Dotnet tooling

dotnet-tooling

Overview

.NET project setup, build systems, performance, CLI apps, and developer tooling. This consolidated skill spans 36 topic areas. Load the appropriate companion file from references/ based on the routing table below.

Routing Table

Path resolution: The Companion File column lists filenames relative to this skill's directory. Use Glob to locate the file (pattern: ), then pass the returned absolute path to the Read tool. Do NOT use bare relative paths — the Read tool resolves them relative to the user's project directory, not this skill's location.

Topic	Keywords	Description	Companion File
Bootstrap project	architecture, scaffold, new project, startup	Architecture selection (single/VSA/DDD/Clean), project structure mapping, full bootstrapping flow	references/bootstrap-project.md
Domain analysis	DDD, bounded context, ubiquitous language, event storming, context map	Event Storming, bounded contexts, ubiquitous language glossary, context mapping, aggregate design (analysis phase — before coding)	references/domain-analysis.md
Project structure	solution, .slnx, CPM, analyzers	.slnx, Directory.Build.props, CPM, analyzers	references/project-structure.md
Scaffold project	dotnet new, CPM, SourceLink, editorconfig	dotnet new with CPM, analyzers, editorconfig, SourceLink	references/scaffold-project.md
Csproj reading	PropertyGroup, ItemGroup, CPM, props	SDK-style .csproj, PropertyGroup, ItemGroup, CPM	references/csproj-reading.md
MSBuild authoring	targets, props, conditions, Directory.Build	Targets, props, conditions, Directory.Build patterns	references/msbuild-authoring.md
MSBuild tasks	ITask, ToolTask, inline tasks, UsingTask	ITask, ToolTask, IIncrementalTask, inline tasks	references/msbuild-tasks.md
Build analysis	MSBuild output, NuGet errors, analyzer warnings	MSBuild output, NuGet errors, analyzer warnings	references/build-analysis.md
Build optimization	slow builds, binary logs, parallel, restore	Slow builds, binary logs, parallel, restore	references/build-optimization.md
Artifacts output	UseArtifactsOutput, ArtifactsPath, CI/Docker	UseArtifactsOutput, ArtifactsPath, CI/Docker impact	references/artifacts-output.md
Multi-targeting	multiple TFMs, polyfills, conditional compilation	Multiple TFMs, PolySharp, conditional compilation	references/multi-targeting.md
Performance patterns	Span, ArrayPool, ref struct, sealed, stackalloc	Span, ArrayPool, ref struct, sealed, stackalloc	references/performance-patterns.md
Profiling	dotnet-counters, dotnet-trace, flame graphs	dotnet-counters, dotnet-trace, dotnet-dump, flame graphs	references/profiling.md
Native AOT	PublishAot, ILLink, P/Invoke, size optimization	PublishAot, ILLink descriptors, P/Invoke, size optimization	references/native-aot.md
AOT architecture	source gen, AOT-safe DI, serialization	Source gen over reflection, AOT-safe DI, factories	references/aot-architecture.md
Trimming	annotations, ILLink, IL2xxx warnings, IsTrimmable	Annotations, ILLink, IL2xxx warnings, IsTrimmable	references/trimming.md
GC/memory	GC modes, LOH/POH, Span/Memory, ArrayPool	GC modes, LOH/POH, Gen0/1/2, Span/Memory, ArrayPool	references/gc-memory.md
CLI architecture	command/handler/service, clig.dev, exit codes	Command/handler/service, clig.dev, exit codes	references/cli-architecture.md
System.CommandLine	RootCommand, Option<T>, SetAction, parsing	System.CommandLine 2.0, RootCommand, Option<T>	references/system-commandline.md
Spectre.Console	tables, trees, progress, prompts, live displays	Tables, trees, progress, prompts, live displays	references/spectre-console.md
Terminal.Gui	views, layout, menus, dialogs, bindings, themes	Terminal.Gui v2, views, layout, menus, dialogs	references/terminal-gui.md
CLI distribution	AOT vs framework-dependent, RID matrix, Homebrew, winget, Scoop, dotnet tool	Distribution strategy, single-file publish, per-platform packaging	references/cli-distribution.md
CLI release pipeline	GHA build matrix, artifact staging, checksums	GHA build matrix, artifact staging, checksums	references/cli-release-pipeline.md
Documentation strategy	Starlight, Docusaurus, DocFX decision tree	Starlight, Docusaurus, DocFX decision tree	references/documentation-strategy.md
Tool management	global, local, manifests, restore, pinning	Global/local tools, manifests, restore, pinning	references/tool-management.md
Version detection	TFM/SDK from .csproj, global.json	TFM/SDK from .csproj, global.json, Directory.Build	references/version-detection.md
Version upgrade	LTS-to-LTS, staged, preview, upgrade paths	LTS-to-LTS, staged through STS, preview paths	references/version-upgrade.md
Solution navigation	entry points, .sln/.slnx, dependency graphs	Entry points, .sln/.slnx, dependency graphs	references/solution-navigation.md
Project analysis	solution layout, build config analysis	Solution layout, build config, .csproj analysis	references/project-analysis.md
Modernize	outdated TFMs, deprecated packages, patterns	Outdated TFMs, deprecated packages, superseded patterns	references/modernize.md
Add analyzers	nullable, trimming, AOT compat, severity config	Nullable, trimming, AOT compat analyzers, severity	references/add-analyzers.md
SDK installation	install .NET, dotnet-install, workloads, missing SDK	.NET SDK install script, workloads, env vars, side-by-side	references/dotnet-sdk-install.md
ILSpy decompile	ilspycmd, decompile, assembly, disassemble, IL	ILSpy/ilspycmd decompilation, type listing, IL view	references/ilspy-decompile.md
Mermaid diagrams	architecture, sequence, class, ER, flowcharts	Architecture, sequence, class, deployment, ER diagrams	references/mermaid-diagrams.md
VS Code debugging	launch.json, tasks.json, coreclr, attach, debug	VS Code launch/attach configs, tasks, multi-project, hot reload	references/vscode-debug.md
C# LSP	language server, csharp-ls, OmniSharp, go to definition	C# LSP servers, code navigation, agent usage patterns	references/csharp-lsp.md
PR workflow	create PR, merge, release, conventional commit, PR review	PR lifecycle, conventional commits, merge strategy, version bump	references/pr-workflow.md
Template authoring	create template, template.json, dotnet new template	Creating custom dotnet new templates from existing projects	references/template-authoring.md
Template discovery	find template, search template, dotnet new search	Finding and inspecting .NET project templates	references/template-discovery.md
Template instantiation	create project, scaffold, dotnet new	Creating projects from templates, multi-project setup, CPM adaptation	references/template-instantiation.md
Template validation	validate template, check template.json	Validating template.json for correctness before publishing	references/template-validation.md

