Dotnet Advisor

dotnet-advisor

Router and index skill for dotnet-artisan. Always loaded. Routes .NET development queries to the appropriate specialist skills based on context.

First Step: Detect Project Version

Before any .NET guidance, determine the project's target framework:

Load [skill:dotnet-version-detection] to read TFMs from .csproj, Directory.Build.props, and global.json. Adapt all guidance to the detected .NET version (net8.0, net9.0, net10.0, net11.0).

Skill Catalog

1. Foundation & Plugin Infrastructure implemented

• [skill:dotnet-advisor] -- this skill (router/index)
• [skill:dotnet-version-detection] -- TFM/SDK detection, preview features
• [skill:dotnet-project-analysis] -- solution structure, project refs, CPM
• [skill:dotnet-file-based-apps] -- .NET 10 file-based apps, #: directives, no .csproj

2. Core C# & Language Patterns planned

• [skill:dotnet-csharp-modern-patterns] -- C# 14/15 features, records, pattern matching
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-coding-standards] -- naming, conventions, file organization
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-async-patterns] -- async/await best practices, common mistakes
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-nullable-reference-types] -- NRT patterns, annotations, migration
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-dependency-injection] -- MS DI, keyed services, decoration
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-configuration] -- options pattern, feature flags, secrets
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-source-generators] -- IIncrementalGenerator, emit patterns
• [skill:dotnet-csharp-code-smells] -- code smells, anti-patterns, common pitfalls
• [skill:dotnet-roslyn-analyzers] -- custom DiagnosticAnalyzer, CodeFixProvider, testing, NuGet packaging
• [skill:dotnet-file-io] -- FileStream, RandomAccess, FileSystemWatcher, MemoryMappedFile, path handling
• [skill:dotnet-io-pipelines] -- System.IO.Pipelines: PipeReader/PipeWriter, backpressure, protocol parsing
• [skill:dotnet-linq-optimization] -- IQueryable vs IEnumerable, compiled queries, deferred execution
• [skill:dotnet-native-interop] -- P/Invoke, LibraryImport, marshalling, cross-platform native calls

3. Project Structure & Scaffolding planned

• [skill:dotnet-project-structure] -- .slnx, Directory.Build.props, CPM, analyzers
• [skill:dotnet-artifacts-output] -- UseArtifactsOutput, ArtifactsPath, impact on CI and Docker
• [skill:dotnet-scaffold-project] -- project scaffolding with best practices
• [skill:dotnet-add-analyzers] -- Roslyn analyzers, nullable, trimming, AOT compat
• [skill:dotnet-add-ci] -- add CI/CD to existing project
• [skill:dotnet-add-testing] -- add test infrastructure
• [skill:dotnet-modernize] -- analyze code for modernization opportunities

4. Architecture Patterns planned

• [skill:dotnet-architecture-patterns] -- minimal API org, vertical slices, error handling
• [skill:dotnet-background-services] -- BackgroundService, Channels, producer/consumer
• [skill:dotnet-resilience] -- Polly v8 + MS.Extensions.Resilience (NOT Http.Polly)
• [skill:dotnet-http-client] -- IHttpClientFactory, typed/named clients, resilience
• [skill:dotnet-observability] -- OpenTelemetry, structured logging, health checks
• [skill:dotnet-efcore-patterns] -- DbContext lifecycle, migrations, interceptors
• [skill:dotnet-efcore-architecture] -- read/write models, avoiding N+1
• [skill:dotnet-data-access-strategy] -- EF Core vs Dapper vs ADO.NET decision
• [skill:dotnet-containers] -- multi-stage Dockerfiles, rootless, health checks
• [skill:dotnet-container-deployment] -- Kubernetes, Docker Compose, registries
• [skill:dotnet-messaging-patterns] -- pub/sub, competing consumers, DLQ, sagas, delivery guarantees
• [skill:dotnet-domain-modeling] -- DDD aggregates, value objects, domain events, repository contracts
• [skill:dotnet-structured-logging] -- log aggregation, structured queries, sampling, PII scrubbing
• [skill:dotnet-aspire-patterns] -- .NET Aspire: AppHost, service discovery, components, dashboard

