dotnet-scaffold

name	dotnet-scaffold
description	Scaffold new .NET projects using the dotnet CLI. Use when the user wants to create a new .NET solution, add projects (console, web API, class library, test project, etc.), or set up a standard .NET repository structure. Triggers on requests like "create a new .NET project", "scaffold a C# solution", "set up a dotnet console app with tests".

.NET Project Scaffolding

Scaffold .NET projects using dotnet new templates with a consistent structure.

Standard Structure

Repo
├── .editorconfig
├── .gitignore
├── MyProject.slnx
└── src/
    ├── Directory.Build.props
    ├── Directory.Packages.props
    ├── MyProject/
    │   └── MyProject.csproj
    └── MyProject.Tests/
        └── MyProject.Tests.csproj

Workflow

1. Initialize Repository Root

dotnet new editorconfig
dotnet new gitignore
dotnet new sln -n "SolutionName" -f slnx
mkdir src

2. Create Directory.Build.props

Create src/Directory.Build.props with shared build settings:

<Project>
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

All projects under src/ inherit these properties. Remove <TargetFramework>, <Nullable>, and <ImplicitUsings> from individual .csproj files after scaffolding.

3. Add Projects

Use --dry-run first to verify, then run without it.

# Console app
dotnet new console -n "MyApp" -f net10.0 -o src/MyApp --dry-run
dotnet new console -n "MyApp" -f net10.0 -o src/MyApp

# Class library
dotnet new classlib -n "MyLib" -f net10.0 -o src/MyLib

# Test project (mstest, xunit, nunit)
dotnet new mstest -n "MyApp.Tests" -f net10.0 -o src/MyApp.Tests

Common templates: console, classlib, webapi, web, blazor, worker, mstest, xunit, nunit.

Run dotnet new list for all available templates.

4. Add Projects to Solution

dotnet sln SolutionName.slnx add src/MyApp/MyApp.csproj --in-root
dotnet sln SolutionName.slnx add src/MyApp.Tests/MyApp.Tests.csproj --in-root

5. Add Project References

Test projects typically reference the project under test:

dotnet add src/MyApp.Tests/MyApp.Tests.csproj reference src/MyApp/MyApp.csproj

6. Central Package Management (if >1 project)

Create src/Directory.Packages.props:

<Project>
  <PropertyGroup>
    <ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>true</ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <!-- Add shared package versions here -->
    <!-- <PackageVersion Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" /> -->
  </ItemGroup>
</Project>

In each .csproj, use <PackageReference Include="PackageName" /> without Version.

Notes

• Target framework: Set in src/Directory.Build.props (use net10.0 or latest preview)
• Solution format: Always -f slnx (XML-based format)
• Project location: Always under src/ via -o src/ProjectName
• Solution references: Always --in-root to avoid solution folders
• After scaffolding: Remove TargetFramework, Nullable, ImplicitUsings from individual .csproj files (inherited from Directory.Build.props)