MSBuild.exe and dotnet 4.5

Question

Does dotnet framework 4.5 include an updated version of msbuild.exe?

We are using Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 (64bit) with the following installed programs;

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 (version 11.0.60315.01 Update 2)
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 SDK
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 Multi-Targeting Pack
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Multi-Targeting Pack

Running msbuild in "VS2012 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt" it appear to run the dotnet 4.0 version of msbuild located at C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\MSBuild.exe

There is no folder called C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.5...

Where does dotnet framework 4.5 install its files?

Answer 1

Starting in VS 2013, MSBuild is part of Visual Studio instead of the .NET Framework.

From The Visual Studio Blog's "MSBuild is now part of Visual Studio!":

We made a number of exciting changes to MSBuild for Visual Studio 2013, including rethinking the fundamental relationship between MSBuild, Visual Studio, and the .NET Framework. MSBuild has shipped as a component of the .NET framework since it was first introduced in 2005 with .NET 2.0, despite the fact that it is, first and foremost, a development tool leveraged primarily by Visual Studio developers. Starting with Visual Studio 2013, the 2013 version of MSBuild will ship as a part of Visual Studio instead of the .NET Framework. This transition allows us to more rapidly evolve MSBuild.

and:

On 32-bit machines they can be found in: C:\Program Files\MSBuild\12.0\bin On 64-bit machines the 32-bit tools will be under: C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\12.0\bin and the 64-bit tools under: C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\12.0\bin\amd64

You can find MSBuild locations by typing in Developer Command Prompt for Visual Studio:

where msbuild

Should output both the legacy (4.0) and the newest binary (12.0,14.0+) locations:

C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\12.0\Bin\MSBuild.exe
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\MSBuild.exe

With VS 2012 you can use MSBuild 4.0.