dotnet-tooling

Overview

.NET project setup, build systems, performance, CLI apps, and developer tooling. This consolidated skill spans 34 topic areas. Load the appropriate companion file from references/ based on the routing table below.

Routing Table

Topic	Keywords	Description	Companion File
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

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

Out of scope

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

Scripts

scripts/scan-dotnet-targets.py -- Scan repository for .NET TFM and SDK version signals