| name | dotnet-inspect |
| version | 0.21.0 |
| description | Find evidence instead of guessing for .NET packages, platform libraries, local assemblies, APIs, dependencies, and version-to-version API changes. |
dotnet-inspect
Use dotnet-inspect for evidence about .NET packages, platform libraries, assemblies, APIs, dependencies, or API version diffs.
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>
-y skips interactive confirmation, including after package updates; -- sends remaining options to dotnet-inspect, so --help does not show dnx help.
Common starts
| Goal | Command |
|---|
| Find an API | find Pattern includes platform/BCL types; add --project path/to/project when project references should be in scope. |
| Inspect a type | type Type --package Foo; add --all for non-public/hidden members. |
| Inspect overloads | member Type --platform Lib -m Name -S "Member Index" |
| Select an overload | member Type --platform Lib Name:1 or Name~digest |
| Discover legal query values | vocabulary -D; select values with vocabulary -S Accessibility, -S "C# Style Choices" --json, or -S "C# Body Kinds". |
| Find rendered body syntax | library path/to.dll --where "Kind=ObjectCreationExpression", type Type --library path/to.dll --where "Kind=InvocationExpression", or member Type Method:1 --library path/to.dll --where "Kind=InvocationExpression"; load skill decompiler for stable kinds and coordinates. |
| Compare APIs | diff --package Foo@old..new --breaking (--additive new APIs); --alloc-regressions for perf regressions (allocations up, hot first). |
| Trace API evolution | timeline --package Foo@old..new --type Type --members --at all; omit --at to inspect the vector without acquiring packages. |
| Inspect packages | package Foo; use -D to discover sections and -S "Signals,Audit: Findings" to audit text-bearing files and SourceLink mappings. Load skill private-feeds for custom/authenticated sources. |
| Inspect libraries | library Foo or library path/to.dll; use -D to discover sections and -S "Unsafe Members" for standalone unsafe evidence. Load skill metadata for raw ECMA-335 tables/heaps. |
| Relationships | depends Type, extensions Type, implements Interface. |
Member lookup
Run find Name when scope is unknown, inspect the type, then -S "Member Index" to list overloads. Select with Name:N (1-based) or Name~digest (stable). A selected overload
defaults to Signature. A fully-qualified Namespace.Type.Member needs no scope.
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find JsonSerializer
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --platform System.Text.Json -m Serialize -S "Member Index"
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --platform System.Text.Json Serialize:1 -S Signature
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize -S "Member Index"
Tips
package and library produce terse, token-efficient, high-value domain content by default. Output supports Markdown, tables, TSV, JSONL, and JSON; load dotnet-inspect skill query for discovery, selection, projection, and limits.- Add
--project <csproj|dir|project.assets.json> when project-referenced packages should be in scope; it reads existing restored assets, so restore/build first if dependencies changed.
- Common BCL types resolve without scope:
type string, type 'List<T>'. Quote generics and patterns: member 'Dictionary<TKey,TValue>', -S "Async*".
- Unpinned packages use latest stable; add
--preview for prerelease APIs.
