Question

How do I run a rake script automatically every time I save a file in Visual Studio? I can create a batch file that wraps the command. And I’d like to trigger it on CTRL + S. But, Visual Studio 2012 doesn’t have macros.

JP Boodhoo has done it in many of his screen casts, but hasn’t shared the implementation.

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FYI, my rakefile looks like this

require 'albacore'

desc 'Build Solution'
msbuild :Build do |msb| 
  msb.properties :configuration => :Release 
  msb.targets :Clean, :Build 
  msb.solution = 'ProjoBot.sln' 
end 

desc 'Run Unit Tests' 
mspec :Test do |mspec| 
  mspec.command = 'Lib/Tools/MSpec/mspec-clr4.exe' 
  mspec.assemblies 'Src/Tests/ProjoBot.UnitSpecifications/bin/Release/ProjoBot.UnitSpecifications.dll'
end 

task :default => [:Build, :Test]

Answer 1

I used the External Tools to run a batch file that executes the default Rake task.

@ECHO OFF
rake

I assigned the shortcut key CTRL + S to the tool, so that, when I save, the rake task is triggered! I hope this helps someone looking to do the same thing.