template-discovery

What this skill does

# Template Discovery

## When to Use

Invoke this skill when:
- User wants to create a new .NET project, library, test, or solution
- User asks "what templates are available for X?"
- User needs to find the right template for a specific scenario (e.g., "MAUI app", "Blazor WASM", "worker service")
- User wants to compare template options before choosing

## Step 0: Try Intent Resolution First

For natural-language requests like *"I need a web API with auth and controllers"*, start with `template_from_intent`:

```
template_from_intent with description: "web API with auth and controllers"
→ Returns: { template: "webapi", confidence: 0.85, params: { auth: "Individual", UseControllers: "true" } }
```

This uses 70+ keyword mappings to resolve intent offline (no LLM round-trip). If confidence is high (>0.7), proceed directly to `template-instantiation`. If low or ambiguous, fall through to Step 1.

## Step 1: Search for Templates

Use `template_search` to find templates matching the user's intent. The tool searches both local installed templates and NuGet.org, returning ranked results.

```
template_search with query: "blazor"
template_search with query: "worker service"
template_search with query: "class library"
```

Results include: template name, short name, language, type, author, NuGet package (if remote), and relevance ranking.

### Search Tips
- Use descriptive terms: "web api", "console app", "test project"
- Search by technology: "maui", "blazor", "grpc", "minimal api"
- Search by project type: "classlib", "webapp", "worker"

## Step 2: List Installed Templates

Use `template_list` to see what's already available locally:

```
template_list                              # All installed
template_list with language: "C#"          # C# only
template_list with type: "project"         # Projects only
template_list with classification: "Web"   # Web templates
```

## Step 3: Inspect Template Details

Before instantiation, always inspect the template to understand its parameters:

```
template_inspect with identity: "Microsoft.DotNet.Web.ProjectTemplates.9.0.blazorserver"
```

Returns:
- **Parameters**: name, type, default value, choices (for choice params), description
- **Constraints**: OS, SDK version, workload requirements
- **Post-actions**: what happens after creation (restore, open file, run script)
- **Framework versions**: supported TFMs

### Parameter Types
| Type | Examples | Notes |
|------|----------|-------|
| `choice` | `--framework net8.0\|net9.0\|net10.0` | Must be one of the listed values |
| `bool` | `--use-program-main true\|false` | Toggle features on/off |
| `string` | `--namespace MyApp` | Free-form text |
| `integer` | `--port 5000` | Numeric values |

## Step 4: Preview with Dry Run

Use `template_dry_run` to see exactly what files would be created:

```
template_dry_run with:
  shortName: "webapi"
  name: "MyApi"
  output: "./src/MyApi"
  parameters: { "framework": "net10.0", "use-controllers": "true" }
```

Returns file list, directory structure, and any warnings — without writing anything to disk.

## Smart Behaviors

The template-engine-mcp server includes smart behaviors:
- **Auto-resolve**: If a template isn't installed, the server searches NuGet, installs the package, and proceeds
- **Parameter validation**: Invalid choice values or types are caught with "did you mean...?" suggestions
- **Constraint checking**: OS, SDK version, and workload constraints are verified before creation
- **Smart defaults**: Parameter relationships are suggested (e.g., `EnableAot=true` → suggest `net9.0+`)

## Common Template Quick-Reference

| Scenario | Short Name | Key Parameters |
|----------|-----------|----------------|
| Console app | `console` | `--framework`, `--use-program-main` |
| Class library | `classlib` | `--framework` |
| Web API | `webapi` | `--framework`, `--use-controllers`, `--auth` |
| Blazor Server | `blazorserver` | `--framework`, `--auth` |
| Worker Service | `worker` | `--framework` |
| xUnit tests | `xunit` | `--framework` |
| MSTest tests | `mstest` | `--framework` |
| NUnit tests | `nunit` | `--framework` |
| MAUI app | `maui` | `--framework` |
| gRPC service | `grpc` | `--framework` |