dotnet backend

The dotnet backend installs .NET command-line tool packages from NuGet with dotnet tool install. The unprefixed dotnet tool installs the SDK itself; see the .NET guide for SDK versions and global.json.

Requirements

Install a .NET SDK, plus the runtime the tool package targets. A newer SDK does not guarantee that an older tool runs, because .NET's runtime selection rules still apply. Run mise exec -- dotnet --list-runtimes to see what is installed. When dotnet is in your config, mise installs it before your .NET tools.

Usage

Install .NET 8 and a GitVersion release built for it:

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

This writes both entries to mise.toml. Add -g to mise use for your global config.

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

To choose another release, run mise ls-remote dotnet:GitVersion.Tool and check that release's runtime requirements. mise use dotnet:GitVersion.Tool without a version records latest.

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

mise lists versions from the NuGet service index in dotnet.registry_url, but dotnet tool install downloads the package using its own NuGet.Config and credentials. For a private feed, add it to NuGet.Config and point dotnet.registry_url at its service index; changing the setting alone does not add an install source.

Tool options

Set these on the tool's entry in [tools], or inline, as in 'dotnet:GitVersion.Tool[prerelease=true]'. Options every backend accepts are described under tool options.

install_env

Set environment variables for dotnet tool install:

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

prerelease

By default, NuGet prerelease versions are left out of mise ls-remote and latest. Set prerelease = true to include them:

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

To include prereleases for every tool, set the prereleases setting instead.

Settings

Two settings apply to dotnet: tools. The other dotnet.* settings configure the .NET SDK; see the .NET guide.

Set these under [settings] in a config file, with mise settings set, or with a setting's environment variable where it has one. See which value wins when a setting is set in more than one place.

dotnet.package_flagsdeprecated

Flags for every dotnet: tool; the only flag, prerelease, includes prereleases.

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

Because it applies to every tool, prerelease here also overrides a tool's own prerelease = false.

dotnet.registry_url

NuGet service index used to discover dotnet tool versions.

• Type: URL
• Default: "https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json"
• Environment variable: MISE_DOTNET_REGISTRY_URL

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.

mise 2026.11.0 and later warn when dotnet.package_flags is set, and mise 2027.11.0 removes it.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	What to check
SDK not found	Run mise exec -- dotnet --info and check any global.json that constrains SDK selection.
Required framework missing	Install a runtime or SDK the tool supports, or choose a tool release that targets the runtime you have.
Package not found	Check that the package is a .NET tool and that both version listing and installation can reach its feed.

Implementation: src/backend/dotnet.rs.