| name | dotnet-cloc |
| description | Use the open-source free `cloc` tool for line-count, language-mix, and diff statistics in .NET repositories. Use when a repo needs C# and solution footprint metrics, branch-to-branch LOC comparison, or repeatable code-size reporting in local workflows and CI. |
| compatibility | Requires a repository with .NET source files or a Git checkout; respects the repo's `AGENTS.md` commands first. |
CLOC for .NET Repositories
Trigger On
- the repo wants
cloc
- the team needs repeatable LOC, language, or branch diff statistics for a .NET repo
- the user asks about C# codebase size, solution composition, or code-count deltas between refs
Value
- produce a concrete project delta: code, docs, config, tests, CI, or review artifact
- reduce ambiguity through explicit planning, verification, and final validation skills
- leave reusable project context so future tasks are faster and safer
Do Not Use For
- judging developer productivity from raw LOC
- replacing behavioral verification, architecture review, or complexity analysis
- counting generated or vendored files without an explicit reason
Inputs
- the nearest
AGENTS.md
- target repository, solution, project, or subtree
- the question being answered: footprint, composition, diff, or trend
Quick Start
- Read the nearest
AGENTS.md and confirm scope and constraints.
- Run this skill's
Workflow through the Ralph Loop until outcomes are acceptable.
- Return the
Required Result Format with concrete artifacts and verification evidence.
Workflow
- Choose the counting mode deliberately:
--vcs=git for repo-respecting counts
- path-based counting for bounded folders
--git --diff BASE HEAD for change deltas
- Prefer
.NET-relevant views first:
- C# footprint
- test versus production footprint
- solution language mix such as C#, Razor, XML, JSON, YAML, and MSBuild files
- Exclude noise before trusting the numbers:
bin
obj
.git
- vendored or generated folders when they are not part of the decision
- Use machine-readable output when the numbers feed docs, CI, or follow-up automation:
- Treat
cloc as a sizing and comparison tool, not as evidence that the design is good.
- When using diff mode, compare named refs that match the review question:
origin/main..HEAD
- release branch versus main
- before and after a refactor
- After any code cleanup based on
cloc findings, run the repo's normal quality pass.
Bootstrap When Missing
If cloc is not available yet:
- Detect current state:
command -v cloc
cloc --version
perl --version
- Choose the install path deliberately:
- macOS with Homebrew:
brew install cloc
- Debian or Ubuntu:
sudo apt install cloc
- Red Hat or older Fedora family:
sudo yum install cloc
- Fedora or newer Red Hat family:
sudo dnf install cloc
- npm fallback:
npm install -g cloc
- Windows with Chocolatey:
choco install cloc
- Windows with Scoop:
scoop install cloc
- Docker fallback:
docker run --rm -v $PWD:/tmp aldanial/cloc .
- If package-manager builds are not acceptable, install from the latest upstream release or source and verify with
cloc --version.
- Record exact counting commands in
AGENTS.md, for example:
cloc --vcs=git --include-lang="C#,MSBuild,JSON,XML,YAML"
cloc --by-file --vcs=git --include-lang="C#"
cloc --git --diff origin/main HEAD --include-lang="C#"
- Run one bounded command and return
status: configured or status: improved.
- If the repo intentionally uses another code-count tool and does not want
cloc, return status: not_applicable.
Deliver
- repeatable LOC and language-mix reporting for .NET repos
- explicit include and exclude rules
- branch-diff or bounded-scope commands that answer a concrete engineering question
Validate
- counts match the intended source boundary instead of including build output noise
- command choice matches the reporting question
- any automation or docs that consume the numbers can rerun the same command
cloc is used as context, not as a substitute for tests or design review
Ralph Loop
Use the Ralph Loop for every task, including docs, architecture, testing, and tooling work.
- Plan first (mandatory):
- analyze current state
- define target outcome, constraints, and risks
- write a detailed execution plan
- list final validation skills to run at the end, with order and reason
- Execute one planned step and produce a concrete delta.
- Review the result and capture findings with actionable next fixes.
- Apply fixes in small batches and rerun the relevant checks or review steps.
- Update the plan after each iteration.
- Repeat until outcomes are acceptable or only explicit exceptions remain.
- If a dependency is missing, bootstrap it or return
status: not_applicable with explicit reason and fallback path.
Required Result Format
status: complete | clean | improved | configured | not_applicable | blocked
plan: concise plan and current iteration step
actions_taken: concrete changes made
validation_skills: final skills run, or skipped with reasons
verification: commands, checks, or review evidence summary
remaining: top unresolved items or none
For setup-only requests with no execution, return status: configured and exact next commands.
Load References
references/commands.md
references/examples.md
references/cloc.md
Example Requests
- "Add cloc reporting to this .NET repo."
- "Compare code size between main and this branch."
- "Count C# versus test footprint in this solution."
- "Give me a machine-readable line-count report for CI."