| name | dotnet-testing |
| description | .NET testing fundamentals overview and navigation center. Triggered when users ask about "how to write .NET tests", ".NET testing getting started", "required testing tools", "testing best practices", "learn testing from scratch", and other general testing needs. Recommends appropriate sub-skills based on specific requirements, covering testing fundamentals, test data, assertions, mocking, special scenarios, and other 19 fundamental skills.
Keywords: dotnet testing, .NET testing, testing getting started, how to write tests, testing best practices, unit test, unit test, xunit, 3A pattern, FIRST principle, assertion, assertion, mock, stub, NSubstitute, test data, AutoFixture, Bogus, validator, FluentValidation, TimeProvider, IFileSystem, code coverage, ITestOutputHelper, test naming
|
Source: kevintsengtw/dotnet-testing-agent-skills (MIT). Ported into dotnet-agent-harness.
.NET Testing Fundamentals Overview
🤖 AI Agent Important Notes
When you (AI Agent) are loaded with this entry skill, please read the following guidelines first:
📋 Positioning of This Skill
This file is a "navigation center" used to help find the correct sub-skills.
Your Tasks Are
- ✅ Match corresponding sub-skills based on user needs
- ✅ Use the
Skill tool to load specific sub-skills
- ✅ Let sub-skills provide professional testing guidance
Prohibited Behaviors
- ❌ Do not provide test code directly in this entry skill
- ❌ Do not start implementing tests without loading sub-skills
- ❌ Do not skip sub-skills to provide "general" testing advice
🎯 Quick Skill Reference Table (AI Agent Must Read)
Keywords mentioned by users → Sub-skills to load
Most Frequently Used Skills (Must Memorize)
| User Says... | Load Command | Purpose |
|---|
| Validator, validator, CreateUserValidator | /skill dotnet-testing-fluentvalidation-testing | FluentValidation testing |
| Mock, simulation, IRepository, IService | /skill dotnet-testing-nsubstitute-mocking | Mock external dependencies |
| AutoFixture, test data generation | /skill dotnet-testing-autofixture-basics | Auto-generate test data |
| Assertion, Should(), BeEquivalentTo | /skill dotnet-testing-awesome-assertions-guide | Fluent assertions (must learn) |
| DateTime, time testing, TimeProvider | /skill dotnet-testing-datetime-testing-timeprovider | Time-related testing |
| File, file system, IFileSystem | /skill dotnet-testing-filesystem-testing-abstractions | File system testing |
| Bogus, fake data, Faker | /skill dotnet-testing-bogus-fake-data | Realistic data generation |
| Builder Pattern, WithXxx | /skill dotnet-testing-test-data-builder-pattern | Test Data Builder |
| Deep comparison, DTO comparison, Excluding | /skill dotnet-testing-complex-object-comparison | Complex object comparison |
Basic Entry Skills
| User Says... | Load Command | Purpose |
|---|
| From scratch, testing basics, FIRST principles | /skill dotnet-testing-unit-test-fundamentals | Unit test fundamentals |
| Test naming, how to name tests | /skill dotnet-testing-test-naming-conventions | Naming conventions |
| Create test project, xUnit setup | /skill dotnet-testing-xunit-project-setup | Project setup |
Advanced Skill Combinations
| User Says... | Load Command | Purpose |
|---|
| AutoFixture + Bogus | /skill dotnet-testing-autofixture-bogus-integration | Automation + realistic data |
| AutoFixture + NSubstitute | /skill dotnet-testing-autofixture-nsubstitute-integration | Auto-create Mock |
| AutoData, Theory testing | /skill dotnet-testing-autodata-xunit-integration | Parameterized testing |
| Test output, ITestOutputHelper | /skill dotnet-testing-test-output-logging | Test logging |
| Coverage, Coverlet | /skill dotnet-testing-code-coverage-analysis | Code coverage |
⚠️ Usage Flow Examples
✅ Correct Flow
User: Please help me create tests for CreateUserValidator
AI: I notice you need to test a Validator. According to the quick reference table,
I should load the dotnet-testing-fluentvalidation-testing skill.
[Use Skill tool to load sub-skill]
AI: Now following the FluentValidation Testing skill guidelines to create tests for you...
❌ Incorrect Flow
User: Please help me create tests for CreateUserValidator
AI: Okay, let me write the tests... (start writing code directly without loading sub-skills)
📚 Complete Skill List
To view the complete list of 19 fundamental skills, detailed decision trees, and learning path recommendations, please
continue reading the subsequent content of this file.
Human Developer Reference: For quick lookup, please check SKILLS_QUICK_INDEX.md
Applicable Scenarios
When you encounter the following situations, I will help you find the correct skills:
- Just starting to learn .NET testing, don't know where to begin
- Want to create tests for existing projects, need complete guidance
- Need to improve test quality, looking for best practices
- Encounter specific testing scenarios, unsure which tool to use
- Want to learn about test data generation, assertions, mocking, and other technologies
- Hope to improve test readability and maintainability
- Need to handle special testing scenarios like time, file systems, etc.
