dotnet-inspect

name	dotnet-inspect
version	0.8.1
description	Query .NET APIs across NuGet packages, platform libraries, and local files. Use for factual answers about package contents, API signatures, compatibility changes, relationships, SourceLink, and assembly metadata.

dotnet-inspect

Use dotnet-inspect when you need evidence about .NET libraries instead of guessing: API signatures, package contents, extension methods, implementors, SourceLink URLs, dependencies, or version-to-version API changes.

Invoke through dnx unless installed:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>

For the full version-specific workflow guide, run:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- skill

Default output is Markdown. Use --oneline to scan, --json for structured data, --count to count one selected table section, and -n N to limit output without losing headers.

Fast starts

Goal	Command
Find where a type lives	find Pattern --oneline
Inspect APIs	type Type --package Foo, then member Type --package Foo
Compare versions	diff --package Foo@old..new --breaking
Audit package/library	package Foo, library Foo, or library ./path/to.dll
Resolve SourceLink URLs	source Type --package Foo --oneline
Explore relationships	depends Type, extensions Type, implements Interface

Common workflow

Start broad, then carry resolved context forward:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find JsonSerializer --oneline
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- source JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json --oneline

Bare names use the router: platform-looking names are tried as installed platform libraries first, then fall back to NuGet packages if platform resolution fails. Use explicit --platform <LibraryName>, --package Foo[@version], or --library when the source matters. For upgrades, start with diff, then inspect affected members:

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- diff --package System.Text.Json@9.0.0..10.0.0 --breaking
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json@10.0.0

Output control

Discover sections with -D or bare -S, then select with -S Section. Project table columns with --columns, fields with --fields, and count rows with --count when exactly one section is selected.

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -D
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- member JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -S Methods --columns "Name;Signature;Obsolete"
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- library System.Text.Json -S "Async*" --count

Guardrails

• Quote generic type names and use <T>, not <>: 'Option<T>', 'INumber<TSelf>'.
• type uses -t for type filters; member uses -m for member filters.
• Dotted member syntax works: -m JsonSerializer.Deserialize.
• Diff ranges use ..: --package Foo@1.0.0..2.0.0.
• Use --all for non-public, hidden, and extra members; obsolete members are already shown by default.