5. Serialization & Communication planned

• [skill:dotnet-serialization] -- AOT source-gen: STJ, Protobuf, MessagePack
• [skill:dotnet-grpc] -- service definition, streaming, auth, health checks
• [skill:dotnet-realtime-communication] -- SignalR, JSON-RPC, SSE, gRPC streaming
• [skill:dotnet-service-communication] -- routes to gRPC, real-time, or REST

6. API Development planned

• [skill:dotnet-minimal-apis] -- route groups, filters, validation, OpenAPI 3.1
• [skill:dotnet-api-versioning] -- URL versioning, Asp.Versioning.Http/Mvc
• [skill:dotnet-openapi] -- OpenAPI: MS.AspNetCore.OpenApi (built-in .NET 9+), Swashbuckle migration, NSwag, transformers
• [skill:dotnet-api-security] -- Identity, OAuth/OIDC, JWT, passkeys (WebAuthn), CORS, CSP, rate limiting
• [skill:dotnet-input-validation] -- .NET 10 AddValidation, FluentValidation, Data Annotations, endpoint filters, ProblemDetails
• [skill:dotnet-library-api-compat] -- binary/source compatibility rules, type forwarders, SemVer impact
• [skill:dotnet-api-surface-validation] -- PublicApiAnalyzers, Verify snapshot pattern, ApiCompat CI enforcement

7. Security planned

• [skill:dotnet-security-owasp] -- OWASP top 10 for .NET
• [skill:dotnet-secrets-management] -- user secrets, secure config patterns
• [skill:dotnet-cryptography] -- modern crypto incl. post-quantum (.NET 10)

8. Testing planned

• [skill:dotnet-testing-strategy] -- unit vs integration vs E2E, organization
• [skill:dotnet-xunit] -- xUnit v3, theories, fixtures, parallelism
• [skill:dotnet-integration-testing] -- WebApplicationFactory, Testcontainers
• [skill:dotnet-ui-testing-core] -- core UI testing patterns
• [skill:dotnet-blazor-testing] -- bUnit for Blazor components
• [skill:dotnet-maui-testing] -- Appium, XHarness for MAUI
• [skill:dotnet-uno-testing] -- Playwright for Uno WASM
• [skill:dotnet-playwright] -- browser automation, E2E testing
• [skill:dotnet-snapshot-testing] -- Verify for snapshot testing
• [skill:dotnet-test-quality] -- coverage, CRAP analysis, mutation testing

9. Performance & Benchmarking implemented

• [skill:dotnet-benchmarkdotnet] -- BenchmarkDotNet setup, configs, CI
• [skill:dotnet-performance-patterns] -- Span, pooling, zero-alloc, sealed
• [skill:dotnet-profiling] -- dotnet-counters, trace, dump, memory
• [skill:dotnet-ci-benchmarking] -- continuous benchmarking, regression detection
• [skill:dotnet-gc-memory] -- GC modes, LOH/POH, Gen0/1/2 tuning, Span/Memory, ArrayPool, profiling

10. Native AOT & Trimming planned

• [skill:dotnet-native-aot] -- trimming, RD.xml, reflection-free, size opt
• [skill:dotnet-aot-architecture] -- architect for AOT from start
• [skill:dotnet-trimming] -- trim-safe annotations, linker config, testing
• [skill:dotnet-aot-wasm] -- WASM AOT for Blazor and Uno

11. CLI Tool Development

• [skill:dotnet-system-commandline] -- System.CommandLine, middleware, hosting
• [skill:dotnet-cli-architecture] -- layered CLI design, testability
• [skill:dotnet-cli-distribution] -- Native AOT + cross-platform distribution strategy
• [skill:dotnet-cli-packaging] -- Homebrew, apt/deb, winget, Scoop, Chocolatey, dotnet tool
• [skill:dotnet-cli-release-pipeline] -- unified multi-platform CI/CD release workflow
• [skill:dotnet-tool-management] -- install, manage, restore global/local .NET tools

