# Dotnet Enable Testing Platform

> Enables the Microsoft Testing Platform runner in global.json. Also use when the user mentions "testing platform," "Microsoft.Testing.Platform," "new test runner," "migrate test runner," "global.json testing," or "modern test platform."

- Skill: `im5tu-claude/dotnet-enable-testing-platform` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add im5tu-claude/dotnet-enable-testing-platform`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/im5tu-claude/dotnet-enable-testing-platform/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: Im5tu (https://skillmd.com/u/im5tu-claude)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/im5tu-claude/dotnet-enable-testing-platform

---


Enable the Microsoft Testing Platform runner for a .NET solution by configuring `global.json`.

The Microsoft Testing Platform is a test runner with an in-process host and native parallel test execution.

## Steps

1. **Find the solution file** (*.sln) in the current directory
   - If no .sln found, warn and stop

2. **Check for existing global.json** in the solution root directory
   - Read contents if file exists

3. **Create or update global.json**:
   - If file **does not exist**, create it:
     ```json
     {
       "test": {
         "runner": "Microsoft.Testing.Platform"
       }
     }
     ```
   - If file **exists**, merge the `test` section while preserving all other content:
     - Parse existing JSON
     - Add or update the `test.runner` property
     - Preserve `sdk`, `msbuild-sdks`, and any other existing sections

4. **Verify JSON validity**:
   ```bash
   dotnet build
   dotnet test
   ```

5. **If build fails**, report the error and ask user how to proceed

6. **Report results**:
   - Confirm global.json was created or updated
   - Show the final global.json content
   - Confirm build status
   - Confirm tests run successfully

## Example global.json Configurations

**Minimal (new file):**
```json
{
  "test": {
    "runner": "Microsoft.Testing.Platform"
  }
}
```

**Merged (existing file with SDK pinning):**
```json
{
  "sdk": {
    "version": "8.0.100",
    "rollForward": "latestMinor"
  },
  "test": {
    "runner": "Microsoft.Testing.Platform"
  }
}
```

## Error Handling

- If no .sln found: warn and stop
- If global.json exists but is invalid JSON: report error and ask user
- If build fails after update: show errors and ask user how to proceed