Using MvcSiteMapProvider throuh NuPack

Probably you have seen the buzz around NuPack, a package manager for .NET with thight integration in Visual Studio 2010. NuPack is a free, open source developer focused package management system for the .NET platform intent on simplifying the process of incorporating third party libraries into a .NET application during development. If you download and install NuPack into Visual Studio, you can now reference MvcSiteMapProvider with a few simple clicks!

From within your ASP.NET MVC 2 project, right click the project file and use the new “Add Package Reference…” option.

Next, a nice dialog shows up where you can just pick a package and click “Install” to download it and add the necessary references to your project. The packages are retrieved from a central XML feed, but feel free to add a reference to a directory where your corporate packages are stored and install them through NuPack. Anyway: MvcSiteMapProvider. Just look for it in the list and click “Install”.

Next, MvcSiteMapProvider will automatically be downloaded, added as an assembly reference, a default Mvc.sitemap file is added to your project and all configuration in Web.config takes place without having to do anything! I’m sold :-)

Disclaimer for some: I’m not saying NuPack is the best package manager out there nor that it is the best original idea ever invented. I do believe that the tight integration in VS2010 will make NuPack a good friend during development: the process of downloading and including third party components in your application becomes frictionless. That’s the aim for NuPack, and also the reason why I believe this tool matters and will matter a lot!

This is an imported post. It was imported from my old blog using an automated tool and may contain formatting errors and/or broken images.