12. UI Frameworks planned

• [skill:dotnet-blazor-patterns] -- Server, WASM, Hybrid, auto/streaming
• [skill:dotnet-blazor-components] -- component architecture, JS interop
• [skill:dotnet-blazor-auth] -- auth across hosting models
• [skill:dotnet-uno-platform] -- Extensions, MVUX, Toolkit, themes
• [skill:dotnet-uno-targets] -- Web/WASM, Mobile, Desktop, Embedded
• [skill:dotnet-uno-mcp] -- Uno MCP server for live docs
• [skill:dotnet-maui-development] -- MAUI patterns, current state
• [skill:dotnet-maui-aot] -- MAUI Native AOT on iOS/Mac Catalyst
• [skill:dotnet-winui] -- WinUI 3 / Windows App SDK, XAML, MSIX, UWP migration
• [skill:dotnet-wpf-modern] -- WPF on .NET 8+, Host builder, MVVM Toolkit, Fluent theme
• [skill:dotnet-wpf-migration] -- WPF/WinForms to .NET 8+, WPF to WinUI or Uno, UWP migration
• [skill:dotnet-winforms-basics] -- WinForms on .NET 8+, high-DPI, dark mode, DI
• [skill:dotnet-accessibility] -- cross-platform accessibility: SemanticProperties, ARIA, AutomationPeer, testing tools
• [skill:dotnet-ui-chooser] -- decision tree for UI framework selection

13. Multi-Targeting & Polyfills planned

• [skill:dotnet-multi-targeting] -- PolySharp, Polyfill, conditional compilation
• [skill:dotnet-version-upgrade] -- .NET 8 -> 10 -> 11 upgrade guidance

14. Localization & Internationalization implemented

• [skill:dotnet-localization] -- i18n: .resx, IStringLocalizer, RTL, pluralization

15. Packaging & Publishing implemented

• [skill:dotnet-nuget-authoring] -- NuGet package authoring, signing, validation, source generators
• [skill:dotnet-msix] -- MSIX creation, signing, distribution, auto-update
• [skill:dotnet-github-releases] -- GitHub Releases with release notes

16. Release Management implemented

• [skill:dotnet-release-management] -- NBGV, changelogs, SemVer strategy

17. CI/CD implemented

• [skill:dotnet-gha-patterns] -- reusable workflows, composite actions, matrix
• [skill:dotnet-gha-build-test] -- .NET build + test workflows
• [skill:dotnet-gha-publish] -- NuGet/container publishing workflows
• [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy] -- deployment patterns (Pages, registries)
• [skill:dotnet-ado-patterns] -- ADO YAML pipelines, Environments, Gates
• [skill:dotnet-ado-build-test] -- ADO build + test pipelines
• [skill:dotnet-ado-publish] -- ADO publishing pipelines
• [skill:dotnet-ado-unique] -- ADO-specific: classic pipelines, service connections

18. Documentation implemented

• [skill:dotnet-documentation-strategy] -- Starlight, Docusaurus, DocFX
• [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams] -- architecture/sequence/class diagrams
• [skill:dotnet-github-docs] -- README, CONTRIBUTING, issue templates
• [skill:dotnet-xml-docs] -- XML documentation comments
• [skill:dotnet-api-docs] -- API doc generation, OpenAPI specs

19. Agent Meta-Skills planned

• [skill:dotnet-agent-gotchas] -- common agent mistakes with .NET
• [skill:dotnet-build-analysis] -- understand build output, MSBuild errors
• [skill:dotnet-csproj-reading] -- read/modify .csproj, MSBuild properties
• [skill:dotnet-solution-navigation] -- navigate solutions, find entry points

20. AI & LLM Integration

• [skill:dotnet-semantic-kernel] -- Semantic Kernel: plugins, prompt templates, memory, agents

Routing Logic

Use this decision tree to load the right skills for the current task.

