Remove NUnit Link for Release Build

Question

I have a project with many NUnit tests. I am happy that these tests will be included in the Debug configuration assembly, but I would like to remove the nunit.framework dependency for the Release configuration. Is there a way to exclude the NUnit link and nunit test objects for a specific (Release) configuration? I use Sharp Develop, but I'm curious how you could address this issue with Visual Studio.

Any clues?

Answer 1

It looks like you have your tests in the same project as your release code. It is not a great idea to split the code into two projects: one with tests and one with production code. Only a test project will have to reference NUnit.

This also means that none of the tests will come with a release code, and it’s easier to see only the production code or only the test code.

Answer 2

If you prefer to develop my unit tests as part of the project you are trying to test, you can add the following condition to the unit test files and a link to nunit in the project file.

Condition=" '$(Configuration)'=='Debug' " 

This will only include a link to nunit, as well as your test classes in the assembly when you are in debug mode.

So your project file may have something like this:

 <Reference Include="nunit.framework, Version=2.6.3.13283, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=96d09a1eb7f44a77, processorArchitecture=MSIL" Condition=" '$(Configuration)'=='Debug' "> <HintPath>..\packages\NUnit.2.6.3\lib\nunit.framework.dll</HintPath> </Reference> <Compile Include="UnitTests.cs" Condition=" '$(Configuration)'=='Debug' "/> 

Answer 3

Move device tests to another assembly - i.e. YourProject.UnitTests

This will not be part of your deployment package, and there is no need to include the nUnit link in the main application.