuild>
        </tasks>
    </project>
    
</cruisecontrol>   

Now, configure the cc tray by passing the SERVERIPADDRESS as above XML document and click on build. If build is successful, then it will show a green symbol otherwise it will show a red symbol.

Configure CCTray

Step 1

go to File - >Settings

Step 2

Then in Build project tab, click on Add button.

Step 3

After that, click on Add Server button.

Step 4

Then in URL part, type the IP address of the server or localhost on which the ccnet is installed.

Step 5

When server is added, all the projects added in the configuration file will be displayed on the right side panel. Click on project to add in cctray.

In the next tutorial, I will discuss how to send email through ccnet and how to configure the web dashboard of ccnet.