# dotnet-inspect

A skill that pulls evidence about .NET packages, libraries and APIs instead of guessing: what ships inside, which dependencies, how versions differ.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 508 installs · ★ 156
- Author: richlander
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/richlander/dotnet-inspect/tree/HEAD/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-25
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/dotnet-inspect

## What it does

The skill drives the `dotnet-inspect` CLI, invoked as `dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>`. The `-y` flag skips the confirmation prompt, and `--` hands the remaining arguments to the tool. From there you pick a query space: `package`, `type`, `member`, `find`, `diff`, `library`.

Platform lookups lean on installed packs when the version you ask for is present; otherwise a package-backed source fills in. On a non-conventional install, check `<root>/packs` and set `DOTNET_ROOT` for the process rather than through `PATH` — skip that and platform searches miss the version you meant.

A router handles vague requests: hand it a bare target and let it pick the route. `explain <task-text>` similarity-searches installed capabilities, and `demo list` surfaces ready-made scenarios. For version work, `diff --package Foo@old..new --breaking` flags breaking changes, while `diff --history` traces how an API evolved.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add richlander/dotnet-inspect --skill dotnet-inspect -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/dotnet-inspect/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add richlander/dotnet-inspect --skill dotnet-inspect -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add richlander/dotnet-inspect --skill dotnet-inspect -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install richlander/dotnet-inspect dotnet-inspect
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add richlander/dotnet-inspect --skill dotnet-inspect -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/richlander/dotnet-inspect --path skills/dotnet-inspect
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add richlander/dotnet-inspect --skill dotnet-inspect -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/richlander/dotnet-inspect/tree/HEAD/skills/dotnet-inspect/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- pin down an exact package ID from a partial name
- list public and hidden members of a type
- compare two package versions for breaking changes
- trace how a method changed across releases
- check licenses and SourceLink mappings inside a package

## Example prompts
- Find the Microsoft.Extensions.AI.Abstractions package and list the types it contains
- Compare the API of package Foo between versions 1.0 and 2.0 and show breaking changes
- Walk me through building a literal query using `explain literal`

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From the same set: [richlander/dotnet-inspect](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/richlander/dotnet-inspect.md) — 4 cards

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