Linking Game Project to Source (Optional)

Introduction

The easiest way to use Gum is to add the NuGet packages to your game project. Alternatively you can link your game to Gum source for additional debugging, to stay up to date with the latest improvements, or if you are interested in contributing.

This document assumes you already have a game project with the Gum NuGet packages linked.

As of July 22, 2025 the following two libraries have been merged into GumCore:

  • ToolsUtilitiesStandard

  • GumDataTypesNet6

These two projects are no longer needed. Old projects can safely remove these and only reference GumCore and MonoGameGum.

Linking Source

If you have followed the Setup steps, then you should have a game which references the Gum NuGet package.

Default setup referencing NuGet Package

To replace this package with source references:

  1. Clone the Gum repository

  2. Remove the NuGet package by selecting Gum.MonoGame and pressing the Delete key.

  3. Right-click on your Solution in the Solution Explorer and select Add -> Existing Project...

  4. Select <Gum Root>/MonoGameGum/MonoGameGum.csproj

  5. Repeat the previous step for the following csproj file: <Gum Root>/GumCommon/GumCommon.csproj

    1. <Gum Root>/GumDataTypes/GumDataTypesNet6.csproj

    2. <Gum Root>/ToolsUtilities/ToolsUtilitiesStandard.csproj

      A game project and Gum source code projects in the Visual Studio Solution Explorer
  6. Right-click on your game project's Dependencies folder and select Add Project Reference...

  7. Check the Gum projects you added to the solution earlier and click OK

    Check the Gum projects then click OK

You are now fully linked to source. You can build and run your game.

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