From YAML Chaos to C# Clarity: Mattias Karlsson on Cake Build

Mar 6, 2026

Mattias Karlsson, open-source maintainer and .NET-focused developer advocate and consultant, walks through Cake, the C# build orchestration tool he maintains. He contrasts C# scripting with YAML for clearer, strongly typed pipelines. Hear about local debugging, cross-platform path handling, evolving pipelines, publishing scripts as tools, and running one script across many CI systems.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Cake Orchestrates Tools Not Replaces Them

Cake is a build orchestration framework that orchestrates existing tools rather than replacing MSBuild or CI systems.
It lets you write build workflows in C# so orchestration complexity is reduced and the same flow runs cross-platform.

ADVICE

Debug Build Scripts Locally First

Debug your build scripts locally before pushing to CI to speed up iteration and catch issues with breakpoints and inspection.
Mattias stresses Cake runs the same locally and on CI so you can use Visual Studio debugging tools instead of blind YAML cycles.

INSIGHT

Strongly Typed Build APIs Prevent Errors

Cake provides strongly typed setting classes and aliases so you don't need to remember argument names or types for tools like dotnet CLI.
That typed API reduces human error compared with free-form YAML or shell scripts across platforms.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Strategic Technology Consultation Services

This episode of The Modern .NET Show is supported, in part, by RJJ Software's Strategic Technology Consultation Services. If you're an SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) leader wondering why your technology investments aren't delivering, or you're facing critical decisions about AI, modernization, or team productivity, let's talk.

Show Notes

"So it essentially is a build orchestration framework. So it doesn't replace the .NET CL or MSBuild or whatever you're using today. It doesn't replace GitHub Actions or Azure pipelines. What it does is that it reduces the complexity of those things"— Mattias Karlsson

Hey everyone, and welcome back to The Modern .NET Show; the premier .NET podcast, focusing entirely on the knowledge, tools, and frameworks that all .NET developers should have in their toolbox. I'm your host Jamie Taylor, bringing you conversations with the brightest minds in the .NET ecosystem.

Today, we're joined by Matthas Karlsson to talk about Cake (aka C# Make), the build orchestrator built entirely in .NET.

"Like, you need to evaluate and see what works for you. Because, like, if you have an open source project and all you do is dotnet pack, then it might be too complicated."— Mattias Karlsson

Along the way, we talked about what a build orchestrator is, why you might consider one (and when it might be too complex to have one), the recent single file application changes to .NET (i.e `dotnet run file.cs`), and talk about why it's important to have multiple tools in your development toolbox.

Before we jump in, a quick reminder: if The Modern .NET Show has become part of your learning journey, please consider supporting us through Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee. Every contribution helps us continue bringing you these in-depth conversations with industry experts. You'll find all the links in the show notes.

Anyway, without further ado, let's sit back, open up a terminal, type in `dotnet new podcast` and we'll dive into the core of Modern .NET.

Full Show Notes

The full show notes, including links to some of the things we discussed and a full transcription of this episode, can be found at: https://dotnetcore.show/season-8/from-yaml-chaos-to-csharp-clarity-mattias-karlsson-on-cake-build/

Useful Links:

Cake Build
Mattias' links:
- Website
- LinkedIn
- Bluesky
- Mastadon

Supporting the show:

Getting in Touch:

Remember to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, or wherever you find your podcasts, this will help the show's audience grow. Or you can just share the show with a friend.

And don't forget to reach out via our Contact page. We're very interested in your opinion of the show, so please get in touch.

You can support the show by making a monthly donation on the show's Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/TheDotNetCorePodcast.

Music created by Mono Memory Music, licensed to RJJ Software for use in The Modern .NET Show.

Editing and post-production services for this episode were provided by MB Podcast Services.