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I have a C# Console app than runs a pre-build step (to get NuGet Packages).

When I am debugging this, I want to pass in a parameter and show the console. When I am not debugging it I don't want to see it. I don't even want it to flash up there for a second.

I have found ways to hide it, after it has shown. But I can't find a way to never make it show unless I am willing to change it from a console app to a Windows app. (Which I would do if I could then find a way to show the Console when needed.)

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Build as a Windows application and show the console when you need it. To show the console when needed use P/Invoke to call AllocConsole (pinvoke.net has the declaration you need).

(Console sub-system processes always get a console, their parent process's if there was one, otherwise a new one. This is the way Windows works at a deep level.)

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aren't all applications windows applications? ;)
He's talking about the name of the setting in Project + Properties, Application tab.
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Use FreeConsole WINAPI function:

http://pinvoke.net/default.aspx/kernel32/FreeConsole.html

Another solution is to simply switch to a WinForms application as project type. No console will be allocated then (and you do not need to show a form).

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FreeConsole has the same problems as ShowWindow(handle, SW_HIDE). It only helps for an already existing console. I want it to never appear in the first place.
Read the "Another solution" part. The fact is that you can never hide a console from start when you have specified "console application" as project type.

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