dotnet-aot-analysis Skill

Analyze and configure a .NET project or solution for Native AOT compatibility, applying source generators and AOT settings.

When to Use

User wants to enable Native AOT
User wants to check AOT compatibility
User wants to optimize for AOT deployment

Workflow

Step 1: Ask Scope

Ask user: Solution-wide or Specific project(s)?

Step 2: Detect Project Types

For each project:

Check for ASP.NET Core (Microsoft.AspNetCore refs, WebApplication, CreateBuilder)
Check for Blazor Server (Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Server)
Check for MVC (AddControllersWithViews, AddMvc)

Step 3: Warn About Unsupported Scenarios

| Scenario | Documentation | |----------|---------------| | Blazor Server | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/native-aot | | MVC | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/native-aot | | Session state | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/native-aot | | SPA middleware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/native-aot |

Ask user: Continue with compatible projects or abort?

Step 4: Invoke Sub-Skills

For each compatible project, invoke:

dotnet-source-gen-json - JSON serialization AOT readiness (includes polymorphic types)
dotnet-source-gen-options-validation - Options pattern AOT readiness
dotnet-source-gen-regex - Regex AOT readiness
dotnet-source-gen-logging - Logging AOT readiness

Step 5: Configure AOT Settings

If solution-wide:

Check for src/Directory.Build.props, otherwise use solution root. Add/merge:

<Project>
  <PropertyGroup>
    <!-- Advisory flag for tooling/analyzers; does not make code AOT-compatible -->
    <IsAotCompatible>true</IsAotCompatible>
    <EnableTrimAnalyzer>true</EnableTrimAnalyzer>
    <EnableSingleFileAnalyzer>true</EnableSingleFileAnalyzer>
    <EnableAotAnalyzer>true</EnableAotAnalyzer>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

If project-specific:

Add to each .csproj:

<PropertyGroup>
  <PublishAot>true</PublishAot>
</PropertyGroup>

Step 6: ASP.NET Core Specific

For ASP.NET Core projects:

Recommend CreateSlimBuilder() over CreateBuilder()

Enable Request Delegate Generator (RDG) for Minimal APIs:

<PropertyGroup>
  <EnableRequestDelegateGenerator>true</EnableRequestDelegateGenerator>
</PropertyGroup>

System.Text.Json: Handled by dotnet-source-gen-json skill
Warn about HTTPS/HTTP3 if needed (not included in CreateSlimBuilder)
Ask user if they want to see generated code. If so, add <EmitCompilerGeneratedFiles>true</EmitCompilerGeneratedFiles>

Step 7: Verify

Run dotnet build and check for AOT warnings.

Key Documentation Links

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Native AOT Overview | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/native-aot | | ASP.NET Core AOT | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/native-aot | | Request Delegate Generator | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/aot/request-delegate-generator/rdg | | AOT Limitations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/native-aot/?tabs=windows#limitations-of-native-aot-deployment | | Trimming Libraries | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/deploying/trimming/prepare-libraries-for-trimming |

Notes

Requires .NET 8+
ASP.NET Core: Use CreateSlimBuilder() for optimal size
Minimal APIs: Enable Request Delegate Generator (RDG) for optimal AOT performance
Eliminate runtime reflection from hot paths; use source generators where reflection would otherwise be required
System.Text.Json: Register all types in JsonSerializerContext

Agent Skills: dotnet-aot-analysis

Install this agent skill to your local

Skill Files