# .NET Development Tasks Covered by the dotnet/skills Repository: A Complete Guide > Explore the dotnet/skills repository to discover .NET development tasks covered including version upgrades, testing, MSBuild, diagnostics, and AI coding. Master your .NET workflow. - Repository: [.NET Platform/skills](https://github.com/dotnet/skills) - Tags: getting-started - Published: 2026-07-06 --- **The dotnet/skills repository encodes expert knowledge for .NET development tasks—including version upgrades, testing analysis, MSBuild orchestration, diagnostics, and AI-assisted coding—through reusable skills defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files.** The dotnet/skills repository serves as a centralized toolbox of reusable skills for common .NET development tasks. Each skill lives under `plugins//skills//SKILL.md` and is paired with supporting assets, reference documentation, and a [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest that declares its capabilities to the validation runtime. ## Upgrade and Migration Tasks The repository provides comprehensive skills for modernizing .NET applications across versions and patterns. **Cross-Version Migration** skills handle project upgrades between specific .NET versions. The `migrate-dotnet8-to-dotnet9`, `migrate-dotnet9-to-dotnet10`, and `migrate-dotnet10-to-dotnet11` skills in `plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/` automate the transition of project files, dependencies, and breaking changes. Each skill references authoritative migration guides stored in its local `references/` folder. **Legacy API Migration** addresses deprecated patterns. The `thread-abort-migration` skill in [`plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/thread-abort-migration/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/thread-abort-migration/SKILL.md) converts `Thread.Abort` usage to modern cancellation patterns. The `migrate-nullable-references` skill includes PowerShell scripts such as `plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/migrate-nullable-references/scripts/Get-NullableReadiness.ps1` to assess Nullable Reference Types readiness. ## Testing and Quality Assurance Testing skills analyze code quality, detect anti-patterns, and facilitate framework migrations. **Test Analysis** skills include `test-smell-detection` which identifies problematic patterns like `Thread.Sleep` or unawaited tasks in [`plugins/dotnet-test/skills/test-smell-detection/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-test/skills/test-smell-detection/SKILL.md). The `test-gap-analysis` skill finds uncovered code paths, while `grade-tests` calculates CRAP scores and coverage metrics. **Test Migration** capabilities support framework transitions. The `migrate-xunit-to-xunit-v3` skill in [`plugins/dotnet-test-migration/skills/migrate-xunit-to-xunit-v3/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-test-migration/skills/migrate-xunit-to-xunit-v3/SKILL.md) handles breaking changes between xUnit versions. ## Build Orchestration and Package Management Skills for MSBuild and NuGet streamline complex build scenarios. **MSBuild Tasks** include `target-authoring` for custom targets, `resolve-project-references` for dependency management, and `build-perf-diagnostics` for incremental build analysis. These are defined in `plugins/dotnet-msbuild/skills/` with implementations that generate binary logs and detect antipatterns. **NuGet Management** focuses on centralized dependency control. The `convert-to-cpm` skill in [`plugins/dotnet-nuget/skills/convert-to-cpm/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-nuget/skills/convert-to-cpm/SKILL.md) migrates solutions to Central Package Management format, resolving version conflicts and enforcing trusted publishing pipelines. ## Diagnostics and Performance Diagnostic skills capture runtime data and benchmark code execution. **Dump and Trace Collection** skills wrap diagnostic tools. The `dump-collect` skill in [`plugins/dotnet-diag/skills/dump-collect/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-diag/skills/dump-collect/SKILL.md) invokes `dotnet-dump` for Windows, Linux, and Android core dumps. The `dotnet-trace-collect` skill orchestrates `dotnet-trace` sessions. **Performance Testing** includes the `microbenchmarking` skill which configures BenchmarkDotNet runs, located in [`plugins/dotnet-diag/skills/microbenchmarking/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-diag/skills/microbenchmarking/SKILL.md). ## Web, Mobile, and AI Development The repository covers modern application stacks from web UI to AI-assisted workflows. **Blazor Development** skills in `plugins/dotnet-blazor/skills/` include `create-blazor-project` for scaffolding, `use-js-interop` for JavaScript interop, and `author-component` for reusable component creation. The `create-blazor-project` skill supports optional authentication and prerendering configuration. **ASP.NET Core** tasks include `minimal-api-file-upload` and `dotnet-webapi` scaffolding in `plugins/dotnet-aspnetcore/skills/`. The `configuring-opentelemetry-dotnet` skill sets up distributed tracing instrumentation. **MAUI Development** handles cross-platform UI concerns. Skills like `maui-theming`, `maui-shell-navigation`, and lifecycle management reside in `plugins/dotnet-maui/skills/`. **AI-Assisted Development** includes `technology-selection` for stack decisions and `mcp-csharp-create` for AI-driven project scaffolding in `plugins/dotnet-ai/skills/`. ## Advanced Language Features Low-level and specialized tasks appear in `plugins/dotnet-advanced/skills/`. The `dotnet-pinvoke` skill manages platform invocation code, while `nuget-trusted-publishing` configures secure package publishing pipelines. C# scripting and other advanced scenarios are supported through dedicated skill definitions. ## Skill Validation Infrastructure The `eng/skill-validator` project provides the runtime that loads and executes skills. **Entry Point**: [`eng/skill-validator/src/Program.cs`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/eng/skill-validator/src/Program.cs) serves as the main CLI entry point, parsing [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) manifests and dispatching to requested skills. **Discovery**: [`eng/skill-validator/src/Shared/PluginDiscovery.cs`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/eng/skill-validator/src/Shared/PluginDiscovery.cs) implements the scanning logic that locates [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) files across `plugins//` directories. **CI Validation**: The [`.github/workflows/skill-validator.yml`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/.github/workflows/skill-validator.yml) pipeline validates skill definitions, ensuring consistency between manifests, [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) specifications, and reference data. ## How to Invoke .NET Development Skills Skills are executed through the skill-validator CLI. Below are examples for common tasks. ### Upgrade a Solution from .NET 8 to .NET 9 ```bash dotnet run --project eng/skill-validator/src/SkillValidator.csproj \ --skill dotnet-upgrade/migrate-dotnet8-to-dotnet9 \ --input-path /path/to/MySolution.sln \ --output-path /tmp/MigratedSolution ``` This command processes the solution file, applies nullable reference type migrations, updates `.csproj` files, and generates a migration report. Implementation details are in [`plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/migrate-dotnet8-to-dotnet9/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/migrate-dotnet8-to-dotnet9/SKILL.md). ### Detect Test Smells ```bash dotnet run --project eng/skill-validator/src/SkillValidator.csproj \ --skill dotnet-test/test-smell-detection \ --input-path /src/MyProject.Tests \ --output-path /tmp/SmellReport.json ``` The skill analyzes test code for anti-patterns and outputs a JSON report. See [`plugins/dotnet-test/skills/test-smell-detection/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugins/dotnet-test/skills/test-smell-detection/SKILL.md). ### Scaffold a Blazor WebAssembly Project ```bash dotnet run --project eng/skill-validator/src/SkillValidator.csproj \ --skill dotnet-blazor/create-blazor-project \ --project-name MyBlazorApp \ --output-path ./Generated/BlazorApp ``` This generates a complete Blazor solution with optional authentication modules. ### Collect a Linux Core Dump ```bash dotnet run --project eng/skill-validator/src/SkillValidator.csproj \ --skill dotnet-diag/dump-collect \ --pid 12345 \ --output /tmp/dotnet.dump ``` The underlying script invokes `dotnet-dump collect` with platform-specific flags. ## Summary - **The dotnet/skills repository** covers .NET development tasks through discrete, reusable skills stored in `plugins//skills//SKILL.md`. - **Upgrade and migration** tasks include cross-version project updates, legacy API conversion, and nullable reference type adoption. - **Testing skills** provide smell detection, gap analysis, quality grading, and framework migration support. - **Build and package management** skills handle MSBuild target authoring, project reference resolution, and Central Package Management conversion. - **Diagnostic skills** integrate `dotnet-dump`, `dotnet-trace`, and BenchmarkDotNet for performance analysis. - **Web and mobile development** includes Blazor component authoring, ASP.NET Core minimal APIs, and MAUI theming. - **AI-assisted skills** enable technology selection and automated project scaffolding. - **Validation infrastructure** in `eng/skill-validator` ensures skill correctness through automated CI pipelines. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I add a new .NET development task to the repository? Create a new directory under `plugins//skills//` containing a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file that defines the skill's purpose, inputs, and workflow. Include a `references/` folder for documentation and a `scripts/` folder for helper executables. Update the [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) in the category root to register the new skill. The CI pipeline in [`.github/workflows/skill-validator.yml`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/.github/workflows/skill-validator.yml) automatically validates the definition. ### What is the difference between a plugin and a skill in the dotnet/skills repository? A **plugin** is a top-level category folder (e.g., `plugins/dotnet-upgrade`) containing a [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest that declares all skills in that domain. A **skill** is a specific task implemented within that category (e.g., `migrate-dotnet8-to-dotnet9`) defined by its [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file and supporting assets. The skill-validator uses [`PluginDiscovery.cs`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/PluginDiscovery.cs) to map plugins to their constituent skills. ### Can I run these skills outside of the skill-validator CLI? While the `eng/skill-validator` project provides the primary runtime for skill execution, many skills include standalone helper scripts in their `scripts/` directories. For example, `plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/migrate-nullable-references/scripts/Get-NullableReadiness.ps1` can be executed independently to assess code readiness. However, full skill execution requires the validator to parse the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/dotnet/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) workflow definitions. ### Which .NET versions are supported by the upgrade skills? The repository currently includes explicit migration paths for .NET 8 to 9, 9 to 10, and 10 to 11, with each skill located in `plugins/dotnet-upgrade/skills/`. Each skill references version-specific breaking changes and modernization patterns. The modular structure allows for easy addition of future version transitions as .NET evolves.