Official .NET SDK CLI for creating projects, building and testing code, managing packages and tools, and publishing apps.
$brew install --cask dotnet-sdk
Agent Compatibility
JSON Output
Agent Skill
MCP Support
AI Analysis
dotnet is the command surface for the .NET SDK. It covers the core lifecycle of a .NET codebase, from project creation and restore through build, test, packaging, tool management, workloads, and publish.
What It Enables
- Scaffold new apps, libraries, solutions, and config files from templates, then restore dependencies and create a working project layout from the shell.
- Build, run, test, pack, and publish .NET projects in local development loops or CI without leaving the terminal.
- Inspect and manage NuGet packages, install local or global .NET tools, and add optional SDK workloads such as MAUI-related components.
Agent Fit
- Useful as the primary inspect-change-verify loop inside .NET repos because the same CLI handles restore, build, test, publish, package, tool, and workload operations.
- Structured output is real but partial: package inspection and search support JSON, while core build, test, and publish flows still emit mostly human-oriented logs.
- Automation depends on environment context because SDK selection can follow
global.json, some commands restore implicitly, and package or workload operations may require credentials, prompts, or elevated rights.
Caveats
- Behavior varies by installed SDK version and command form, with several docs calling out differences between .NET 6 through .NET 10.
- Some higher-level commands can download manifests, open authentication flows, or modify project state as part of otherwise routine operations.