Guide · Agent skill
How to use the .NET Design Pattern Review agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The dotnet-design-pattern-review skill is a set of instructions that teaches an AI agent how to review C# and .NET code for design pattern use and suggest improvements. It is for C#/.NET developers and teams who want a checklist-driven review before a human reviewer looks at the code. After this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to trigger it with a plain request, and what its limits are.
.NET Design Pattern Reviewgithub/awesome-copilot · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the skill ZIP from this page. It contains SKILL.md.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into .claude/skills/ inside a project for project-only use.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 4Select your C# code. Open the C# or .NET files you want reviewed and select the relevant code.
- 5Ask for a review. Make a plain request such as asking for a design pattern review with suggestions, and say you do not want code changed.
- 6Read and apply the findings. Read the written review, check each suggestion against your codebase, and apply the changes yourself.
What the skill makes the agent do
Once installed, the agent reviews the C# or .NET code you point it at, using the current selection. It checks how well the code uses common design patterns such as Command, Factory, Dependency Injection, Repository and Provider. It also works through a checklist covering architecture, SOLID principles, async use, security and testability.
The agent then reports its findings and concrete suggestions. The skill explicitly tells the agent not to change any code, so the output is a written review only. You apply any changes yourself.
- Pattern check: Command Handler, Factory, Provider and Repository implementations, plus any beneficial patterns that appear to be missing.
- Structure check: namespace conventions, separation between Core and Console projects, and readability.
- Quality check: async/await, disposal, structured logging, configuration, error handling and XML documentation.
- Testability and security check: dependencies behind interfaces, input validation, parameterized queries and safe exception handling. This is a general checklist, not a vulnerability scan.
Install the skill from the ZIP download
Download the ZIP file from this page. The skill is a single file named SKILL.md. Unzip the download so that the skill folder sits in one of the two locations below.
For a personal setup available across your projects, unzip into ~/.claude/skills/. For a setup that applies only to one project, unzip into the .claude/skills/ folder inside that project.
If you use the Claude apps instead, you can upload the skill there under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
How to trigger the skill with a natural request
You do not need a special command. Select the C# or .NET code you want reviewed, then ask the agent in plain language for a design pattern review. The skill reviews the code in your current selection and the solution or project it belongs to.
Good requests name the goal of the review. For example, ask for a pattern review before a pull request, or ask whether a command handler follows the expected conventions.
- Review the selected code for design pattern use and suggest improvements.
- Check whether these command handlers follow the Command Handler and Dependency Injection conventions.
- Give me a review checklist pass on this service before my team looks at it.
- Review this repository and provider classes for async use and testability. Do not change anything.
What the review covers
The skill names the conventions it expects, so you can see in advance what the agent will compare your code against. These include generic command handler base classes, primary constructors, ArgumentNullException null checks, interface abstractions, async data access interfaces, and ResourceManager with separate .resx files for log and error messages.
The review is organised around a checklist. If your code departs from these conventions, the review will point that out. If your project uses different conventions, expect findings that you may choose to ignore.
- Command Pattern: CommandHandler<TOptions>, ICommandHandler<TOptions>, CommandHandlerOptions inheritance, static SetupCommand(IHost host) methods.
- Dependency Injection: primary constructors, null checks, interface abstractions and proper service lifetimes.
- Architecture: namespaces following {Core|Console|App|Service}.{Feature}.
- AI/ML integration: Semantic Kernel patterns, structured output handling and model configuration.
Read the output and act on it
Treat the output as a structured second opinion. Check each suggestion against your own knowledge of the codebase before you change anything. Some findings will be useful, and some may not fit your project's needs.
Because the skill forbids edits, make changes in a separate step, either by hand or with a tool of your choice, and then run your own tests.
- Confirm that each finding refers to code that really exists in your selection.
- Prioritise findings about async use, disposal and security.
- Apply changes in small commits so each one can be reviewed and tested.
What people use it for
- Getting a checklist-driven pass on a service or project before a teammate reviews a pull request.
- Checking whether command handlers follow the Command Handler and Dependency Injection conventions.
- Spotting async/await misuse, missing ConfigureAwait(false) or undisposed resources in a provider or factory.
- Looking for missing interface abstractions that would make a class harder to test.
- Reviewing Semantic Kernel or AI integration code for structured output handling and model configuration.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the dotnet-design-pattern-review skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into .claude/skills/ inside a project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Is the dotnet-design-pattern-review skill free?
The skill is published under the MIT licence in the github/awesome-copilot repository. The source does not state any price, so check the repository for the licence terms.
What do I need to run this skill?
The skill lists no requirements, runs no scripts and uses no network access. It is a single SKILL.md instruction file that the agent reads.
Does the skill change my code?
No. The skill explicitly tells the agent not to make any changes, so it only produces a written review. You must apply any suggestions yourself.
Can I use it on a Python or JavaScript project?
It is not suited to that. The checklist is specific to C#/.NET, so a review of other languages would be unreliable. Use a review skill or tool written for that language.
Can this replace a security audit?
No. The security section is a general checklist covering input validation, credential handling, parameterized queries and exception handling. It is not a thorough vulnerability scan, so use specialist tooling for that.
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Our verdict
This skill suits C#/.NET developers and teams who want a structured, checklist-based review of their design patterns, SOLID use and async code before a human reviews it. It is a poor fit for non-.NET projects, for anyone who wants automatic fixes, or as a replacement for a proper security audit tool.
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