.NET Tool Backend

The dotnet: backend installs command-line tool packages from NuGet using dotnet tool install. The unprefixed dotnet tool installs the SDK; see the .NET language guide for SDK selection and global.json.

Dependencies

Install a .NET SDK and the runtime required by the selected tool package. A newer SDK alone does not guarantee that an older tool can run: .NET's runtime selection rules still apply. Use mise exec -- dotnet --list-runtimes to inspect what is installed.

Usage

This example pairs .NET 8 with a GitVersion release that includes a .NET 8 tool:

mise use dotnet@8 dotnet:GitVersion.Tool@6.0.5
mise exec -- dotnet-gitversion /version

Both entries are written to the project's mise.toml:

[tools]
dotnet = "8"
"dotnet:GitVersion.Tool" = "6.0.5"

Add -g to mise use for global configuration. To choose another release, run mise ls-remote dotnet:GitVersion.Tool and check that release's runtime requirements. mise use dotnet:GitVersion.Tool records a latest request.

mise installs each tool into its own directory with --tool-path; it does not create or update a project's .config/dotnet-tools.json manifest.

Private feeds

dotnet.registry_url selects the NuGet service index used for version discovery. The dotnet CLI handles installation separately, using its NuGet configuration and credentials. Configure the installation source in NuGet.Config as well; changing the discovery endpoint alone does not add a source to the CLI.

Settings

Set these with mise settings set [VARIABLE]=[VALUE] or by setting the environment variable listed.

dotnet.cli_telemetry_optout

• Type: boolean(optional)
• Env: MISE_DOTNET_CLI_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT
• Default: None

When set to true, the DOTNET_CLI_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT environment variable is set to 1, disabling .NET CLI telemetry. When set to false, it is set to 0.

When unset (default), mise does not set the variable and .NET uses its own default behavior.

dotnet.dotnet_root

• Type: string(optional)
• Env: MISE_DOTNET_ROOT
• Default: None

All .NET SDK versions are installed side-by-side under this directory, matching .NET's native multi-version model.

By default, mise uses ~/.local/share/mise/dotnet-root. Set this to override the location.

dotnet.isolated

• Type: boolean
• Env: MISE_DOTNET_ISOLATED
• Default: false

When true, each SDK version is installed in its own directory under mise's installs path, like most other tools. dotnet --list-sdks will only show the active version.

When false (default), all SDK versions share a single DOTNET_ROOT directory and dotnet --list-sdks shows all installed versions, matching .NET's native side-by-side model.

dotnet.package_flagsdeprecated

• Type: string[]
• Env: MISE_DOTNET_PACKAGE_FLAGS(comma separated)
• Default: []
• Deprecated: Use the `prerelease = true` tool option or the global `prereleases` setting instead.

Deprecated. Use the prerelease = true tool option on a dotnet: tool, or the global prereleases setting, to include pre-release versions.

This legacy setting is a list of flags to extend the search and install abilities of dotnet tools. Because it is global, remove it before relying on prerelease = false per-tool opt-outs. The only supported flag is:

• 'prerelease' : include pre-release versions in search and install

dotnet.registry_url

• Type: string
• Env: MISE_DOTNET_REGISTRY_URL
• Default: https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json

URL of the NuGet service index used to discover tool versions. The default is the public NuGet service index.

Installation runs dotnet tool install, which reads its own NuGet.Config and credentials. Configure a private feed there as well; this setting does not add an installation source to the dotnet CLI.

Tool Options

The following tool-options are available for the dotnet backend—these go in [tools] in mise.toml.

install_env

Set environment variables for the dotnet tool install command:

[tools]
"dotnet:GitVersion.Tool" = { version = "latest", install_env = { DOTNET_CLI_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT = "1" } }

prerelease

By default, NuGet pre-release versions are excluded from mise ls-remote and from latest resolution. Set prerelease = true to include them:

[tools]
"dotnet:GitVersion.Tool" = { version = "latest", prerelease = true }

The legacy dotnet.package_flags = ["prerelease"] setting is deprecated. Prefer the per-tool prerelease = true option, or the global prereleases setting when every tool should include pre-release versions. Because dotnet.package_flags is global, remove it before relying on per-tool prerelease = false opt-outs.

Troubleshooting

• SDK not found: check mise exec -- dotnet --info and any global.json that constrains SDK selection.
• Required framework missing: install a compatible runtime/SDK or select a tool release that targets the runtime you have.
• Package not found: verify that the package is a .NET tool and that both discovery and installation can access its feed.

Implementation: src/backend/dotnet.rs.