dotnet-github-docs
SKILL.md
dotnet-github-docs
GitHub-native documentation patterns for .NET projects: README structure with NuGet/CI/coverage badges and installation instructions, CONTRIBUTING.md with fork-PR workflow and development setup, issue templates (bug report with .NET version and repro steps, feature request with problem/solution/alternatives), PR templates with testing checklist and breaking changes section, GitHub Pages setup for documentation sites, repository metadata (CODEOWNERS, FUNDING.yml, social preview, topics/tags), and Mermaid diagram embedding in README files.
Version assumptions: .NET 8.0+ baseline for code examples. GitHub Actions for CI badges. NuGet.org for package badges.
Scope
- README structure with NuGet/CI/coverage badges
- CONTRIBUTING.md with fork-PR workflow
- Issue templates (bug report, feature request)
- PR templates with testing checklist
- Repository metadata (CODEOWNERS, FUNDING.yml, topics/tags)
- Mermaid diagram embedding in README files
Out of scope
- CI/CD deployment workflows for GitHub Pages -- see [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy]
- Changelog generation and release versioning -- see [skill:dotnet-release-management]
- Documentation platform selection -- see [skill:dotnet-documentation-strategy]
- Mermaid diagram syntax details -- see [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams]
- Project file structure and solution organization -- see [skill:dotnet-project-structure]
Cross-references: [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy] for GitHub Pages deployment pipelines, [skill:dotnet-release-management] for changelog format and versioning, [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams] for .NET-specific Mermaid diagrams in READMEs, [skill:dotnet-project-structure] for project metadata context, [skill:dotnet-documentation-strategy] for doc platform selection.
README Structure for .NET Projects
A well-structured README provides immediate context for contributors and consumers of a .NET project.
Badges
Place badges at the top of the README, grouped by category:
# My.Library
[](https://www.nuget.org/packages/My.Library)
[](https://www.nuget.org/packages/My.Library)
[](https://github.com/mycompany/my-library/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](https://codecov.io/gh/mycompany/my-library)
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
`````yaml
**Badge categories for .NET projects:**
| Badge | Source | Notes |
| --------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| NuGet version | shields.io + nuget.org | Use package ID, not assembly name |
| NuGet downloads | shields.io + nuget.org | Shows adoption; use `dt` for total downloads |
| Build status | GitHub Actions | Link to the CI workflow |
| Code coverage | Codecov / Coveralls | Requires CI integration |
| License | shields.io | Match the license in the repo |
| .NET version | shields.io | Optional; shows minimum supported TFM |
### Recommended README Sections
````markdown
# My.Library
[badges here]
Short one-paragraph description of what the library does and why it exists.
## Installation
```shell
dotnet add package My.Library
```bash
Or via PackageReference in your `.csproj`:
```xml
<PackageReference Include="My.Library" Version="1.0.0" />
```csharp
## Quick Start
```csharp
using My.Library;
var service = new WidgetService();
var widget = await service.CreateWidgetAsync("example");
Console.WriteLine(widget.Id);
```text
## Features
- Feature 1: brief description
- Feature 2: brief description
- Feature 3: brief description
## Documentation
Full documentation is available at [https://mycompany.github.io/my-library](https://mycompany.github.io/my-library).
## Architecture
[Mermaid architecture diagram -- see [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams] for patterns]
## Contributing
Please read [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for details on our code of conduct and the process for submitting pull
requests.
## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.
## Changelog
See [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) for a history of changes. For changelog format conventions, see
[skill:dotnet-release-management].
### Architecture Diagram in README
Embed a Mermaid architecture diagram directly in the README for visual context. GitHub renders Mermaid fenced code
blocks natively:
````markdown
## Architecture
````mermaid
graph TB
subgraph Client
App["Consumer App"]
end
subgraph Library["My.Library"]
API["Public API Surface"]
Core["Core Engine"]
Cache["In-Memory Cache"]
end
App --> API
API --> Core
Core --> Cache
```text
````
````
See [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams] for .NET-specific diagram patterns including C4-style architecture, sequence
diagrams for API flows, and class diagrams for domain models.
---
## CONTRIBUTING.md Patterns
### Fork-PR Workflow
````markdown
# Contributing to My.Library
Thank you for your interest in contributing! This document provides guidelines and instructions for contributing.
