What NuGet Packages Should I Use? [xUnit.net v3]

This is the package that will most typically be used by unit test authors. It brings in references to xunit.v3.core (which contains the unit testing framework), xunit.analyzers (which contains source code analyzers), and xunit.v3.assert (which contains the class you use to write assertions).

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+, .NET 6+
Depends on: xunit.v3.assert, xunit.v3.core, xunit.analyzers

This package contains the xUnit.net assertion library (i.e., the Assert class).

This is a separate NuGet package, because some developers wish to use the xUnit.net framework and test runners, but with a different assertion library.

If you want to extend the Assert class, you should consider using the xunit.v3.assert.source package instead.

Supports: .NET Standard 2.0+, .NET 6+
Depends on: None

This package contains the core types for the test framework (f.e., FactAttribute).

Referencing this package provides the required infrastructure to be able to write unit tests, including the injection of the entry point that is required to make all v3 test projects stand-alone executables.

This package should only be used by unit test authors. If you wish to extend xUnit.net, then you should reference xunit.v3.extensibility.core instead.

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+, .NET 6+
Depends on: xunit.v3.extensibility.core, xunit.v3.runner.inproc.console

This package provides templates for dotnet new to support xUnit.net v3 test projects and xUnit.net v3 extensibility projects.

To install this package, run: dotnet new install xunit.v3.templates. This will add two new templates (xunit3 and xunit3-extension) for C#, F#, and VB.NET.

Supports: .NET SDK 6+
Depends on: None

This package contains the xUnit.net source code analyzers.

This library provides code analysis and code fixers for common issues that are encountered both by test authors and extensibility authors. It's based on the .NET Compiler Platform ("Roslyn") analyzers which can provide real-time source code analysis inside IDEs (including Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code), as well as compile-time source code analysis.

Supports: Roslyn 3.11+ (Visual Studio 2019 16.11+)
Depends on: None

This package contains the console test runner. This runner is capable of running .NET Framework and .NET projects from xUnit.net v3, as well as .NET Framework projects from xUnit.net v1 and v2. It can run multiple test projects in parallel.

Note: we ship runners targeting multiple versions of .NET Framework, because xUnit.net v1 and v2 projects are loaded into runner process, so the version of .NET Framework that the runner is built against determines the version of .NET Framework that the tests will run against (and more importantly, the features available). We also ship AnyCPU versions as well as versions which are built for 32-bit x86. Since xUnit.net v3 projects are stand-alone executables, they will run with whatever version (and bitness) of .NET or .NET Framework that they were built against regardless of the runner's version.

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+ (v1/v2/v3), .NET 6+ (v3)
Depends on: None

This package contains the MSBuild test runner. This runner is capable of running .NET Framework and .NET projects from xUnit.net v3, as well as .NET Framework projects from xUnit.net v1 and v2. It can run multiple test projects in parallel.

For xUnit.net v3 projects, this runner can be used from both msbuild.exe as well as dotnet msbuild. For xUnit.net v1/v2 projects, this runner only supports being run from msbuild.exe.

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+ (v1/v2/v3), .NET 6+ (v3)
Depends on: None

This package contains the VSTest test runner. This runner is capable of running .NET Framework and .NET projects from xUnit.net v2/v3, as well as .NET Framework projects from xUnit.net v1.

The VSTest framework is used by several 3rd party runner UIs, including:

• Visual Studio (via Test Explorer)
• Visual Studio Code (via the Testing panel)
• dotnet test and dotnet vstest
• Resharper/Rider
• CodeRush
• ...and others...

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+ (v1/v2/v3), .NET 6.0+ (v2/v3)
Depends on: None

This package contains the xUnit.net assertion library (i.e., the Assert class) in source form. The Assert class is a partial class, which allows developers to write additional methods available directly from Assert.

When you have multiple unit test libraries in your project, it is common practice to import this package into a "test utility" library where you write all your custom assertions, and then reference that "test utility" library from your unit test projects.

For more information on consuming this source-based library, please check the assertion project README.

Supports: .NET Standard 1.1+, C# 6+
Depends on: None

This package contains xunit.v3.core.dll. It is intended to be used by developers who wish to reference this DLL for extensibility purposes, such as writing your own theory data provider.

This package is referenced by xunit.v3.core. It differs in that it does not include the MSBuild steps required to make the project an executable test project.

Supports: .NET Standard 2.0+
Depends on: xunit.v3.common

This package contains the code that provides the command line UI for running xUnit.net v3 projects as stand-alone executables. This includes both the native xUnit.net command line UX as well as the Microsoft Testing Platform command line UX.

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+, .NET 6+
Depends on: xunit.v3.extensibility.core, xunit.v3.runner.common

This package contains xunit.v3.runner.utility.*.dll. It is intended to be used by developers who are writing their own test runners.

The libraries contained here are both backward and forward compatible for all v1, v2, and v3 xUnit.net tests.

Supports: .NET Framework 4.7.2+ (v1/v2/v3), .NET 6+ (v2/v3)
Depends on: xunit.abstractions, xunit.v3.runner.common

This package contains types that are shared between xunit.v3.core and xunit.v3.runner.common.

Supports: .NET Standard 2.0+
Depends on: None

This package contains types that are shared between xunit.v3.runner.inproc.console and xunit.v3.runner.utility.

Supports: .NET Standard 2.0+
Depends on: xunit.v3.common

This package contains common interfaces used by various parts of xUnit.net v2. It is used by xunit.v3.runner.utility to be able to run xUnit.net v2 test projects.

Supports: .NET Framework 3.5+, .NET Standard 1.0+
Depends on: None