How to build both Debug and Release for a TeamCity project

Question

The first idea that comes to my mind is to use two Visual Studio (.sln) build steps - one for each configuration. (Multiple builds steps supports on TC v5+).

Is there a better way?

Answer 1

We have two separate MSBuild targets that build the solution using different properties:

<Target Name="Build-Debug">
    <MSBuild Projects="OurSolution.sln" Targets="Rebuild" Properties="Configuration=Debug" />
</Target>

<Target Name="Build-Release">
    <MSBuild Projects="OurSolution.sln" Targets="Rebuild" Properties="Configuration=Release" />
</Target>

From TeamCity, we have one "Configuration" (in TeamCity-speak) that calls the Build-Debug target, and another that calls the Build-Release.

Answer 2

We always wrap the sln build with an msbuild to add in running tests, building sql scripts, etc. At this point you could call out to the sln and set the appropriate property values; Configuration=Debug and Configuration=Release

Unless you are just trying to do release with pdb files (which is always a good idea) in which case just change the properties in the build section in Visual Studio