dotnet-init

Q: How do I install dotnet-init?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit --skill dotnet-init in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/dotnet-init/ (personal) or .claude/skills/dotnet-init/ (project).

by codewithmukeshBackend & APIs

Interactive project initialization. Detects project type, asks architecture questions, and generates a customized CLAUDE.md — no manual template copying. Use when: "init project", "setup project", "initialize", "new project setup", "generate CLAUDE.md", "configure for dotnet-claude-kit", or starting Claude Code on a fresh or existing .NET codebase.

Installs: 2.8K
Last 24h: +55
Trending rank: #3146
Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit --skill dotnet-init

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads dotnet-init automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

/dotnet-init

What

Interactively initializes a .NET project for use with dotnet-claude-kit. Detects the project type, asks targeted questions about architecture and tech stack, then generates a fully customized CLAUDE.md in the project root.

No manual template copying required.

When

Starting a new .NET project with Claude Code
Adding dotnet-claude-kit to an existing project
"init project", "setup project", "generate CLAUDE.md", "configure for dotnet-claude-kit"

How

Step 1: Detect or Ask Project Type

Analyze the current directory to determine if this is an existing or greenfield project:

→ Look for .slnx / .sln files
→ If found, scan .csproj files for SDK type:
  - Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web → web-api or blazor-app
  - Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Worker → worker-service
  - Microsoft.NET.Sdk → class-library
  - Multiple projects with inter-module references → modular-monolith
  - If ambiguous, ask the user

→ If NO solution/project found (greenfield):
  - Ask: "What are you building?"
    - REST API / microservice → web-api
    - Blazor application → blazor-app
    - Background worker / queue processor → worker-service
    - NuGet package / shared library → class-library
    - Multi-module system → modular-monolith
  - Ask: "Project name?"
  - Scaffold the solution structure:
    - dotnet new sln -n ProjectName --format slnx   (modern XML solution format)
    - dotnet new webapi / worker / classlib as appropriate
    - Set up Directory.Build.props with .NET 10 defaults
    - Create src/ and tests/ folder structure

Step 2: Architecture Questionnaire

Load the architecture-advisor skill and ask targeted questions:

Domain complexity — CRUD-heavy, moderate business rules, or rich domain?
Team size — Solo, small team, or large team?
Module boundaries — Single deployable or multiple bounded contexts?
Existing patterns — (existing projects only) Detect conventions via convention-learner skill

→ Recommend: VSA, Clean Architecture, DDD, or Modular Monolith with rationale.

Step 3: Tech Stack Selection

Ask about specific technology choices:

Database: PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, or none yet
Auth: JWT, OIDC, Cookie, or none yet
Caching: HybridCache, Redis, or none yet
Messaging: Wolverine, MassTransit, or none yet
Testing: Confirm xUnit + Testcontainers defaults

Step 4: Generate CLAUDE.md

Load the appropriate template from templates/ as a base, then customize:

Replace [ProjectName] with the actual project/solution name
Set the chosen architecture
Configure the tech stack section
For existing projects: add project-specific conventions detected in Step 2
For greenfield: add recommended conventions based on architecture choice

Before writing, check for an existing CLAUDE.md. Never overwrite it silently.

→ If ./CLAUDE.md does NOT exist:
  - Write the generated content to ./CLAUDE.md

→ If ./CLAUDE.md ALREADY exists:
  - Read it and identify hand-written / custom sections
    (anything not produced by a kit template)
  - Ask: "You already have a CLAUDE.md. How should I proceed?"
    - Merge (recommended) → keep the user's custom sections, add or refresh the
      kit's architecture, tech-stack, and convention sections in place
    - Overwrite → replace it entirely with the freshly generated file
    - Keep → leave the file untouched and print the generated content so the
      user can copy what they want by hand
  - For Merge and Overwrite: back the original up to ./CLAUDE.md.bak first.
    Never discard user content without a .bak backup.

Step 5: Verify Setup

→ Confirm .mcp.json exists or create it (for Roslyn MCP server)
→ For existing projects:
  - Verify the solution file is discoverable
  - Run a quick health check to establish baseline
  - Report: "Project initialized. Run /health-check to see your baseline."
→ For greenfield projects:
  - Verify dotnet build succeeds on the scaffolded solution
  - Report: "Project created. Run /scaffold to add your first feature."

Skills invoked: project-setup, architecture-advisor, convention-learner Agent: dotnet-architect

Example — Existing Project

User: /dotnet-init

Claude: Detected:
  - Solution: MyApp.slnx (3 projects)
  - SDK: Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web → Web API
  - Database: PostgreSQL (from connection string)
  - Auth: JWT (from appsettings)

  1. Domain complexity? [CRUD-heavy / Moderate / Rich domain]
  > Moderate

  2. Team size? [Solo / Small / Large]
  > Small

  Recommendation: Vertical Slice Architecture
  Generated: ./CLAUDE.md (MyApp + VSA + PostgreSQL + JWT)
  Run /health-check to see your baseline.

Example — Greenfield Project

User: /dotnet-init

Claude: No .sln or .csproj found. Let's set up a new project.

  1. What are you building? [REST API / Blazor / Worker / Library / Modular Monolith]
  > REST API

  2. Project name?
  > OrderService

  3. Domain complexity? [CRUD-heavy / Moderate / Rich domain]
  > CRUD-heavy

  Recommendation: Vertical Slice Architecture

  Creating solution...
  → dotnet new sln -n OrderService --format slnx
  → dotnet new webapi -n OrderService.Api -o src/OrderService.Api
  → dotnet new xunit3 -n OrderService.Tests -o tests/OrderService.Tests
  → Directory.Build.props with .NET 10 defaults
  → Generated: ./CLAUDE.md (OrderService + VSA + scaffold-ready)

  Run /scaffold to add your first feature.

Example — Existing Project With a CLAUDE.md

User: /dotnet-init

Claude: Detected:
  - Solution: MyApp.slnx (3 projects) → Web API
  - Found an existing CLAUDE.md (custom "Deployment" and "Team conventions" sections)

  You already have a CLAUDE.md. How should I proceed?
  [Merge (recommended) / Overwrite / Keep]
  > Merge

  → Backed up original to ./CLAUDE.md.bak
  → Kept your Deployment + Team conventions sections
  → Refreshed architecture (VSA), tech-stack (PostgreSQL + JWT), and convention sections
  Generated: ./CLAUDE.md
  Run /health-check to see your baseline.

/plan — Plan before building features
/health-check — Assess project health after init
/scaffold — Scaffold features using the chosen architecture

FAQ

What does the dotnet-init skill do?

How do I install dotnet-init?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit --skill dotnet-init in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/dotnet-init/ (personal) or .claude/skills/dotnet-init/ (project).

Which AI agents can use dotnet-init?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is dotnet-init safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains dotnet-init?

It is published by codewithmukesh in codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit. It has 2,831 recorded installs.