dotnet-inspect

dotnet-inspect

Use dotnet-inspect when you need evidence instead of guesses for .NET packages, platform libraries, local assemblies, APIs, dependencies, SourceLink/symbol provenance, or version-to-version API changes.

Invoke with dnx:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>

For the authoritative workflow guide for the installed tool version, run:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- skill

Prefer that embedded skill output over this marketplace bootstrap file when commands or section names differ. It is versioned with the tool and prevents stale skill guidance after breaking CLI changes.

Default output is Markdown. Use --oneline for compact tabular output like docker images, and --json for structured automation. For output, query, and limiter details such as -D, bare -S, -S "Async*", -n, --tail, and --rows, run the embedded guide.

Fast starts

Goal	Command
Find where a type lives	find Pattern --oneline
Inspect APIs	type Type --package Foo, then member Type --package Foo
Compare versions	diff --package Foo@old..new --breaking
Inspect package/library signals	library Foo -S Signals or package Foo -S Signals
Resolve SourceLink URLs	source Type --package Foo --oneline
Explore relationships	depends Type, extensions Type, implements Interface

Common workflow

Start broad, then carry resolved context forward:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find JsonSerializer --oneline
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- source JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json --oneline

Bare names use the router: platform-looking names are tried as installed platform libraries first, then fall back to NuGet packages if platform resolution fails. Use explicit --platform <LibraryName>, --package Foo[@version], or --library when the source matters.

Output control

Discover sections with -D, use bare -S for a curated high-density view, and select named sections with -S Section. Project table columns with --columns, fields with --fields, and count rows with --count when exactly one section is selected.

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -D
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -S Methods --columns "Name;Signature;Obsolete"
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- library System.Text.Json -S "Async*" --count

Guardrails

• First run dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- skill when doing non-trivial work; it contains the current, tool-embedded guidance.
• Quote generic type names and use <T>, not <>: 'Option<T>', 'INumber<TSelf>'.
• type uses -t for type filters; member uses -m for member filters.
• Dotted member syntax works: -m JsonSerializer.Deserialize.
• Diff ranges use ..: --package Foo@1.0.0..2.0.0.
• Use --all for non-public, hidden, and extra members; obsolete members are already shown by default.