dotnet-inspect

name	dotnet-inspect
version	0.23.0
description	Find evidence instead of guessing for .NET packages, platform libraries, local assemblies, APIs, dependencies, and version-to-version API changes.

dotnet-inspect

Use dotnet-inspect for evidence about .NET packages, platform libraries, assemblies, APIs, dependencies, or API version diffs.

Run dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>. -y skips interactive confirmation, and -- sends remaining options to dotnet-inspect rather than dnx.

Common starts

Goal	Command
Find an API	find Pattern includes platform/BCL types; add --project path/to/project when project references should be in scope.
Inspect a type	type Type --package Foo; add --all for non-public/hidden members.
Inspect overloads	member Type --platform Lib -m Name -S "Member Index"
Select an overload	member Type --platform Lib Name:1 or Name~digest
Discover legal query values or demos	vocabulary -D; select values with vocabulary -S Accessibility, -S "C# Style Choices" --json, or -S "C# Body Kinds"; use demo list for product-home scenarios.
Find rendered body syntax	library path/to.dll --where "Kind=ObjectCreationExpression", type Type --library path/to.dll --where "Kind=InvocationExpression", or member Type Method:1 --library path/to.dll --where "Kind=InvocationExpression"; load skill decompiler for stable kinds and coordinates.
Compare APIs or implementations	diff --package Foo@old..new --breaking (--additive new APIs; --alloc-regressions for allocation regressions); match Type.MethodA Type.MethodB --package Foo --implementation compares two unambiguously named methods with C#/IL.
Trace API evolution	timeline --package Foo@old..new --type Type --members --at all; omit --at to inspect the vector without acquiring packages.
Inspect packages	package Foo; use -D to discover sections and -S "Signals,Audit: Findings" to audit text-bearing files and SourceLink mappings. Load skill private-feeds for custom/authenticated sources.
Inspect libraries	library Foo or library path/to.dll; use -D to discover sections and -S "Unsafe Members" for standalone unsafe evidence. Load skill metadata for raw ECMA-335 tables/heaps.
Relationships	depends Type, extensions Type, implements Interface.

Member lookup

Run find Name when scope is unknown, inspect the type, then -S "Member Index" to list overloads. Select with Name:N (1-based) or Name~digest (stable). A selected overload defaults to Signature. A fully-qualified Namespace.Type.Member needs no scope.

Tips

• package and library produce terse, token-efficient, high-value domain content by default. Output supports Markdown, tables, TSV, JSONL, and JSON; load dotnet-inspect skill query for discovery, selection, projection, and limits.
• Add --project <csproj|dir|project.assets.json> when project-referenced packages should be in scope; it reads existing restored assets, so restore/build first if dependencies changed.
• Common BCL types resolve without scope: type string, type 'List<T>'. Quote generics and patterns: member 'Dictionary<TKey,TValue>', -S "Async*".
• Unpinned packages use latest stable; add --preview for prerelease APIs.

Interpret fixed text

• [Text omitted: required containment]: a complete value or document was not shared because it carried a text concern; this does not imply malicious intent.
• REDACTED: a URL query or credential-bearing path segment was removed.
• <unparsable-url>: no original locator was shown because an authority-like value could not be parsed into URL components.
• <absent> or (absent): a requested package document was not present; this is not containment or redaction.
• \u202E, \U0001F600, \^[, and similar backslash forms preserve source text as reversible visual spellings. They are not replacements; do not decode them into live control or format characters before display or persistence.