Tests project not finding tested project dll

Question

I am trying to see if I can implement the recommendations listed here:

http://www.ndepend.com/Res/NDependWhiteBook_Assembly.pdf

• I have my main project set up as a commandline app.
• I have my test project referencing my cmdlnApp with copylocal = false.
• I have my main project setup to output to ..\\build\\debug (when debugging)
• I have my test project setup to output to ..\\build\\tests\\

I have an app.config in my test project with the following settings:

<configuration>
    <runtime>
            <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
                <probing privatePath="debug;debug\lib;tests;" />
                <dependentAssembly>
                        <assemblyIdentity name="System.Runtime" publicKeyToken="b03f5f7f11d50a3a" culture="neutral" />
                    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.6.9.0" newVersion="2.6.9.0" />
                </dependentAssembly>
                <dependentAssembly>
                    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Threading.Tasks" publicKeyToken="b03f5f7f11d50a3a" culture="neutral" />
                    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.6.9.0" newVersion="2.6.9.0" />
                </dependentAssembly>
                <dependentAssembly>
                    <assemblyIdentity name="NLog" publicKeyToken="5120e14c03d0593c" culture="neutral" />
                    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-3.1.0.0" newVersion="3.1.0.0" />
                </dependentAssembly>
                <dependentAssembly>
                    <assemblyIdentity name="nunit.framework" publicKeyToken="96d09a1eb7f44a77" culture="neutral" />
                    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.6.4.14350" newVersion="2.6.4.14350" />
                </dependentAssembly>
            </assemblyBinding>
    </runtime>
    <startup>
        <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.0" />
    </startup>
</configuration>

When I try to run my unit tests I receive an error: System.IO.FileNotFoundException : Could not load file or assembly 'CmdLnApp, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies.

I have checked and the build folder is being created, the debug folder has all the files from CmdLnApp and the build folder also has a tests folder with all the testing libraries in it.

Can anyone see what I am missing?

Answer 1

Rule of thumb: all code must be in external DLLs. It makes it more testable. Whatever is in exe can be tested by users, UI automated test, or by invoking exe with command line parameters. All of them cumbersome and liable for failure. Correct your setup and you'll have no issues.