// Query .NET APIs across NuGet packages, platform libraries, and local files. Use for factual answers about package contents, API signatures, compatibility changes, relationships, SourceLink, and assembly metadata.
| name | dotnet-inspect |
| version | 0.8.1 |
| description | Query .NET APIs across NuGet packages, platform libraries, and local files. Use for factual answers about package contents, API signatures, compatibility changes, relationships, SourceLink, and assembly metadata. |
Use dotnet-inspect when you need evidence about .NET libraries instead of guessing: API signatures, package contents, extension methods, implementors, SourceLink URLs, dependencies, or version-to-version API changes.
Invoke through dnx unless installed:
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>
For the full version-specific workflow guide, run:
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- skill
Default output is Markdown. Use --oneline to scan, --json for structured data, --count to count one selected table section, and -n N to limit output without losing headers.
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| Find where a type lives | find Pattern --oneline |
| Inspect APIs | type Type --package Foo, then member Type --package Foo |
| Compare versions | diff --package Foo@old..new --breaking |
| Audit package/library | package Foo, library Foo, or library ./path/to.dll |
| Resolve SourceLink URLs | source Type --package Foo --oneline |
| Explore relationships | depends Type, extensions Type, implements Interface |
Start broad, then carry resolved context forward:
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find JsonSerializer --oneline
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- source JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json --oneline
Bare names use the router: platform-looking names are tried as installed platform libraries first, then fall back to NuGet packages if platform resolution fails. Use explicit --platform <LibraryName>, --package Foo[@version], or --library when the source matters. For upgrades, start with diff, then inspect affected members:
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- diff --package System.Text.Json@9.0.0..10.0.0 --breaking
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json@10.0.0
Discover sections with -D or bare -S, then select with -S Section. Project table columns with --columns, fields with --fields, and count rows with --count when exactly one section is selected.
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -D
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -S Methods --columns "Name;Signature;Obsolete"
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- library System.Text.Json -S "Async*" --count
<T>, not <>: 'Option<T>', 'INumber<TSelf>'.type uses -t for type filters; member uses -m for member filters.-m JsonSerializer.Deserialize...: --package Foo@1.0.0..2.0.0.--all for non-public, hidden, and extra members; obsolete members are already shown by default.