## Getting Started
1. Fork the repository
2. Clone your fork: `git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/my-library.git`
3. Create a feature branch: `git checkout -b feature/my-feature`
4. Make your changes
5. Submit a pull request
## Development Setup
### Prerequisites
- [.NET 8.0 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/8.0) or later
- An IDE: [Visual Studio 2022](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/), [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) with C#
Dev Kit, or [JetBrains Rider](https://www.jetbrains.com/rider/)
### Building
````shell
dotnet restore
dotnet build
```bash
````
````
### Running Tests
````shell
dotnet test
```bash
To run tests with coverage:
```shell
dotnet test --collect:"XPlat Code Coverage"
```bash
### Coding Standards
- Follow the
[.NET coding conventions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/fundamentals/coding-style/coding-conventions)
- Use `dotnet format` to enforce code style before committing
- All public APIs must have XML documentation comments
- New features must include unit tests
## Pull Request Process
1. Update documentation for any changed public APIs
2. Add or update tests to cover your changes
3. Ensure all tests pass: `dotnet test`
4. Ensure code compiles without warnings: `dotnet build -warnaserror`
5. Update the CHANGELOG.md with your changes under the `[Unreleased]` section
6. The PR will be reviewed by a maintainer
## Reporting Issues
- Use the [Bug Report](.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md) template for bugs
- Use the [Feature Request](.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.md) template for enhancements
````
---
## Issue Templates
### Bug Report Template
```yaml
# .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
name: Bug Report
description: Report a bug in the library
title: '[Bug]: '
labels: ['bug', 'triage']
body:
- type: markdown
attributes:
value: |
Thank you for reporting a bug. Please fill out the information below
to help us diagnose and fix the issue.
- type: textarea
id: description
attributes:
label: Description
description: A clear and concise description of the bug.
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: repro-steps
attributes:
label: Steps to Reproduce
description: Steps to reproduce the behavior.
value: |
1. Install package version X
2. Call method Y with parameters Z
3. Observe error
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: expected
attributes:
label: Expected Behavior
description: What you expected to happen.
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: actual
attributes:
label: Actual Behavior
description: What actually happened. Include any error messages or stack traces.
validations:
required: true
- type: input
id: dotnet-version
attributes:
label: .NET Version
description: 'Output of `dotnet --version`'
placeholder: '8.0.100'
validations:
required: true
- type: dropdown
id: os
attributes:
label: Operating System
options:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: additional
attributes:
label: Additional Context
description: Any other context about the problem (project type, related packages, etc.)
```
### Feature Request Template
````yaml
# .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.yml
name: Feature Request
description: Suggest a new feature or enhancement
title: '[Feature]: '
labels: ['enhancement']
body:
- type: textarea
id: problem
attributes:
label: Problem Statement
description: Describe the problem this feature would solve.
placeholder: "I'm always frustrated when..."
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: solution
attributes:
label: Proposed Solution
description: Describe the solution you'd like to see.
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: alternatives
attributes:
label: Alternatives Considered
description: Describe any alternative solutions or features you've considered.
- type: textarea
id: api-surface
attributes:
label: API Surface (if applicable)
description: |
If you have a proposed API design, include it here.
render: csharp
```csharp
### Question / Discussion Template
```yaml
# .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/question.yml
name: Question
description: Ask a question about using the library
title: '[Question]: '
labels: ['question']
body:
- type: textarea
id: question
attributes:
label: Question
description: What would you like to know?
validations:
required: true
- type: textarea
id: context
attributes:
label: Context
description: |
Provide context about what you're trying to accomplish.
Include code snippets if relevant.
render: csharp
```csharp
### Issue Template Config
```yaml
# .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml
blank_issues_enabled: false
contact_links:
- name: Discussions
url: https://github.com/mycompany/my-library/discussions
about: Use discussions for general questions and community support
- name: Stack Overflow
url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/my-library
about: Search for existing answers on Stack Overflow
```text
---
## PR Templates
### Pull Request Template
```markdown
<!-- .github/pull_request_template.md -->
## Description
<!-- Briefly describe the changes in this PR -->
## Type of Change
- [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change that fixes an issue)
- [ ] New feature (non-breaking change that adds functionality)
- [ ] Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to change)
- [ ] Documentation update
- [ ] Refactoring (no functional changes)
- [ ] Performance improvement
## Testing Checklist
- [ ] Unit tests added/updated
- [ ] Integration tests added/updated (if applicable)
- [ ] All existing tests pass (`dotnet test`)
- [ ] Code compiles without warnings (`dotnet build -warnaserror`)
## Breaking Changes
<!-- If this PR introduces breaking changes, describe them here and explain the migration path -->
N/A
## Related Issues
<!-- Link related issues using GitHub keywords: Fixes #123, Closes #456 -->
## Additional Notes
<!-- Any additional information that reviewers should know -->
```text
---
## GitHub Pages Setup
GitHub Pages can host documentation sites generated by Starlight, Docusaurus, or DocFX. This section covers the
repository configuration; CI deployment pipeline configuration belongs to [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy].
