vcxproj, and others) contain MSBuild XML code that executes when you build a project by using the IDE. Visual Studio uses MSBuild to load and build managed projects. By invoking msbuild.exe on your project or solution file, you can orchestrate and build products in environments where Visual Studio isn't installed. Visual Studio uses MSBuild, but MSBuild doesn't depend on Visual Studio. This engine, which is also known as MSBuild, provides an XML schema for a project file that controls how the build platform processes and builds software. The Microsoft Build Engine is a platform for building applications.
