So I’m working on this XNA game and have recently become annoyed with the amount of absolute garbage that appears in the output window. Check this out:

The top line is where I start the build, and the bottom line is the first error from the complation. But everything in between is completely useless. Specifically it looks like an echo of the command line for the C# compiler (csc) - the bulk of which is just all the CS files to compile.

That’s annoying, but what’s worse is that when you hit F4 to go to your first error the IDE takes you to this line instead. This morning, after working in c# for almost 3 years, for some reason, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

As it turns out the “magic option” is here:

By default the “MSBuild Project Build Output Verbosity” setting is “Minimal,” which for me isn’t nearly minimal enough. Set it to Quiet and behold:

I am kind of terrified to see what the “Diagnostic” setting would do to my poor output window.

I’m working with some friends to make a game for dream/build/play, and we’ve decided to keep a blog about our experiences this year. So, if XNA’s your thing, and you want to watch the spectacle that is our group, The International Conspiracy, head on over to http://internationalconspiracy.wordpress.com to catch the action as it unfolds.