TFS Build Server - CSC: Fatal Error CS2008: No Inputs Specified

Question

We get the above error message on our build server when we build a solution or a specific project referenced by the error.

We can build the solution without any problems using visual studio (also on the build server), however, when msbuild starts, it does not cope with this error.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

I have found a solution.

Msbuild has an “error”, which leads to its failure when there are no source files in the project. For example Filename.cs.

Our project had only xml and other file types.

Just an empty cs file was added and it worked.

Answer 2

You must add assembly information to the project. This avoids having to create an empty class file.

To easily create an assembly information file, open the project properties, select the application tab, click "Assembly Information" and enter the appropriate data. This will automatically create the assemblyinfo.cs file in the appropriate location.

Answer 3

I also received this error message when I “created” a project that did not have any * .cs files ... but we do this quite often for SharePoint projects that are just XML. VS project is just organizing some XML documents. In short, the problem was that there was an AssemblyInfo.cs file. After adding some assembly information to the project properties, voila! It worked. So, I think, yes, you need a .cs file to compile anything at all, but AssemblyInfo.cs is enough.

Answer 4

I had the same error with a project that does not have .cs files. I solved this by adding the following section to the corresponding .csproj file:

<PropertyGroup> <CoreBuildDependsOn> </CoreBuildDependsOn> </PropertyGroup> 

Thus, the project will not be created, and there will be no build-output (DLL is not created). Works with both VS and TFS.