How do I install the Platform Detection skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add managedcode/platform-detection in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Platform Detection safe to use?

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Which AI agents work with Platform Detection?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Platform Detection free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free. This skill is licensed under MIT.

Who published Platform Detection?

managedcode (@managedcode) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Platform Detection by managedcode — Agent Skill

Name: Platform Detection
Author: managedcode

Platform Detection

Reference data for detecting the test platform (VSTest vs Microsoft.Testing.Platform) and test framework (MSTest, xUnit, NUnit, TUnit) from project files. DO NOT USE directly — loaded by run-tests, mtp-hot-reload, and migrate-vstest-to-mtp when they need detection logic.

managedcode ecafad2 2 files · 3.6 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Test Platform and Framework Detection

Determine which test platform (VSTest or Microsoft.Testing.Platform) and which test framework (MSTest, xUnit, NUnit, TUnit) a project uses.

Detection files to always check (in order): global.json → .csproj → Directory.Build.props → Directory.Packages.props

Detecting the test framework

Read the .csproj file and Directory.Build.props / Directory.Packages.props (for centrally managed dependencies) and look for:

Package or SDK reference	Framework
`MSTest` (metapackage, recommended) or `<Sdk Name="MSTest.Sdk">`	MSTest
`MSTest.TestFramework` + `MSTest.TestAdapter`	MSTest (also valid for v3/v4)
`xunit`, `xunit.v3`, `xunit.v3.mtp-v1`, `xunit.v3.mtp-v2`, `xunit.v3.core.mtp-v1`, `xunit.v3.core.mtp-v2`	xUnit
`NUnit` + `NUnit3TestAdapter`	NUnit
`TUnit`	TUnit (MTP only)

Detecting the test platform

The detection logic depends on the .NET SDK version. Run dotnet --version to determine it.

.NET SDK 10+

On .NET 10+, the global.json test.runner setting is the authoritative source:

If global.json contains "test": { "runner": "Microsoft.Testing.Platform" } → MTP
If global.json has "runner": "VSTest", or no test section exists → VSTest

Important: On .NET 10+, <TestingPlatformDotnetTestSupport> alone does not switch to MTP. The global.json runner setting takes precedence. If the runner is VSTest (or unset), the project uses VSTest regardless of TestingPlatformDotnetTestSupport.

.NET SDK 8 or 9

On older SDKs, check these signals in priority order:

1. Check the <TestingPlatformDotnetTestSupport> MSBuild property. Look in the .csproj, Directory.Build.props, and Directory.Packages.props. If set to true in any of these files, the project uses MTP.

Critical: Always read Directory.Build.props and Directory.Packages.props if they exist. MTP properties are frequently set there instead of in the .csproj, so checking only the project file will miss them.

2. Check project-level signals:

Signal	Platform
`<Sdk Name="MSTest.Sdk">` as project SDK	MTP by default
`<UseMicrosoftTestingPlatformRunner>true</UseMicrosoftTestingPlatformRunner>`	MTP runner (xUnit)
`<EnableMSTestRunner>true</EnableMSTestRunner>`	MTP runner (MSTest)
`<EnableNUnitRunner>true</EnableNUnitRunner>`	MTP runner (NUnit)
`Microsoft.Testing.Platform` package referenced directly	MTP
`TUnit` package referenced	MTP (TUnit is MTP-only)

Note: The presence of Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk does not necessarily mean VSTest. Some frameworks (e.g., MSTest) pull it in transitively for compatibility, even when MTP is enabled. Do not use this package as a signal on its own — always check the MTP signals above first. Key distinction: VSTest is the classic platform that uses vstest.console under the hood. Microsoft.Testing.Platform (MTP) is the newer, faster platform. Both can be invoked via dotnet test, but their filter syntax and CLI options differ.

---name: platform-detectiondescription: Reference data for detecting the test platform (VSTest vs Microsoft.Testing.Platform) and test framework (MSTest, xUnit, NUnit, TUnit) from project files. DO NOT USE directly — loaded by run-tests, mtp-hot-reload, and migrate-vstest-to-mtp when they need detection logic.license: MIT---# Test Platform and Framework DetectionDetermine **which test platform** (VSTest or Microsoft.Testing.Platform) and **which test framework** (MSTest, xUnit, NUnit, TUnit) a project uses.**Detection files to always check** (in order): `global.json` → `.csproj` → `Directory.Build.props` → `Directory.Packages.props`## Detecting the test frameworkRead the `.csproj` file **and** `Directory.Build.props` / `Directory.Packages.props` (for centrally managed dependencies) and look for:| Package or SDK reference | Framework ||--------------------------|-----------|| `MSTest` (metapackage, recommended) or `<Sdk Name="MSTest.Sdk">` | MSTest || `MSTest.TestFramework` + `MSTest.TestAdapter` | MSTest (also valid for v3/v4) || `xunit`, `xunit.v3`, `xunit.v3.mtp-v1`, `xunit.v3.mtp-v2`, `xunit.v3.core.mtp-v1`, `xunit.v3.core.mtp-v2` | xUnit || `NUnit` + `NUnit3TestAdapter` | NUnit || `TUnit` | TUnit (MTP only) |## Detecting the test platformThe detection logic depends on the .NET SDK version. Run `dotnet --version` to determine it.### .NET SDK 10+On .NET 10+, the `global.json` `test.runner` setting is the **authoritative source**:- If `global.json` contains `"test": { "runner": "Microsoft.Testing.Platform" }` → **MTP**- If `global.json` has `"runner": "VSTest"`, or no `test` section exists → **VSTest**> **Important**: On .NET 10+, `<TestingPlatformDotnetTestSupport>` alone does **not** switch to MTP. The `global.json` runner setting takes precedence. If the runner is VSTest (or unset), the project uses VSTest regardless of `TestingPlatformDotnetTestSupport`.### .NET SDK 8 or 9On older SDKs, check these signals in priority order:**1. Check the `<TestingPlatformDotnetTestSupport>` MSBuild property.** Look in the `.csproj`, `Directory.Build.props`, **and** `Directory.Packages.props`. If set to `true` in **any** of these files, the project uses **MTP**.> **Critical**: Always read `Directory.Build.props` and `Directory.Packages.props` if they exist. MTP properties are frequently set there instead of in the `.csproj`, so checking only the project file will miss them.**2. Check project-level signals:**| Signal | Platform ||--------|----------|| `<Sdk Name="MSTest.Sdk">` as project SDK | **MTP** by default || `<UseMicrosoftTestingPlatformRunner>true</UseMicrosoftTestingPlatformRunner>` | **MTP** runner (xUnit) || `<EnableMSTestRunner>true</EnableMSTestRunner>` | **MTP** runner (MSTest) || `<EnableNUnitRunner>true</EnableNUnitRunner>` | **MTP** runner (NUnit) || `Microsoft.Testing.Platform` package referenced directly | **MTP** || `TUnit` package referenced | **MTP** (TUnit is MTP-only) |> **Note**: The presence of `Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk` does **not** necessarily mean VSTest. Some frameworks (e.g., MSTest) pull it in transitively for compatibility, even when MTP is enabled. Do not use this package as a signal on its own — always check the MTP signals above first.> **Key distinction**: VSTest is the classic platform that uses `vstest.console` under the hood. Microsoft.Testing.Platform (MTP) is the newer, faster platform. Both can be invoked via `dotnet test`, but their filter syntax and CLI options differ.

Frequently asked questions