### Repository Settings
1. Navigate to **Settings > Pages**
2. Under **Source**, select **GitHub Actions** (not the legacy branch-based deployment)
3. The deployment workflow in `.github/workflows/` handles the build and publish steps
### Doc Site Directory Structure
Place documentation source files in a `docs/` directory at the repository root:
```text
my-library/
src/
MyLibrary/
MyLibrary.csproj
docs/
astro.config.mjs # For Starlight
# OR docusaurus.config.js # For Docusaurus
# OR docfx.json # For DocFX
.github/
workflows/
deploy-docs.yml # Deployment workflow -- see [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy]
README.md
CONTRIBUTING.md
```yaml
### Custom Domain
Configure a custom domain for GitHub Pages:
1. Add a `CNAME` file in the doc site's static directory (e.g., `docs/public/CNAME` for Starlight, `docs/static/CNAME`
for Docusaurus)
2. Set the domain in **Settings > Pages > Custom domain**
3. Enable **Enforce HTTPS**
Content in the `CNAME` file:
```text
docs.mylibrary.dev
```text
For documentation platform selection and configuration, see [skill:dotnet-documentation-strategy]. For deployment
workflow YAML, see [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy].
---
## Repository Metadata
### CODEOWNERS
Define code ownership for automated review assignment:
```text
# .github/CODEOWNERS
# Default owner for everything
* @mycompany/core-team
# Documentation
/docs/ @mycompany/docs-team
*.md @mycompany/docs-team
# Source code by area
/src/MyLibrary.Core/ @mycompany/core-team
/src/MyLibrary.Data/ @mycompany/data-team
# Build and CI
/.github/ @mycompany/devops-team
/build/ @mycompany/devops-team
*.props @mycompany/core-team
*.targets @mycompany/core-team
# NuGet configuration
nuget.config @mycompany/core-team
Directory.Packages.props @mycompany/core-team
```xml
### FUNDING.yml
Configure GitHub Sponsors and other funding links:
```yaml
# .github/FUNDING.yml
github: [maintainer-username]
open_collective: my-library
custom: ['https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maintainer']
```yaml
### Social Preview
- Navigate to **Settings > General > Social preview**
- Upload a 1280x640 image (2:1 aspect ratio)
- Include: project name, logo, brief tagline, and .NET version badge
- Use a consistent brand color scheme
### Topics and Tags
Add repository topics for discoverability:
- `dotnet`, `csharp`, `nuget` -- ecosystem tags
- `library`, `sdk`, `framework` -- project type
- `aspnetcore`, `efcore`, `blazor` -- technology-specific tags
- Descriptive tags: `serialization`, `logging`, `dependency-injection`, etc.
Set topics in **Settings > General > Topics** or via the repository description area on the main page.
### Repository Description
Keep the repository description concise (under 350 characters). Include:
- What the project does
- Key differentiator or primary use case
- Target .NET version if relevant
Example: "High-performance JSON serialization library for .NET 8+ with source generator support and AOT compatibility."
---
## Agent Gotchas
1. **Always use YAML-based issue templates (`.yml`), not Markdown templates (`.md`)** -- YAML templates provide
structured form fields with validation, dropdowns, and required fields. Markdown templates are the legacy format and
offer no input validation.
1. **The `.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/` directory must contain a `config.yml`** -- without it, the "blank issue" option
appears by default. Set `blank_issues_enabled: false` to force users through templates.
1. **Badge URLs must use the correct NuGet package ID** -- the package ID is case-sensitive on shields.io. Use the exact
ID from NuGet.org (e.g., `Newtonsoft.Json`, not `newtonsoft.json`).
1. **CODEOWNERS patterns follow `.gitignore` syntax** -- use `/src/` for root-relative paths. Without the leading `/`,
the pattern matches anywhere in the tree.
1. **GitHub Pages source must be set to "GitHub Actions"** -- the legacy "Deploy from a branch" mode does not support
custom build steps. The GitHub Actions source delegates build and deployment to a workflow. For the workflow YAML,
see [skill:dotnet-gha-deploy].
1. **Do not generate CI/CD deployment YAML in this skill** -- deployment workflows for GitHub Pages belong to
[skill:dotnet-gha-deploy]. This skill covers repository structure and template content only.
1. **Do not generate changelog content** -- changelog format, versioning strategy, and release notes belong to
[skill:dotnet-release-management]. Reference CHANGELOG.md in the README but do not define its format here.
1. **PR template file must be named exactly `pull_request_template.md`** -- GitHub only recognizes this exact filename
(case-insensitive). It can live in the root, `docs/`, or `.github/` directory. The `.github/` location is recommended
for consistency with issue templates.
1. **Include `.NET Version` in bug report templates** -- .NET version is critical for reproducing bugs. Use
`dotnet --version` output as the expected format. Include OS as a dropdown since behavior often varies across
platforms.
1. **Mermaid diagrams in README render natively on GitHub** -- no special configuration is needed. Use standard fenced
code blocks with the `mermaid` language identifier. See [skill:dotnet-mermaid-diagrams] for .NET-specific diagram
patterns to embed in architecture sections.
````
`````
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