Starting a New Project

1. [skill:dotnet-version-detection] -- detect or choose target framework
2. [skill:dotnet-project-analysis] -- understand existing solution (if any)
3. [skill:dotnet-project-structure], [skill:dotnet-scaffold-project] -- scaffold project
4. [skill:dotnet-architecture-patterns] -- design decisions

• File-based app (no .csproj, .NET 10+) -> [skill:dotnet-file-based-apps]
• Build output layout (UseArtifactsOutput, .NET 8+) -> [skill:dotnet-artifacts-output]

Writing or Modifying C# Code

• Modern C# patterns -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-modern-patterns]
• Coding standards -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-coding-standards]
• NRT -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-nullable-reference-types]
• DI -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-dependency-injection]
• Configuration -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-configuration]
• Async/await, concurrency -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-async-patterns]
• Source generators -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-source-generators]
• Code review, code quality, anti-patterns -> [skill:dotnet-csharp-code-smells]
• Custom analyzers/code fixes -> [skill:dotnet-roslyn-analyzers]
• File I/O, FileStream, RandomAccess, FileSystemWatcher, MemoryMappedFile, path handling -> [skill:dotnet-file-io]
• IO.Pipelines, high-perf network I/O -> [skill:dotnet-io-pipelines]
• LINQ optimization, IQueryable pitfalls -> [skill:dotnet-linq-optimization]
• P/Invoke, native interop, LibraryImport, marshalling -> [skill:dotnet-native-interop]

Building APIs

• Minimal APIs (default for new) -> [skill:dotnet-minimal-apis]
• API versioning -> [skill:dotnet-api-versioning]
• OpenAPI/Swagger, Swashbuckle migration -> [skill:dotnet-openapi]
• Auth, CORS, rate limiting, CSP -> [skill:dotnet-api-security]
• Input validation, FluentValidation, Data Annotations -> [skill:dotnet-input-validation]
• Library binary/source compatibility -> [skill:dotnet-library-api-compat]
• API surface tracking, PublicApiAnalyzers -> [skill:dotnet-api-surface-validation]
• Resilience/HTTP clients -> [skill:dotnet-resilience], [skill:dotnet-http-client]

Working with Data

• EF Core usage -> [skill:dotnet-efcore-patterns], [skill:dotnet-efcore-architecture]
• Choosing data access approach -> [skill:dotnet-data-access-strategy]
• Serialization (JSON, Protobuf) -> [skill:dotnet-serialization]
• Domain modeling, DDD patterns -> [skill:dotnet-domain-modeling]

Building UI

• Choosing a framework -> [skill:dotnet-ui-chooser]
• Accessibility (any UI framework) -> [skill:dotnet-accessibility]
• Blazor -> [skill:dotnet-blazor-patterns], [skill:dotnet-blazor-components], [skill:dotnet-blazor-auth]
• Uno Platform -> [skill:dotnet-uno-platform], [skill:dotnet-uno-targets], [skill:dotnet-uno-mcp]
• MAUI -> [skill:dotnet-maui-development], [skill:dotnet-maui-aot]
• WPF -> [skill:dotnet-wpf-modern] (migration: [skill:dotnet-wpf-migration])
• WinUI -> [skill:dotnet-winui]
• WinForms -> [skill:dotnet-winforms-basics]

Testing

• Strategy/what to test -> [skill:dotnet-testing-strategy]
• xUnit v3 -> [skill:dotnet-xunit]
• Integration tests -> [skill:dotnet-integration-testing]
• UI testing -> [skill:dotnet-ui-testing-core] + framework-specific skill
• Snapshot testing -> [skill:dotnet-snapshot-testing]
• Coverage/quality -> [skill:dotnet-test-quality]

Performance Work

• Benchmarking -> [skill:dotnet-benchmarkdotnet]
• Optimization patterns -> [skill:dotnet-performance-patterns]
• Profiling -> [skill:dotnet-profiling]
• CI benchmarks -> [skill:dotnet-ci-benchmarking]
• GC tuning, memory management -> [skill:dotnet-gc-memory]

