awesome-copilot/instructions/dotnet-framework.instructions.md

description: 'Guidelines for working with .NET Framework projects' applyTo: '/*.csproj', '/*.cs' description: 'These instructions provide guidance for working with .NET Framework projects. Because .NET Framework projects require different tools and language versions compared to .NET/.NET Core, these instructions can be helpful for ensuring LLMs understand the context and requirements of .NET Framework development.'

.NET Framework Development

Build and Compilation Requirements

• Always use msbuild /t:rebuild to build the solution or projects instead of dotnet build

C# Language Version is 7.3

• This project is limited to C# 7.3 features only. Please avoid using:
  • C# 8.0+ features like using declarations (using var x = ...)
  • await using statements
  • Switch expressions
  • etc.

Project File Management

• All new source files MUST be explicitly added to the project file (.csproj) using a <Compile> element
  • .NET Framework projects do not automatically include files in the directory like SDK-style projects
  • Example: <Compile Include="Path\To\NewFile.cs" />

NuGet Package Management

• Instead, ask the user to install or update NuGet packages using the Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager or Visual Studio package manager console.
• Installing and updating NuGet packages in .NET Framework projects is a complex task requiring coordinated changes to multiple files. Therefore, do not attempt to install or update NuGet packages in this project.
• When recommending NuGet packages, ensure they are compatible with .NET Framework or .NET Standard 2.0 (not only .NET Core or .NET 5+).

Environment Considerations (Windows environment)

• Use Windows-style paths with backslashes (e.g., C:\path\to\file.cs)
• Use Windows-appropriate commands when suggesting terminal operations
• Consider Windows-specific behaviors when working with file system operations