nuget-manager

name	nuget-manager
description	Manage NuGet packages in .NET projects/solutions. Use this skill when adding, removing, or updating NuGet package versions. It enforces using `dotnet` CLI for package management and provides strict procedures for direct file edits only when updating versions.
allowed-tools	mcp_nuget_install-package, mcp_nuget_update-package,

NuGet Manager

Prerequisites

• .NET SDK installed, typically .net 8 or later;
• dotnet CLI available in the system PATH.

Available Tools

• mcp_nuget_get-nuget-solver: use nuget solver to fix and update vulnerable packages.
• mcp_nuget_get-latest-package-version: Retrieves the latest version of a NuGet package.
• mcp_nuget_get-nuget-solver-latest-version: Retrieves the latest version of a NuGet package using the NuGet solver.
• mcp_nuget_update-package-to-version: Updates a NuGet package to a specified version in a project or solution.

Core Rules

1. NEVER directly edit .csproj, .props, or Directory.Packages.props files to add or remove packages. Always use dotnet add package and dotnet remove package commands.
2. DIRECT EDITING is ONLY permitted for changing versions of existing packages.
3. VERSION UPDATES must follow the mandatory workflow:
   • Verify the target version exists on NuGet.
   • Determine if versions are managed per-project (.csproj) or centrally (Directory.Packages.props).
   • Update the version string in the appropriate file.
   • Immediately run dotnet restore to verify compatibility.

Workflows

Adding a Package

Use dotnet add [<PROJECT>] package <PACKAGE_NAME> [--version <VERSION>]. Example: dotnet add src/MyProject/MyProject.csproj package Newtonsoft.Json

Removing a Package

Use dotnet remove [<PROJECT>] package <PACKAGE_NAME>. Example: dotnet remove src/MyProject/MyProject.csproj package Newtonsoft.Json

Updating Package Versions

When updating a version, follow these steps:

1. Verify Version Existence: Check if the version exists using the dotnet package search command with exact match and JSON formatting. Using jq: dotnet package search <PACKAGE_NAME> --exact-match --format json | jq -e '.searchResult[].packages[] | select(.version == "<VERSION>")' Using PowerShell: (dotnet package search <PACKAGE_NAME> --exact-match --format json | ConvertFrom-Json).searchResult.packages | Where-Object { $_.version -eq "<VERSION>" }

2. Determine Version Management:

   • Search for Directory.Packages.props in the solution root. If present, versions should be managed there via <PackageVersion Include="Package.Name" Version="1.2.3" />.
   • If absent, check individual .csproj files for <PackageReference Include="Package.Name" Version="1.2.3" />.

3. Apply Changes: Modify the identified file with the new version string.

4. Verify Stability: Run dotnet restore on the project or solution. If errors occur, revert the change and investigate.

Examples

User: "Add Serilog to the WebApi project"

Action: Execute dotnet add src/WebApi/WebApi.csproj package Serilog.

User: "Update Newtonsoft.Json to 13.0.3 in the whole solution"

Action:

1. Verify 13.0.3 exists: dotnet package search Newtonsoft.Json --exact-match --format json (and parse output to confirm "13.0.3" is present).
2. Find where it's defined (e.g., Directory.Packages.props).
3. Edit the file to update the version.
4. Run dotnet restore.