Native AOT / Trimming

• AOT compilation -> [skill:dotnet-native-aot]
• Architecting for AOT -> [skill:dotnet-aot-architecture]
• Trimming -> [skill:dotnet-trimming]
• WASM AOT -> [skill:dotnet-aot-wasm]

CLI Tools

• System.CommandLine -> [skill:dotnet-system-commandline]
• CLI design -> [skill:dotnet-cli-architecture]
• Distribution -> [skill:dotnet-cli-distribution], [skill:dotnet-cli-packaging], [skill:dotnet-cli-release-pipeline]
• Tool install, manifest, restore -> [skill:dotnet-tool-management]

Containers & Deployment

• Dockerfiles -> [skill:dotnet-containers]
• Kubernetes/Compose -> [skill:dotnet-container-deployment]

Security

• OWASP compliance -> [skill:dotnet-security-owasp]
• Secrets management -> [skill:dotnet-secrets-management]
• Cryptography -> [skill:dotnet-cryptography]

Communication Patterns

• gRPC -> [skill:dotnet-grpc]
• Real-time (SignalR, SSE) -> [skill:dotnet-realtime-communication]
• Choosing protocol -> [skill:dotnet-service-communication]
• Messaging, event-driven (Service Bus, RabbitMQ) -> [skill:dotnet-messaging-patterns]

CI/CD Setup

• GitHub Actions -> [skill:dotnet-gha-patterns], [skill:dotnet-gha-build-test], [skill:dotnet-gha-publish], [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy]
• Azure DevOps -> [skill:dotnet-ado-patterns], [skill:dotnet-ado-build-test], [skill:dotnet-ado-publish], [skill:dotnet-ado-unique]

Packaging & Releases

• NuGet publishing -> [skill:dotnet-nuget-authoring]
• MSIX -> [skill:dotnet-msix]
• GitHub Releases -> [skill:dotnet-github-releases]
• Versioning -> [skill:dotnet-release-management]

Multi-Targeting

• Multi-TFM builds -> [skill:dotnet-multi-targeting]
• Version upgrades -> [skill:dotnet-version-upgrade]

Localization

• i18n/l10n -> [skill:dotnet-localization]

Documentation

• Doc strategy -> [skill:dotnet-documentation-strategy]
• Diagrams -> [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams]
• GitHub docs -> [skill:dotnet-github-docs]
• XML docs -> [skill:dotnet-xml-docs]
• API docs -> [skill:dotnet-api-docs]

Agent Assistance

• Agent making .NET mistakes -> [skill:dotnet-agent-gotchas]
• Build errors -> [skill:dotnet-build-analysis]
• Reading .csproj -> [skill:dotnet-csproj-reading]
• Navigating solutions -> [skill:dotnet-solution-navigation]

Background Work

• Background services, queues -> [skill:dotnet-background-services]
• Observability/logging -> [skill:dotnet-observability]
• Log pipeline design, aggregation, PII scrubbing -> [skill:dotnet-structured-logging]

Cloud & Orchestration

• .NET Aspire, service discovery, AppHost -> [skill:dotnet-aspire-patterns]

AI & LLM Integration

• Semantic Kernel, LLM orchestration, plugins -> [skill:dotnet-semantic-kernel]

Specialist Agent Routing

For complex analysis that benefits from domain expertise, delegate to specialist agents:

• Async/await performance, ValueTask, ConfigureAwait, IO.Pipelines -> dotnet-async-performance-specialist
• ASP.NET Core middleware, request pipeline, DI lifetimes, diagnostic scenarios -> dotnet-aspnetcore-specialist
• Test architecture, test type selection, test data management, microservice testing -> dotnet-testing-specialist
• Cloud deployment, .NET Aspire, AKS, CI/CD pipelines, distributed tracing -> dotnet-cloud-specialist
• General code review (correctness, performance, security, architecture) -> dotnet-code-review-agent