.net - How can I use NuGet with Visual C# Express?

Question

How can I use NuGet to add a library package reference, when I have Visual C# 2010 Express?

NuGet doesn't come up when I search for it in Tools > Extension Manager.

I downloaded "NuGet Package Manager" (the .vsix) from the downloads page, but when it prompts me for which versions of Visual studio to integrate into, it only lists Visual Web Developer Express 2010. Visual C# Express isn't shown. So I guess it would work with Silverlight in VWD, but I want to use it with WPF.

One of the documentation pages linked me to the 1.0 CTP download page, which included a command-line version of NuGet (no longer present in the latest version). But the command-line version seems to be crippled -- the only operation it seems to support is building a package for distribution; it doesn't seem to support the commands for adding a reference to a library package.

Is there any way at all to use NuGet with Visual C# Express?

Answer 1

Update (9/12/2012): Good news: Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop is now available (here), and it supports NuGet out of the box. Generally speaking, every edition of VS2012 now supports NuGet, so this limitation should be a thing of the past!

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Original answer:

Microsoft signs NuGet in a way that allows it to work with VWD Express. Ideally, it would also be signed in a way that it works with C# Express (it may have to be a separate build). Unfortunately, we were not able to do this for the initial release (it's more of a challenge than you might think).

Going forward, we will try to enable this scenario. Feel free to file a bug on the NuGet site just to let others who are affected a chance to vote it up!