How to use the command gacutil (with examples)
The gacutil command is a Global Assembly Cache (GAC) management utility. It is used to install, uninstall, and view the contents of the GAC. The GAC is a common repository for .NET assemblies that are shared across multiple applications.
Use case 1: Install the specified assembly into GAC
Code:
gacutil -i path/to/assembly.dll
Motivation: The use case is useful when you want to install a specific assembly into the Global Assembly Cache. This is beneficial if you have multiple applications using the same assembly, as it allows for better version management and reduces duplication.
Explanation:
-i: This argument specifies that the assembly should be installed into the GAC.path/to/assembly.dll: This argument represents the path to the assembly file that you want to install.
Example output:
Assembly successfully installed into the Global Assembly Cache.
Use case 2: Uninstall the specified assembly from GAC
Code:
gacutil -u assembly_display_name
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to remove a specific assembly from the Global Assembly Cache. It allows you to clean up the GAC and remove any unused or redundant assemblies.
Explanation:
-u: This argument signifies that the assembly should be uninstalled from the GAC.assembly_display_name: This argument represents the display name of the assembly that you want to uninstall. The display name is typically in the format “AssemblyName, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=1234567890abcdef”.
Example output:
Assembly successfully uninstalled from the Global Assembly Cache.
Use case 3: Print the content of GAC
Code:
gacutil -l
Motivation: Printing the content of the GAC is useful when you want to view all the assemblies currently installed in the cache. It provides an overview of the assemblies that are available for use in your applications.
Explanation:
-l: This argument is used to list the contents of the GAC.
Example output:
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http, Version=3.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=adb9793829ddae60, processorArchitecture=MSIL
System.Data.SqlClient, Version=4.8.1.2, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL
...
Conclusion:
The gacutil command is a powerful utility for managing the Global Assembly Cache. It allows for the installation, uninstallation, and listing of assemblies in the GAC. Using the command correctly can help improve version management and reduce duplication of assemblies.