Scope

• Solution structure and project scaffolding
• MSBuild authoring and build optimization
• Performance patterns and profiling
• Native AOT, trimming, and GC tuning
• CLI app development (System.CommandLine, Spectre.Console, Terminal.Gui)
• Documentation generation (DocFX)
• Tool management and version detection/upgrade
• Solution navigation and project analysis
• Code modernization and analyzer configuration
• Mermaid diagram generation
• VS Code debug configuration (launch.json, tasks.json, coreclr)
• C# LSP servers (csharp-ls, OmniSharp) for agent code navigation
• PR workflow (conventional commits, review checklist, merge, versioning, release)
• Template engine (authoring, discovery, instantiation, validation)

Out of scope

• Crash dump analysis, hang/deadlock triage, live debugger attach -> [skill:dotnet-debugging]
• Web API patterns -> [skill:dotnet-api]
• Test authoring -> [skill:dotnet-testing]
• CI/CD pipelines -> [skill:dotnet-devops]
• C# language patterns -> [skill:dotnet-csharp]
• UI framework development -> [skill:dotnet-ui]

Scripts

• scripts/scan-dotnet-targets.cs -- Scan repository for .NET TFM and SDK version signals (file-based app, dotnet run)
• scripts/hooks/session-start-context.js -- SessionStart hook for .NET project detection
• scripts/hooks/user-prompt-dotnet-reminder.js -- UserPromptSubmit hook for .NET keyword detection
• scripts/hooks/check-self-doc.js -- PostToolUse hook for .cs file quality reminders

Code Quality Pipeline

Systematic 7-step cleanup for .NET projects. Each step: build → test → commit → next step.

Principles

1. Systematic over random — Follow the pipeline in order. Formatting first, dead code last.
2. Verify after each step — Run dotnet build && dotnet test after every step.
3. Safe removals only — Verify dead code isn't used via reflection, DI, or serialization.
4. One concern per commit — Each step gets its own commit for safe revert.

7-Step Pipeline

Step 1: Formatting        — dotnet format (whitespace, indentation, braces)
Step 2: Unused Usings     — dotnet format analyzers (IDE0005)
Step 3: Analyzer Warnings — dotnet build -warnaserror (fix all CS/IDE warnings)
Step 4: Dead Code         — Remove unreferenced code (verify via Grep first)
Step 5: TODO Resolution   — Convert TODOs to issues or implement inline
Step 6: Sealed Class Audit — Seal classes not designed for inheritance
Step 7: CancellationToken  — Propagate CancellationToken through all async chains

Code Review

Focus 80% of review effort on the 20% of code most likely to contain issues: new code paths, error handling, DI lifetimes, EF Core queries (N+1), async/await and CancellationToken.

Anti-patterns

• Mixing cleanup with feature work — Separate commits, separate PRs
• Batch cleanup without testing — Guaranteed regression
• Aggressive dead code removal — Verify via reflection, DI, serialization first