dotnet-update-packages

name	dotnet-update-packages
description	Lists and updates outdated NuGet packages in .NET projects. Use when the user mentions updating packages, checking for outdated dependencies, or upgrading package versions.
license	MIT
metadata	{"author":"Im5tu","version":"1.0","repositoryUrl":"https://github.com/im5tu/dotnet-skills"}
allowed-tools	Bash(dotnet:*) Read Glob AskUserQuestion

.NET Package Updates

Note: This skill requires .NET 10 SDK or later. The dotnet package update command does not exist in .NET 8-9.

When to Use

This skill applies when the user:

• Asks about outdated NuGet packages
• Wants to update dependencies in a .NET project
• Mentions package version upgrades
• Discusses dependency management in .NET

Workflow

1. List outdated packages (including transitive) using:

   dotnet package list --outdated --include-transitive --format json
   

2. Check for empty results - If no outdated packages found, inform the user and stop

3. Parse output to identify:

   • Projects with outdated packages
   • Whether each package is direct or transitive

4. Analyze project dependencies by reading <ProjectReference> elements in each csproj

5. Present findings in a readable format showing project, package name, current → latest version

6. Confirm with user before making changes - ask which option:

   • All packages
   • Specific packages by name
   • Cancel

7. Update packages per project with --project parameter:

   • Update leaf projects first (no dependencies)
   • Then update dependent projects
   • Independent branches can run in parallel

   dotnet package update <package> --project <path-to-csproj>
   

8. Verify with dotnet build

9. If build fails, ask user:

   • Fix automatically (review errors, apply fixes)
   • Fix manually (show errors, let user handle)

10. Report results - summarize what was updated and the final build status

Key Commands

Command	Purpose
dotnet package list --outdated --include-transitive --format json	List outdated packages (incl. transitive)
dotnet package update <name> --project <path>	Update specific package in project
dotnet package update --project <path>	Update all packages in project

Transitive vs Direct Packages

• Direct: Explicitly in csproj. Update directly.
• Transitive: Pulled in by dependencies. Marked [T] in output.
  • To update: update the parent package, or add direct reference to pin version

Error Handling

• If dotnet package list fails: Check if we're in a .NET project directory
• If dotnet package update fails for a specific package: Report it and continue with others
• If build fails after updates:
  1. Parse the build errors
  2. Ask user: fix automatically or manually?
  3. If automatic: analyze errors and apply fixes
  4. Re-run build to verify

Notes

• Requires .NET 10+ SDK for dotnet package update
• Always use --project parameter to update per-project
• Update in dependency order: leaves first, then dependents
• Always confirm with user before updating
• Run build after updates to catch breaking changes