To work with NuGet, as a package consumer or creator, you can use a command-line interface (CLI) tools as well as NuGet features in Visual Studio.
NuGet provides a variety of tools used by both creators and consumers.
| Tool | Platforms | Applicable Scenarios | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| nuget.exe CLI | All | Creation, Consumption | Provides all NuGet capabilities, with some commands applying specifically to package creators, some applying only to consumers, and others applying to both. |
| dotnet CLI | All | Creation, Consumption | Provides certain NuGet CLI capabilities directly within the .NET Core toolchain. As with the NuGet CLI, the dotnet CLI does not interact with Visual Studio projects. |
| Package Manager Console | Visual Studio on Windows | Consumption | Provides PowerShell commands for installing and managing packages in Visual Studio projects. |
| Package Manager UI | Visual Studio on Windows | Consumption | Provides an easy-to-use UI for installing and managing packages in Visual Studio projects. |
| Manage NuGet UI | Visual Studio for Mac | Consumption | Provide an easy-to-use UI for installing and managing packages in Visual Studio for Mac projects. |
| MSBuild | Windows | Creation, Consumption | Provides the ability to create packages and restore packages used in a project directly through the MSBuild toolchain. |