template-validation

name	template-validation
description	Validates custom dotnet new templates for correctness before publishing. Catches missing fields, parameter bugs, shortName conflicts, constraint issues, and common authoring mistakes that cause templates to fail silently. USE FOR: checking template.json files for errors before publishing or testing, diagnosing why a template doesn't appear after installation, reviewing template parameter definitions for type mismatches and missing defaults, finding shortName conflicts with dotnet CLI commands, validating post-action and constraint configuration. DO NOT USE FOR: finding or using existing templates (use template-discovery), creating projects from templates (use template-instantiation), creating templates from existing projects (use template-authoring).
license	MIT

Template Validation

This skill helps validate custom dotnet new templates for correctness before publishing. It encodes the validation rules that catch common authoring mistakes — issues that cause templates to silently fail, produce broken projects, or not appear in dotnet new list.

When to Use

• User asks to check or validate a template.json file
• User reports "my template doesn't show up after installing"
• User wants to review a template before packaging and publishing to NuGet
• User encounters unexpected behavior from a custom template

When Not to Use

• User wants to find or use existing templates — route to template-discovery
• User wants to create a project — route to template-instantiation
• User wants to create a template from an existing project — route to template-authoring