Nuget packages without nuget package manager?

Question

What does a nuget package actually consist of, apart from the compiled libraries?

Is it possible to download these packages without using the package manager and use them elsewhere?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can download them from http://packages.nuget.org/api/v1/package/<PACKAGE_YOU_WANT>/ using your browser.

You can get the package name from: http://packages.nuget.org/Packages

Example: jQuery UI (Combined Library) Package is at: http://packages.nuget.org/packages/jQuery.UI.Combined To download: http://packages.nuget.org/api/v1/package/jQuery.UI.Combined/

Answer 2

What does a nuget package actually consist of, apart from the compiled libraries?

Take a look here. Basically it is a file with the .nupkg extension which is nothing more than a .zip file containing the structure explained in the previous link and some xml metadata.

Is it possible to download these packages without using the package manager and use them elsewhere?

Sure, simply download the .nupkg file.

Answer 3

Based on @Gth685's answer, I made a Google Chrome extension that adds download links to package pages on http://nuget.org

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nutake/ibhhbcaipjilldjkhhblhgdedjgoecap?hl=en

Answer 4

Just so everyone knows, you can just create an account on nuget.org. Once logged in a download link will appear on the left toolbar that will allow you to directly download any .nupkg file.