Learn how to containerize .NET applications without writing a single line of Dockerfile. The .NET SDK has built-in support for publishing directly to container images.

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Milan Jovanović

.NET SDK (since version 7) includes built-in support for publishing applications directly to container images without writing a Dockerfile. Using a single `dotnet publish` command with the `/t:PublishContainer` flag, developers can build, containerize, and optionally push their applications to registries. The SDK automatically selects appropriate base images, handles multi-stage builds, and allows customization through MSBuild properties like image names, tags, base images, and ports. This approach eliminates Dockerfile maintenance overhead while providing sensible defaults for most web APIs and background services, though complex scenarios requiring system dependencies or custom build steps may still need traditional Dockerfiles.

Containerize Your .NET Applications Without a Dockerfile

The Traditional Approach: Writing a Dockerfile