# template-instantiation

Creates .NET projects using dotnet new while matching workspace CPM settings and target frameworks. Generates clean scaffolding without version mismatch.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3300 installs · ★ 5730
- Author: dotnet
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dotnet/skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/dotnet-template-engine/skills/template-instantiation/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/template-instantiation

## What it does

This skill automates project generation using `dotnet new` commands. It checks the existing workspace first: locates `Directory.Packages.props` for Central Package Management (CPM), reads target frameworks from neighboring `.csproj` files, and checks `global.json`. The detected framework is passed explicitly via `--framework` to prevent unexpected version overrides during setup.

Execution follows a strict order: template inspection, `--dry-run` validation, generation, and a final `dotnet build`. Create and build steps never run in parallel, avoiding false compilation errors on half-written files. When CPM is present, the skill applies `--no-restore`, cleans up package references, and runs a single restore pass.

The tool focuses solely on creating and wiring projects into a solution. Template discovery, template authoring, and adding packages to existing `.csproj` files belong to separate skills and native CLI commands.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

### Codex

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

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

### Cursor

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

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dotnet/skills template-instantiation
```

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

### Gemini CLI

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

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dotnet/skills --path plugins/dotnet-template-engine/skills/template-instantiation
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dotnet/skills --skill template-instantiation -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/dotnet/skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/dotnet-template-engine/skills/template-instantiation/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- create a Web API project configured with native AOT and controllers
- scaffold projects compatible with existing `Directory.Packages.props`
- compose multi-project solutions containing an API, library, and test suites
- preview generated files using `--dry-run` before disk writes

## Example prompts
- Create a webapi project named BillingService with Individual auth under src/Billing
- Generate a worker service with the --aot flag and add it to the existing solution
- Set up a Blazor Server project in the frontend folder adhering to Directory.Packages.props

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: a292d80339fe2337.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE a292d80339fe2337
```text
---
name: template-instantiation
description: >
  Creates .NET projects from templates with validated parameters, smart defaults,
  Central Package Management adaptation, and latest NuGet version resolution.
  USE FOR: creating new dotnet projects, scaffolding solutions with multiple projects,
  installing or uninstalling template packages, creating projects that respect
  Directory.Packages.props (CPM), composing multi-project solutions (API + tests + library),
  getting latest NuGet package versions in newly created projects.
  DO NOT USE FOR: finding templates (use template-discovery), producing a detailed
  side-by-side comparison of templates (use template-comparison), authoring custom
  templates (use template-authoring), deciding
  cross-parameter defaults such as which framework to pair with native AOT or whether to
  keep HTTPS when auth is enabled (use template-smart-defaults), modifying existing
  projects or adding NuGet packages to existing projects.
license: MIT
---

# Template Instantiation

This skill creates .NET projects from templates using `dotnet new` CLI commands, with guidance for parameter validation, Central Package Management adaptation, and multi-project composition.

> **Match the workspace, then stop.** The highest-value move is aligning the new project with the repo it lands in: detect **CPM** (`Directory.Packages.props`) and the **target framework** used by neighbouring `.csproj` files, and mirror both. **Treat the discovered target framework as an explicit choice** — pass it as `--framework` so `template-smart-defaults` won't override it; deviate only when it's incompatible with a requested feature (then flag the conflict). Do this in as few steps as possible — a `--dry-run`, the create, and one `dotnet build` to confirm is usually enough. Extra exploratory turns add cost without improving the result.

> **Perform the requested creation.** Do not return only a plan or statement of intent.
> Run state-dependent commands sequentially: inspect, dry-run, create, then build. Never
> launch create and build in parallel; a build-before-create race produces a false failure.

| Situation | Required action |
|-----------|-----------------|
| Simple standalone project | inspect only the requested template, create at the exact path, then build |
| Existing neighboring projects | read their TFMs first and pass the matching supported `--framework` explicitly |
| `Directory.Packages.props` found | create with `--no-restore` when supported, normalize generated package references, then restore/build once |
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE a292d80339fe2337

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the a292d80339fe2337 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2570 of 11339 bytes. © dotnet · MIT · https://github.com/dotnet/skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/dotnet-template-engine/skills/template-instantiation/SKILL.md

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