dotnet-inspect

Query .NET library APIs — the same commands work across NuGet packages, platform libraries (System., Microsoft.AspNetCore.), and local .dll/.nupkg files.

When to Use This Skill

•"What types are in this package?" — find searches by glob pattern
•"What's the API surface?" — api lists types, members, signatures, type shape
•"What changed between versions?" — diff classifies breaking/additive changes
•"What extends this type?" — extensions finds extension methods/properties
•"What implements this interface?" — implements finds concrete types
•"What version/metadata does this have?" — package and library inspect metadata

Search Scope

Search commands (find, extensions, implements) work across all of .NET:

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*"                    # default scope (platform + curated)
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*" --platform         # platform frameworks only
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*" --extensions       # Microsoft.Extensions.* packages
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*" --aspnetcore       # Microsoft.AspNetCore.* packages
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*" --platform --extensions  # combine scopes
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*" --package Foo      # specific NuGet package
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Chat*" --platform --package Foo  # platform + a specific package

Scope flags are combinable — use multiple flags to widen the search. --package works on all commands. api, library, diff also accept --platform <name> for a specific platform library.

Examples by Task

List API surface

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- api System.Text.Json                              # all types in library
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- api System.Text.Json JsonSerializer               # members of a type
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- api 'HashSet<T>' --platform System.Collections --shape  # type shape diagram
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- api JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json -m Serialize  # filter to member

Search for types

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "*Handler*" --package System.CommandLine
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "Option*,Argument*,Command*" --package System.CommandLine --terse
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- find "*Logger*"

Compare versions (migrations)

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- diff --package System.CommandLine@2.0.0-beta4.22272.1..2.0.2
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- diff --package System.Text.Json@9.0.0..10.0.0 --breaking
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- diff JsonSerializer --package System.Text.Json@9.0.0..10.0.0

Find extensions and implementors

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- extensions HttpClient                   # what extends HttpClient?
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- extensions IServiceCollection           # across default scope
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- implements Stream                       # what extends Stream?
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- implements IDisposable --platform       # across all platform frameworks

Inspect packages and libraries

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- package System.Text.Json                # metadata, latest version
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- package System.Text.Json --versions     # available versions
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- library System.Text.Json                # library metadata, symbols
dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- library ./bin/MyLib.dll                 # local file

Command Reference

Command	Purpose
`api`	Public API surface — types, members, signatures, `--shape` for hierarchy
`find`	Search for types by glob pattern across any scope
`diff`	Compare API surfaces between versions — breaking/additive classification
`extensions`	Find extension methods/properties for a type
`implements`	Find types implementing an interface or extending a base class
`package`	Package metadata, files, versions, dependencies
`library`	Library metadata, symbols, references, dependencies

Key Syntax

•Generic types need quotes: 'Option<T>', 'IEnumerable<T>'
•Positional args for api: api <source> <type> <member> (not flags)
•Diff ranges use ..: --package System.Text.Json@9.0.0..10.0.0
•Signatures include params and default values from metadata

Installation

Use dnx (like npx). Always use -y and -- to prevent interactive prompts:

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- <command>

Full Documentation

For comprehensive syntax, edge cases, and the flag compatibility matrix:

bash

dnx dotnet-inspect -y -- llmstxt