---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/dotnet-cli.md
title: "The .NET CLI and dotnet new"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs); prose restates or closely paraphrases cited source lines"
license_family: dotnet-docs-ccby
rule_check: "needs rule check (family not in auto-publish rule; check.mjs auto-approves only usgov and arxiv-ccby)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Microsoft Learn (.NET docs), .NET CLI, CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs); Microsoft Learn (.NET docs), dotnet new <TEMPLATE> - .NET CLI, CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-04
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-04
as_of: 2026-11-04
confidence: medium
untested: "No code was run for this note; only the fetched documentation pages were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-ai-eng: .NET"
tags: ['dotnet', 'cli', 'tooling']
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: ".NET CLI"
    publisher: Microsoft Learn (.NET docs)
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs)"
  - id: S2
    title: "dotnet new <TEMPLATE> - .NET CLI"
    publisher: Microsoft Learn (.NET docs)
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/dotnet-new
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs)"
---
# The .NET CLI and dotnet new

**Answer:** The .NET command-line interface (CLI) is a cross-platform toolchain for developing, building, running, and publishing .NET applications. CLI command structure consists of the driver ("dotnet"), the command, and possibly command arguments and options. (S1)

## The driver

- The driver is named dotnet and has two responsibilities, either running a framework-dependent app or executing a command. (S1)
- To run a framework-dependent app, specify the path to the app's .dll file after the driver without specifying a command. (S1)
- After installing the SDK, you can run CLI commands by opening a terminal and entering the commands at the terminal prompt. (S1)

## dotnet new

- The dotnet new command creates a .NET project or other artifacts based on a template. (S2)
- The command calls the template engine to create the artifacts on disk based on the specified template and options. (S2)
- The --list, --search, --install, and --uninstall options became list, search, install, and uninstall subcommands. (S2)

## Claims
- id: C1
  claim: The driver is named dotnet.
  source: S1
  evidence: "The driver is named dotnet and has two responsibilities"
- id: C2
  claim: The driver runs apps or commands.
  source: S1
  evidence: "either running a framework-dependent app or executing a command."
- id: C3
  claim: dotnet new uses templates.
  source: S2
  evidence: "The dotnet new command creates a .NET project or other artifacts based on a template."
- id: C4
  claim: Old options became subcommands.
  source: S2
  evidence: "--search, --install, and --uninstall options became list, search, install, and uninstall subcommands."

## Sources
- [S1] .NET CLI. Microsoft Learn (.NET docs). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/ . License: CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs). Accessed 2026-11-04.
- [S2] dotnet new <TEMPLATE> - .NET CLI. Microsoft Learn (.NET docs). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/dotnet-new . License: CC BY 4.0 (dotnet/docs). Accessed 2026-11-04.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted).