Dotnet Debugging
novotnyllc/dotnet-artisan
Debugs Windows and Linux/macOS applications (native, .NET/CLR, mixed-mode) with WinDbg MCP (crash dumps, !analyze, !syncblk, !dlk, !runaway, !dumpheap, !gcroot, BSOD), dotnet-dump, lldb with SOS…
Explains how MSBuildLocator loads MSBuild assemblies and finds Visual Studio installs on the .NET Framework net46 target, for anyone editing or reviewing that code.
Install MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader
$ npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install microsoft/MSBuildLocator msbuild-loader-netframework --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework .claude/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "msbuild-loader-netframework" agent skill from https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework into .claude/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "msbuild-loader-netframework", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframeworkType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install microsoft/MSBuildLocator msbuild-loader-netframework --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework .agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "msbuild-loader-netframework" agent skill from https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework into .agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "msbuild-loader-netframework", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install microsoft/MSBuildLocator msbuild-loader-netframework --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework .cursor/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "msbuild-loader-netframework" agent skill from https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework into .cursor/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "msbuild-loader-netframework", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git --path .agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install microsoft/MSBuildLocator msbuild-loader-netframework --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework .gemini/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "msbuild-loader-netframework" agent skill from https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework into .gemini/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "msbuild-loader-netframework", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install microsoft/MSBuildLocator msbuild-loader-netframeworkInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework .github/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "msbuild-loader-netframework" agent skill from https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework into .github/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "msbuild-loader-netframework", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install microsoft/MSBuildLocator msbuild-loader-netframework --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework .opencode/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "msbuild-loader-netframework" agent skill from https://github.com/microsoft/MSBuildLocator/tree/main/.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework into .opencode/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "msbuild-loader-netframework", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
msbuild-loader-netframework- GitHub stars
- 263
- Token cost
- ~745 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 256 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 3
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- Custom licence
At a glance
Explains how MSBuildLocator loads MSBuild assemblies and finds Visual Studio installs on the .NET Framework net46 target, for anyone editing or reviewing that code.
- Editing the net46 registration or loader code in MSBuildLocator
- SKILL.md covers Assembly-resolution handler, Discovery sources (net46 only), What net46 does NOT do and Register-before-load contract
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
- Reviewing a change to Visual Studio discovery on .NET Framework
What it does
This is a code-level reference for the net46 branches in src/MSBuildLocator/MSBuildLocator.cs, the #if NET46 and non-NETCOREAPP paths. It describes the AssemblyResolve handler: a static ResolveEventHandler stored before subscription, a cache keyed by assembly full name because the event can fire repeatedly, a lock around every lookup since resolution is not thread-safe, and loading from each registered search path with Assembly.LoadFrom.
It also lists the two discovery sources available on net46: the developer command prompt, read from VSINSTALLDIR, VSCMD_VER and VisualStudioVersion, and the Visual Studio Setup COM API for VS 2017 and later instances with the MSBuild component. SDK discovery, AssemblyLoadContext and hostfxr belong to the .NET Core path, covered by a separate skill. Under the register-before-load rule, registration is refused once a strong-named Microsoft.Build assembly is loaded, and a method that references such types can trip it when JIT-compiled.
When your agent uses it
- Editing the net46 registration or loader code in MSBuildLocator
- Reviewing a change to Visual Studio discovery on .NET Framework
- Diagnosing assembly-resolution problems on a .NET Framework host
- Working out why registration fails after Microsoft.Build is already loaded
Example prompts
- “Review this change to the AssemblyResolve handler for thread-safety on net46.”
- “Explain why registration fails after Microsoft.Build types are loaded in the AppDomain.”
- “Walk me through how a developer command prompt is detected when no Visual Studio setup instance is found.”
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit ff0b900. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader loads about 745 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 117 tokens; SKILL.md has 256 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check passed
The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.
SKILL.md
Its licence (Custom licence) doesn't allow us to republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 256 words (~745 tokens).
“Scope: src/MSBuildLocator/MSBuildLocator.cs #if NET46 and Framework (#else of NETCOREAPP) branches. FEATURE_VISUALSTUDIOSETUP is defined only when TargetFramework == net46 in Microsoft.Build.Locator.csproj. For build/test and cross-cutting conventions, see AGENTS.md.”
- name
- msbuild-loader-netframework
Files
Just SKILL.md in .agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework of microsoft/MSBuildLocator.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit ff0b900
Compare with similar skills
MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader this skillmicrosoft/MSBuildLocator | 263 | — | ~745 | Automated safety check: Pass | Custom licence | |
| Dotnet Debuggingnovotnyllc/dotnet-artisan | 233 | — | ~2.1k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Okojo Node Ink Debugakeit0/okojo | 160 | — | ~798 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Nes Rom Debugjonathanpeppers/dotnes | 780 | — | ~1.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Raven Debug Compilermarinasundstrom/raven | 108 | — | ~1.6k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Development Workflowrunceel/ReactiveProperty | 944 | — | ~1.4k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
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More from microsoft/MSBuildLocator
- Official
MSBuildLocator .NET Core Loader
microsoft/MSBuildLocator
Reference for how MSBuildLocator loads MSBuild assemblies and finds the .NET SDK on .NET Core hosts, for anyone editing or debugging that loader code.
- Official
Code Review
microsoft/MSBuildLocator
Repository-specific checks for Microsoft.Build.Locator code reviews.
Related
Works with
Categories
Questions about MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader
What does MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader do?
Explains how MSBuildLocator loads MSBuild assemblies and finds Visual Studio installs on the .NET Framework net46 target, for anyone editing or reviewing that code. cs, the #if NET46 and non-NETCOREAPP paths.LoadFrom.
When should I use MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader?
MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader fits situations like: editing the net46 registration or loader code in MSBuildLocator; reviewing a change to Visual Studio discovery on .NET Framework; diagnosing assembly-resolution problems on a .NET Framework host; working out why registration fails after Microsoft.Build is already loaded.
How do I install MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework in microsoft/MSBuildLocator) into .claude/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader in Codex?
Run `npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework in microsoft/MSBuildLocator) into .agents/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add microsoft/MSBuildLocator --skill msbuild-loader-netframework -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework, .gemini/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework, .github/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework and .opencode/skills/msbuild-loader-netframework in your project.
What does MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader is instructions for the agent only.
Does MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.
What licence does MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader use?
MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader has a licence file (the repository's licence) that doesn't match a standard licence. Read it on GitHub before reusing the skill.
How many tokens does MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader use?
About 745 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 3k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.
What are the alternatives to MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader: Dotnet Debugging (novotnyllc/dotnet-artisan, 233 stars), Okojo Node Ink Debug (akeit0/okojo, 160 stars), Nes Rom Debug (jonathanpeppers/dotnes, 780 stars) and Raven Debug Compiler (marinasundstrom/raven, 108 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains MSBuildLocator .NET Framework Loader?
microsoft (a GitHub organization, an official publisher) maintains it in microsoft/MSBuildLocator, which has 263 GitHub stars. The repository holds 3 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 6, 2026.
Source: microsoft/MSBuildLocator on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.