Quick Decision Tree
Where Should I Start?
Scenario 1: Complete Beginner, Never Written Tests Before
Recommended Learning Path:
dotnet-testing-unit-test-fundamentals - Understand FIRST principles and 3A Patterndotnet-testing-test-naming-conventions - Learn naming conventionsdotnet-testing-xunit-project-setup - Create your first test project
Why This Path:
- FIRST principles are the foundation of all tests, establish correct concepts first
- Naming conventions make tests readable and maintainable
- Hands-on project creation transforms theory into practice
Scenario 2: Can Write Basic Tests, But Test Data Preparation Is Troublesome
Recommended Skills (Choose One or Combine):
Option A - Automation First
→ dotnet-testing-autofixture-basics Suitable: Need large amounts of test data, reduce boilerplate code
Option B - Realistic Data First
→ dotnet-testing-bogus-fake-data Suitable: Need realistic test data (names, addresses, emails, etc.)
Option C - Semantic Clarity First
→ dotnet-testing-test-data-builder-pattern Suitable: Need high readability, clear expression of test intent
Option D - Best of Both
→ dotnet-testing-autofixture-basics + dotnet-testing-autofixture-bogus-integration Suitable: Need both automation
and realistic data
Scenario 3: Have External Dependencies (Database, API, Third-party Services) Need to Mock
Recommended Skill Combination:
dotnet-testing-nsubstitute-mocking - NSubstitute Mock framework fundamentalsdotnet-testing-autofixture-nsubstitute-integration - (Optional) Integrate AutoFixture with NSubstitute
When Is the Second Skill Needed:
- If you are already using AutoFixture to generate test data
- Want to automatically create Mock objects, reduce manual configuration
Scenario 4: Special Scenarios in Testing
Time-related Testing
→ dotnet-testing-datetime-testing-timeprovider Handles: DateTime.Now, timezone conversion, time calculations
File System Testing
→ dotnet-testing-filesystem-testing-abstractions Handles: File read/write, directory operations, path handling
Private/Internal Member Testing
→ dotnet-testing-private-internal-testing Handles: Need to test private, internal members (but use cautiously)
Scenario 5: Need Better Assertion Methods
Basic Needs - Fluent Assertions
→ dotnet-testing-awesome-assertions-guide Should be used by all projects to improve test readability
Advanced Needs - Complex Object Comparison
→ dotnet-testing-complex-object-comparison Handles: Deep object comparison, DTO validation, Entity comparison
Validation Rule Testing
→ dotnet-testing-fluentvalidation-testing Handles: Testing FluentValidation validators
Scenario 6: Want to Learn About Test Coverage
→ dotnet-testing-code-coverage-analysis Learn: Use Coverlet to analyze code coverage, generate reports
Skill Classification Map
Divide 19 fundamental skills into 7 categories (testing fundamentals, test data generation, test doubles, assertion
validation, special scenarios, test metrics, framework integration), each containing skill reference tables, learning
paths, and code examples.
📖 For details, please refer to references/skill-classification-map.md
Common Task Mapping Table
Provide 7 common testing tasks (create project from scratch, service dependency testing, time logic testing, etc.) with
skill combination recommendations, implementation steps, and prompt examples.
📖 For details, please refer to references/task-mapping-table.md
Learning Path Recommendations
Plan daily learning schedules for beginner path (1-2 weeks) and advanced path (2-3 weeks), including skills, learning
focuses, and practical exercises.
📖 For details, please refer to references/learning-paths.md
Guided Conversation Examples
Show how AI interacts with you to help choose the correct skills, including 4 common conversation scenarios: beginner
entry, handling dependencies, specific problems, improving tests.
📖 For details, please refer to references/conversation-examples.md
Relationship with Advanced Skills
After completing fundamental skills, if you need integration testing, API testing, containerized testing, or
microservice testing, please refer to:
Advanced Integration Testing → dotnet-testing-advanced
- ASP.NET Core integration testing
- Containerized testing (Testcontainers)
- Microservice testing (.NET Aspire)
- Test framework upgrades and migrations
Related Resources
Original Data Sources
Learning Documents
This skill set is refined from the following complete materials:
-
Agent Skills: From Architecture Design to Practical Application (docs/Agent_Skills_Mastery.pdf) Complete coverage
of Agent Skills from theory to practice
-
Claude Code Skills: Making AI a Professional Craftsman (docs/Agent_Skills_Architecture.pdf) In-depth analysis of
Agent Skills architecture design
-
.NET Testing: Write Better, Run Faster (docs/NET_Testing_Write_Better_Run_Faster.pdf) Test execution optimization
and debugging techniques
Next Steps
Choose the skill that matches your needs to start learning, or tell me your specific situation and I will recommend the
most suitable learning path!
Quick Start:
- Beginner → Start with
dotnet-testing-unit-test-fundamentals
- Experienced → Tell me the specific problems you encounter
- Unsure → Tell me your project situation and I will help you analyze
