From dotnet-skills
Manages local .NET CLI tools with dotnet-tools.json for reproducible installations, team consistency, and CI/CD pipeline alignment.
npx claudepluginhub aaronontheweb/dotnet-skills --plugin dotnet-skillsThis skill uses the workspace's default tool permissions.
Use this skill when:
Creates isolated Git worktrees for feature branches with prioritized directory selection, gitignore safety checks, auto project setup for Node/Python/Rust/Go, and baseline verification.
Executes implementation plans in current session by dispatching fresh subagents per independent task, with two-stage reviews: spec compliance then code quality.
Dispatches parallel agents to independently tackle 2+ tasks like separate test failures or subsystems without shared state or dependencies.
Use this skill when:
Local tools are .NET CLI tools that are installed and versioned per-repository rather than globally. They're defined in .config/dotnet-tools.json and restored with dotnet tool restore.
| Aspect | Global Tools | Local Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | dotnet tool install -g | dotnet tool restore |
| Scope | Machine-wide | Per-repository |
| Version control | Manual | In .config/dotnet-tools.json |
| CI/CD | Must install each tool | Single restore command |
| Conflicts | Can have version conflicts | Isolated per project |
# Create .config/dotnet-tools.json
dotnet new tool-manifest
This creates:
.config/
└── dotnet-tools.json
# Install a tool locally
dotnet tool install docfx
# Install specific version
dotnet tool install docfx --version 2.78.3
# Install from a specific source
dotnet tool install MyTool --add-source https://mycompany.pkgs.visualstudio.com/_packaging/feed/nuget/v3/index.json
# Restore all tools from manifest
dotnet tool restore
{
"version": 1,
"isRoot": true,
"tools": {
"docfx": {
"version": "2.78.3",
"commands": [
"docfx"
],
"rollForward": false
},
"dotnet-ef": {
"version": "9.0.0",
"commands": [
"dotnet-ef"
],
"rollForward": false
},
"incrementalist.cmd": {
"version": "1.2.0",
"commands": [
"incrementalist"
],
"rollForward": false
},
"dotnet-reportgenerator-globaltool": {
"version": "5.4.1",
"commands": [
"reportgenerator"
],
"rollForward": false
}
}
}
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
version | Manifest schema version (always 1) |
isRoot | Marks this as the root manifest (prevents searching parent directories) |
tools | Dictionary of tool configurations |
tools.<name>.version | Exact version to install |
tools.<name>.commands | CLI commands the tool provides |
tools.<name>.rollForward | Allow newer versions (usually false for reproducibility) |
# DocFX - API documentation generator
dotnet tool install docfx
"docfx": {
"version": "2.78.3",
"commands": ["docfx"],
"rollForward": false
}
Usage:
dotnet docfx docfx.json
dotnet docfx serve _site
# EF Core CLI for migrations
dotnet tool install dotnet-ef
"dotnet-ef": {
"version": "9.0.0",
"commands": ["dotnet-ef"],
"rollForward": false
}
Usage:
dotnet ef migrations add InitialCreate
dotnet ef database update
# ReportGenerator for coverage reports
dotnet tool install dotnet-reportgenerator-globaltool
"dotnet-reportgenerator-globaltool": {
"version": "5.4.1",
"commands": ["reportgenerator"],
"rollForward": false
}
Usage:
dotnet reportgenerator -reports:coverage.cobertura.xml -targetdir:coveragereport -reporttypes:Html
# Incrementalist - build only changed projects
dotnet tool install incrementalist.cmd
"incrementalist.cmd": {
"version": "1.2.0",
"commands": ["incrementalist"],
"rollForward": false
}
Usage:
# Get projects affected by changes since main branch
incrementalist --branch main
# CSharpier - opinionated C# formatter
dotnet tool install csharpier
"csharpier": {
"version": "0.30.3",
"commands": ["dotnet-csharpier"],
"rollForward": false
}
Usage:
dotnet csharpier .
dotnet csharpier --check . # CI mode - fails if changes needed
# JB dotnet-inspect (requires license)
dotnet tool install jb
"jb": {
"version": "2024.3.4",
"commands": ["jb"],
"rollForward": false
}
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Setup .NET
uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
with:
global-json-file: global.json
- name: Restore tools
run: dotnet tool restore
- name: Build
run: dotnet build
- name: Test with coverage
run: dotnet test --collect:"XPlat Code Coverage"
- name: Generate coverage report
run: dotnet reportgenerator -reports:**/coverage.cobertura.xml -targetdir:coveragereport
- name: Build documentation
run: dotnet docfx docs/docfx.json
steps:
- task: UseDotNet@2
inputs:
useGlobalJson: true
- script: dotnet tool restore
displayName: 'Restore .NET tools'
- script: dotnet build -c Release
displayName: 'Build'
- script: dotnet test -c Release --collect:"XPlat Code Coverage"
displayName: 'Test'
- script: dotnet reportgenerator -reports:**/coverage.cobertura.xml -targetdir:$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)/coverage
displayName: 'Generate coverage report'
# Update to latest version
dotnet tool update docfx
# Update to specific version
dotnet tool update docfx --version 2.79.0
# List local tools
dotnet tool list
# List with outdated check
dotnet tool list --outdated
dotnet tool uninstall docfx
isRoot: truePrevents MSBuild from searching parent directories for tool manifests:
{
"version": 1,
"isRoot": true,
...
}
Use "rollForward": false for reproducible builds:
"docfx": {
"version": "2.78.3",
"rollForward": false
}
Always run dotnet tool restore before using any local tool:
- run: dotnet tool restore
- run: dotnet docfx docs/docfx.json
Add a comment or section in README:
## Development Setup
1. Restore tools: `dotnet tool restore`
2. Build: `dotnet build`
3. Test: `dotnet test`
# .github/dependabot.yml
version: 2
updates:
- package-ecosystem: "nuget"
directory: "/"
schedule:
interval: "weekly"
# Includes local tools in .config/dotnet-tools.json
Ensure you're running from the repository root:
# Wrong - running from subdirectory
cd src/MyApp
dotnet docfx # Error: tool not found
# Correct - run from solution root
cd ../..
dotnet docfx docs/docfx.json
If you see version conflicts, check for:
dotnet tool list -g.config/dotnet-tools.json in parent directories# Clear NuGet tool cache
dotnet nuget locals all --clear
# Re-restore tools
dotnet tool restore
{
"version": 1,
"isRoot": true,
"tools": {
"docfx": {
"version": "2.78.3",
"commands": ["docfx"],
"rollForward": false
},
"dotnet-ef": {
"version": "9.0.0",
"commands": ["dotnet-ef"],
"rollForward": false
},
"dotnet-reportgenerator-globaltool": {
"version": "5.4.1",
"commands": ["reportgenerator"],
"rollForward": false
},
"csharpier": {
"version": "0.30.3",
"commands": ["dotnet-csharpier"],
"rollForward": false
},
"incrementalist.cmd": {
"version": "1.2.0",
"commands": ["incrementalist"],
"rollForward": false
}
}
}
Development workflow:
# Initial setup
dotnet tool restore
# Format code before commit
dotnet csharpier .
# Run tests with coverage
dotnet test --collect:"XPlat Code Coverage"
dotnet reportgenerator -reports:**/coverage.cobertura.xml -targetdir:coverage
# Build documentation
dotnet docfx docs/docfx.json
# Check which projects changed (for large repos)
incrementalist --branch main