binlog-failure-analysis

Analyze MSBuild binary logs to diagnose build failures. USE FOR: build errors that are unclear from console output, diagnosing cascading failures across multi-project builds, tracing MSBuild target execution order, and generally any MSBuild build issues. Requires an existing .binlog file. DO NOT USE FOR: generating binlogs (use binlog-generation), non-MSBuild build systems.

Jump to install

Repository: dotnet/skills
Last source activity: August 5, 2026 at 08:51
Detected SKILL.md language: English
Stars: 5,190
Forks: 387

Install options

The review-first prompt is selected by default. You can switch to a direct command or download a local copy.

Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.

A direct command skips the review prompt. Inspect the source before running it.

npx skills add https://github.com/dotnet/skills --skill binlog-failure-analysis

The command stays on one line. Scroll horizontally to inspect it before copying.

Prefer a local copy? Download the files currently available to SkillsMP.

Review the source files

Read SKILL.md and any companion files shown by SkillsMP before deciding whether to install.

SKILL.md

Source instructions · Read-only preview

Back to search Back to installation

convert-to-cpm

Convert .NET projects and solutions (.sln, .slnx) to NuGet Central Package Management (CPM) using Directory.Packages.props. USE FOR: converting to CPM, centralizing or aligning NuGet package versions across multiple projects, inlining MSBuild version properties from Directory.Build.props into Directory.Packages.props, resolving version conflicts or mismatches across a solution or repository, updating or bumping or syncing package versions across projects. Also activate when packages are out of sync, drifting, or inconsistent -- even without the user mentioning CPM. Provides baseline build capture, version conflict resolution, build validation with binlog comparison, and a structured post-conversion report. DO NOT USE FOR: packages.config projects (must migrate to PackageReference first) or repositories that already have CPM fully enabled.

2026-08-14

technology-selection

Guides technology selection and implementation of AI and ML features in .NET 8+ applications using ML.NET, Microsoft.Extensions.AI (MEAI), Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), GitHub Copilot SDK, ONNX Runtime, and OllamaSharp. Covers the full spectrum from classic ML through modern LLM orchestration to local inference. Use when adding classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, recommendation, LLM integration (text generation, summarization, reasoning), RAG pipelines with vector search, agentic workflows with tool calling, Copilot extensions, or custom model inference via ONNX Runtime to a .NET project. DO NOT USE FOR projects targeting .NET Framework (requires .NET 8+), the task is pure data engineering or ETL with no ML/AI component, or the project needs a custom deep learning training loop (use Python with PyTorch/TensorFlow, then export to ONNX for .NET inference).

2026-08-14

code-testing-agent

Generate or add unit tests for existing code, from one function to a complete project-wide suite. ALWAYS USE when asked to "write unit tests", "add tests", "generate tests", "cover this untested method", scaffold tests where none exist, or create comprehensive tests across multiple modules or packages. Polyglot: C#/.NET, Python/pytest, TS/JS, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby. Handles classic non-SDK/packages.config MSTest projects, explicit Compile registration, sparse workspaces, existing-suite extension, and proportional focused work. DO NOT USE for only running/diagnosing tests, analyzing a coverage report, auditing test quality, or answering an MSTest API question without writing tests.

2026-08-12

View all from this repository

name	binlog-failure-analysis
description	Analyze MSBuild binary logs to diagnose build failures. USE FOR: build errors that are unclear from console output, diagnosing cascading failures across multi-project builds, tracing MSBuild target execution order, and generally any MSBuild build issues. Requires an existing .binlog file. DO NOT USE FOR: generating binlogs (use binlog-generation), non-MSBuild build systems.
license	MIT

Analyzing MSBuild Failures with Binary Logs

This skill diagnoses MSBuild build failures from a .binlog file. The preferred path uses the binlog MCP server (Microsoft.AITools.BinlogMcp, exposed under the binlog MCP namespace) which is bundled with this plugin. If the MCP server is not available, fall back to the binlog replay workflow at the bottom.

Primary workflow — binlog MCP

The MCP server exposes structured tools for inspecting a .binlog without parsing text logs. Call them directly instead of replaying the binlog to a text file. Call tools/list for the MCP first if you are unsure which tools are available.

Important constraints:

The .binlog file is a binary format — do NOT try to cat, head, strings, or read it directly. Use only the MCP tools to query it.
The original source/project files might or might NOT be available on disk. Project files (.csproj, .props, .targets, App.config, etc.) - if you cannot locate them on disk, they can only be read from within the binlog via MCP tools (e.g., embedded/source file retrieval).
Synthesize findings as you go. Do not spend all available time investigating — once you have enough evidence, present your conclusions. A partial answer with clear reasoning is better than timing out mid-investigation.

Use the available MCP server tools to query the binary log for:

Build errors and warnings
MSBuild properties and their values
MSBuild items (PackageReference, ProjectReference, etc.)
Project evaluation data
Target execution details
File contents embedded in the binlog

Fallback workflow — text-log replay (when MCP is unavailable)

Use this only when the MCP server cannot be started (for example, on an older SDK or in an offline environment).

Replay the binlog to text logs

dotnet msbuild build.binlog -noconlog \
  -fl  -flp:v=diag;logfile=full.log;performancesummary \
  -fl1 -flp1:errorsonly;logfile=errors.log \
  -fl2 -flp2:warningsonly;logfile=warnings.log

PowerShell note: Use -flp:"v=diag;logfile=full.log;performancesummary" (quoted semicolons).

Search the text logs

cat errors.log
grep -n -B2 -A2 "CS0246" full.log
grep -i "CoreCompile.*FAILED\|Build FAILED\|error MSB" full.log
grep 'Target "CoreCompile"' full.log | grep -oP 'project "[^"]*"'

Generating a binlog (only if none exists)

dotnet build /bl:build.binlog

binlog-failure-analysis

Source facts

Install options

Review the source files

More from this repository

Analyzing MSBuild Failures with Binary Logs

Primary workflow — binlog MCP

Fallback workflow — text-log replay (when MCP is unavailable)

Replay the binlog to text logs

Search the text logs

Generating a binlog (only if none exists)

Analyzing MSBuild Failures with Binary Logs

Primary workflow — binlog MCP

Fallback workflow — text-log replay (when MCP is unavailable)

Replay the binlog to text logs

Search the text logs

Generating a binlog (only if none exists)

More from this repository