# How to Install the Dotnet Skills for Copilot CLI > Install the dotnet skills for Copilot CLI to enhance your development workflow. Follow these simple steps to add the marketplace plugin, install the core, and verify your setup. - Repository: [.NET Platform/skills](https://github.com/dotnet/skills) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-07-06 --- **Add the `dotnet/skills` marketplace to Copilot CLI using `/plugin marketplace add dotnet/skills`, then install the core plugin with `/plugin install dotnet@dotnet-agent-skills`, restart the CLI, and verify installation with `/skills` and `/agents`.** The `dotnet/skills` repository provides a marketplace of plugins that extend Copilot CLI and Claude Code with rich .NET capabilities such as C# language-server support and test automation. Learning how to install the dotnet skills for Copilot CLI enables you to access diagnostics, project analysis, and specialized development tools directly from your chat interface according to the installation instructions defined in the repository's top-level README.md. ## Step-by-Step Installation Guide The installation process requires adding the marketplace to your Copilot CLI environment, installing specific plugins, and verifying they load correctly. ### Add the Dotnet Skills Marketplace First, launch Copilot CLI or Claude Code. Once the interface is ready, add the `dotnet/skills` marketplace to make the plugins available for installation: ```bash /plugin marketplace add dotnet/skills ``` This command registers the repository's plugin collection with your Copilot CLI instance, allowing you to access all plugins stored under the `plugins/` directory in the source code. ### Install the Core Dotnet Plugin After adding the marketplace, install the core **dotnet** plugin which provides the C# language-server capabilities. Each plugin in this repository follows the naming convention `@dotnet-agent-skills`: ```bash /plugin install dotnet@dotnet-agent-skills ``` This installs the plugin located at `plugins/dotnet/` in the repository. According to the [plugins/dotnet/README.md](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet/README.md), this core plugin exposes skills for C# development, project analysis, and language-server protocol (LSP) integration. ### Restart Copilot CLI Plugins require a restart to load properly. Exit Copilot CLI and relaunch it to initialize the newly installed dotnet skills: ```bash exit # Relaunch Copilot CLI ``` ### Verify Your Installation Confirm the dotnet skills are loaded by listing available skills and agents: ```bash /skills /agents ``` The `/skills` command displays all available skills from installed plugins, while `/agents` lists any agents bundled with those plugins. You should see dotnet-specific capabilities in the output. ## Installing Additional Plugins The `dotnet/skills` repository contains multiple specialized plugins beyond the core dotnet plugin. Each plugin resides in its own subdirectory under `plugins//` and includes a dedicated README with domain-specific documentation. Install additional plugins using the same pattern: ```bash /plugin install dotnet-test@dotnet-agent-skills /plugin install dotnet-diag@dotnet-agent-skills /plugin install dotnet-aspnetcore@dotnet-agent-skills ``` These plugins extend Copilot CLI with capabilities for test automation, diagnostics, and ASP.NET Core development respectively. Specific configuration details for each plugin are available in their respective `plugins//README.md` files. ## Source File Structure Understanding the repository structure helps identify which source files control the installation and behavior of the skills: - **[[`README.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/README.md)](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/README.md)** (lines 31-46): Contains the primary installation instructions for Copilot CLI and Claude Code users in the "🚀 Plugins – Copilot CLI / Claude Code" section. - **[`plugins/dotnet/README.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet/README.md)**: Documents the core dotnet plugin's prerequisites, LSP server requirements, and exposed skills. - **`plugins//README.md`**: Individual documentation for each specialized plugin (e.g., [`plugins/dotnet-test/README.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-test/README.md)). - **`LICENSE`**: License information governing the entire skill set. Each plugin directory contains the implementation files that Copilot CLI loads when you run the installation commands. ## Summary - **Add the marketplace** first using `/plugin marketplace add dotnet/skills` to register the plugin source. - **Install the core plugin** with `/plugin install dotnet@dotnet-agent-skills` to enable C# language-server support. - **Restart Copilot CLI** to load the newly installed plugins into the session. - **Verify installation** using `/skills` and `/agents` to confirm the dotnet capabilities are available. - **Extend functionality** by installing additional plugins like `dotnet-test` or `dotnet-diag` from their respective `plugins//` directories. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the difference between adding the marketplace and installing a plugin? Adding the marketplace with `/plugin marketplace add dotnet/skills` registers the repository as a source of plugins, making them discoverable by Copilot CLI. Installing a plugin with `/plugin install @dotnet-agent-skills` actually downloads and activates a specific plugin from that marketplace into your local environment. ### Can I install multiple dotnet plugins simultaneously? Yes, you can install multiple plugins from the `dotnet/skills` repository. After adding the marketplace once, run separate `/plugin install` commands for each plugin you need, such as `dotnet-test@dotnet-agent-skills` for test automation or `dotnet-diag@dotnet-agent-skills` for diagnostics tools. Each plugin resides in its own subdirectory under `plugins//` and operates independently. ### Where are the plugin files located in the repository source code? Each plugin is stored under the `plugins/` directory in the repository root. The core plugin is located at `plugins/dotnet/`, while specialized plugins exist in directories like `plugins/dotnet-test/` and `plugins/dotnet-diag/`. Each directory contains its own README.md with specific implementation details and skill descriptions. ### Do I need to restart Copilot CLI after installing every plugin? Yes, Copilot CLI requires a restart to load newly installed plugins into the active session. After running `/plugin install`, exit the CLI and relaunch it before attempting to use the `/skills` or `/agents` commands to verify the installation.