C#•10mo ago

How do I Retrieve a file in C#

I'm writing small CLI task-tracker program, according to the projects from roadmap.sh backend section.
https://roadmap.sh/projects/task-tracker

I need to retrieve and deserialize JSON file as part of the program. I suppose it wouldn't be good practice to manually copy and paste the path. In most tutorials I see something similar to the code snippet below for accessing the file.

var currentDirectory = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
var jsonFilePath = Path.Combine(currentDirectory, "Data","Tasks.json");

var currentDirectory = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
var jsonFilePath = Path.Combine(currentDirectory, "Data","Tasks.json");

var currentDirectory = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
var jsonFilePath = Path.Combine(currentDirectory, "Data","Tasks.json");

var currentDirectory = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
var jsonFilePath = Path.Combine(currentDirectory, "Data","Tasks.json");

for me GetCurrentDirecory() method returns following path: "~\source\repos\TaskTrackerCLI\TaskTrackerCLI\bin\Debug\net8.0"
the Tasks.json file is inside Data folder, which is inside the project folder, as it should be.

Can anyone tell me how I should retrieve the file, what am I doing wrong?

roadmap.sh

Task Tracker CLI

Build a command line interface (CLI) to track your tasks and manage your to-do list.

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:49 PM

Directory.GetCurrentDirectoryDirectory.GetCurrentDirectory when you're debuggign will give you bin/debug/<tfm>bin/debug/<tfm>

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:49 PM

that's to be expected

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:50 PM

current dirrectory is about "where the app is"

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:50 PM

and your app is NOT the source code

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:50 PM

the source is built and the exe lived in bin/debug/tfm

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:50 PM

question is ...

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:50 PM

do you plan on Editing the JSON file ?

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:50 PM

or just reading it and never write to it ?

TTeBeCo or just reading it and never write to it ?

SWIMONOP•3/13/25, 8:51 PM

I'm editing it

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:51 PM

ok so the easiest choice for a quick win is to remove that var currentDirectory = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();var currentDirectory = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:52 PM

and make a Configuration key in appsettings.jsonappsettings.json for example

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:52 PM

and set the absolute path to the root folder of the project

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:52 PM

and if that key isnt' defined then it fallback to Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()

SWIMONOP•3/13/25, 8:52 PM

Okay, I'll try

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:52 PM

so that if you configure the path in config it uses it .. and you point to the location in debug

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:53 PM

and if you never set it

SWIMONOP•3/13/25, 8:53 PM

So I should manually copy the absolute path of the project and paste it inside the appsettings file?

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:53 PM

it uses the programn location

SSWIMON So I should manually copy the absolute path of the project and paste it inside t...

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:53 PM

the folder

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:54 PM

{
  "DataFolderLocation": "C:\my\path\sln-dir\project-dir\Data"
}

{
  "DataFolderLocation": "C:\my\path\sln-dir\project-dir\Data"
}

SWIMONOP•3/13/25, 8:54 PM

Okay I'll try that

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:55 PM

var 
var dataDirectory = configuredValue ?? Path.Combine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "Data");
var jsonFilePath = Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "Tasks.json");

var 
var dataDirectory = configuredValue ?? Path.Combine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "Data");
var jsonFilePath = Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "Tasks.json");

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:55 PM

have to disconnect / late here

TeBeCo•3/13/25, 8:55 PM

see ya

SWIMONOP•3/13/25, 8:56 PM

Thanks brother