Intro in this page language first. The official description stays in its original wording; we do not rewrite SKILL.md.
What it does
Ensure .NET/C# code meets best practices for the solution/project.
When to use it
The official description does not include a separate “Use when”. Per the spec, agents activate this skill when the task matches keywords in that description.
How agents load it
Per Agent Skills progressive disclosure: name and description load at startup (~100 tokens); the full SKILL.md body loads when the skill activates; scripts/, references/, and assets/ load only as needed. This file's sections: .NET/C# Best Practices; Documentation & Structure; Design Patterns & Architecture; Dependency Injection & Services; Resource Management & Localization; Async/Await Patterns.
File analysis
File analysis: instruction-only skill (SKILL.md). The agent loads the full body when activated.
Choose the target agent and installation scope, keep referenced package files, then verify the skill appears in the client's catalog.
Ask your Agent to install
Copy these instructions to a compatible agent and confirm the target directory matches your client.
Install the agent skill "dotnet-best-practices" into my project. The full SKILL.md and official description are at https://zicq.com/en/skills/skl-b4e842a5924f4035-Dotnet-Best-Practices.html
Save it as .cursor/skills/dotnet-best-practices/SKILL.md or .claude/skills/dotnet-best-practices/SKILL.md and keep the frontmatter name and description exactly as-is.
The CLI lets you choose the agent interactively. The default scope is the project; use -g for user scope. Confirm package availability with the discovery command, then use npx skills list to inspect installed skills.
Readable layout
---
name: dotnet-best-practices
description: 'Ensure .NET/C# code meets best practices for the solution/project.'
---
# .NET/C# Best Practices
Your task is to ensure .NET/C# code in ${selection} meets the best practices specific to this solution/project. This includes:
## Documentation & Structure
- Create comprehensive XML documentation comments for all public classes, interfaces, methods, and properties
- Include parameter descriptions and return value descriptions in XML comments
- Follow the established namespace structure: {Core|Console|App|Service}.{Feature}
## Design Patterns & Architecture
- Use primary constructor syntax for dependency injection (e.g., `public class MyClass(IDependency dependency)`)
- Implement the Command Handler pattern with generic base classes (e.g., `CommandHandler`)
- Use interface segregation with clear naming conventions (prefix interfaces with 'I')
- Follow the Factory pattern for complex object creation.
## Dependency Injection & Services
- Use constructor dependency injection with null checks via ArgumentNullException
- Register services with appropriate lifetimes (Singleton, Scoped, Transient)
- Use Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection patterns
- Implement service interfaces for testability
## Resource Management & Localization
- Use ResourceManager for localized messages and error strings
- Separate LogMessages and ErrorMessages resource files
- Access resources via `_resourceManager.GetString("MessageKey")`
## Async/Await Patterns
- Use async/await for all I/O operations and long-running tasks
- Return Task or Task from async methods
- Use ConfigureAwait(false) where appropriate
- Handle async exceptions properly
## Testing Standards
- Use MSTest framework with FluentAssertions for assertions
- Follow AAA pattern (Arrange, Act, Assert)
- Use Moq for mocking dependencies
- Test both success and failure scenarios
- Include null parameter validation tests
## Configuration & Settings
- Use strongly-typed configuration classes with data annotations
- Implement validation attributes (Required, NotEmptyOrWhitespace)
- Use IConfiguration binding for settings
- Support appsettings.json configuration files
## Semantic Kernel & AI Integration
- Use Microsoft.SemanticKernel for AI operations
- Implement proper kernel configuration and service registration
- Handle AI model settings (ChatCompletion, Embedding, etc.)
- Use structured output patterns for reliable AI responses
## Error Handling & Logging
- Use structured logging with Microsoft.Extensions.Logging
- Include scoped logging with meaningful context
- Throw specific exceptions with descriptive messages
- Use try-catch blocks for expected failure scenarios
## Performance & Security
- Use C# 12+ features and .NET 8 optimizations where applicable
- Implement proper input validation and sanitization
- Use parameterized queries for database operations
- Follow secure coding practices for AI/ML operations
## Code Quality
- Ensure SOLID principles compliance
- Avoid code duplication through base classes and utilities
- Use meaningful names that reflect domain concepts
- Keep methods focused and cohesive
- Implement proper disposal patterns for resources