mcaf-devex
The mcaf-devex skill improves local developer experience by standardizing and documenting build, test, debug, and onboarding workflows in repositories where setup is fragmented or slow. Use it when contributors face inconsistent local environments, unclear first-run steps, or lengthy inner-loop cycles, but avoid applying it to production deployment policies or documentation-only changes without workflow impact.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/managedcode/dotnet-skills /tmp/mcaf-devex && cp -r /tmp/mcaf-devex/catalog/Platform/MCAF/skills/mcaf-devex ~/.claude/skills/mcaf-devexSKILL.md
# MCAF: Developer Experience ## Trigger On - the repo is hard to run, test, debug, or onboard into - local setup differs too much across contributors - the inner loop is slow or undocumented ## Value - produce a concrete project delta: code, docs, config, tests, CI, or review artifact - reduce ambiguity through explicit planning, verification, and final validation skills - leave reusable project context so future tasks are faster and safer ## Do Not Use For - production deployment or pipeline policy - pure documentation cleanup with no developer workflow impact ## Inputs - the current local setup and first-run path - actual build, run, debug, and test commands - pain points in onboarding or the inner loop ## Quick Start 1. Read the nearest `AGENTS.md` and confirm scope and constraints. 2. Run this skill's `Workflow` through the `Ralph Loop` until outcomes are acceptable. 3. Return the `Required Result Format` with concrete artifacts and verification evidence. ## Workflow 1. Find the slowest or most fragile part of the inner loop: - clone and setup - build - run and debug - test 2. Standardize tasks before optimizing them. 3. Prefer one documented way to run the full solution locally. 4. Pull only the references that match the local-dev problem you are fixing. ## Deliver - lower-friction local workflow - better onboarding - reproducible build, run, test, and debug paths ## Validate - a newcomer can follow the docs without hidden setup knowledge - the inner loop is explicit and reproducible - cross-platform or containerized guidance is used only where it helps - local development uses real services, containers, or sandbox environments instead of fakes or stubs ## Ralph Loop Use the Ralph Loop for every task, including docs, architecture, testing, and tooling work. 1. Brainstorm first (mandatory): - analyze current state - define the problem, target outcome, constraints, and risks - generate options and think through trade-offs before committing - capture the recommended direction and open questions 2. Plan second (mandatory): - write a detailed execution plan from the chosen direction - list final validation skills to run at the end, with order and reason 3. Execute one planned step and produce a concrete delta. 4. Review the result and capture findings with actionable next fixes. 5. Apply fixes in small batches and rerun the relevant checks or review steps. 6. Update the plan after each iteration. 7. Repeat until outcomes are acceptable or only explicit exceptions remain. 8. If a dependency is missing, bootstrap it or return `status: not_applicable` with explicit reason and fallback path. ### Required Result Format - `status`: `complete` | `clean` | `improved` | `configured` | `not_applicable` | `blocked` - `plan`: concise plan and current iteration step - `actions_taken`: concrete changes made - `validation_skills`: final skills run, or skipped with reasons - `verification`: commands, checks, or review evidence summary - `remaining`: top unresolved items or `none` For setup-only requests with no execution, return `status: configured` and exact next commands. ## Load References - read [references/developer-experience.md](references/developer-experience.md) first - open [references/onboarding-guide-template.md](references/onboarding-guide-template.md) only when relevant ## Example Requests - "Make this repo easier to onboard into." - "Document a sane local run and debug loop." - "Fix the dev setup drift across machines."
Build, debug, modernize, or review ASP.NET Core applications with correct hosting, middleware, security, configuration, logging, and deployment patterns on current .NET. USE FOR: working on ASP.NET Core apps, services, or middleware; changing auth, routing, configuration, hosting, or deployment behavior; deciding between ASP.NET Core sub-stacks. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Build, upgrade, and operate .NET Aspire 13.3.x application hosts with current CLI, AppHost, ServiceDefaults, integrations, dashboard, testing, and Azure deployment patterns for distributed apps. USE FOR: Aspire.AppHost.Sdk, Aspire.Hosting.*, DistributedApplication.CreateBuilder, WithReference, WaitFor, AddProject, AddRedis, AddPostgres, aspire run, aspire init, aspire. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Build, review, or migrate Azure Functions in .NET with correct execution model, isolated worker setup, bindings, DI, and Durable Functions patterns. USE FOR: working on Azure Functions in .NET; migrating from the in-process model to the isolated worker model; adding Durable Functions, bindings, or host configuration. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Build and review Blazor applications across server, WebAssembly, web app, and hybrid scenarios with correct component design, state flow, rendering, and hosting choices. USE FOR: building interactive web UIs with C# instead of JavaScript; choosing between Server, WebAssembly, or Auto render modes; designing component hierarchies and state. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Maintain or migrate EF6-based applications with realistic guidance on what to keep, what to modernize, and when EF Core is or is not the right next step. USE FOR: EF6 codebases; runtime versus ORM migration decisions; EDMX, code-first, ObjectContext, and legacy data-access review. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Design, tune, or review EF Core data access with proper modeling, migrations, query translation, performance, and lifetime management for modern .NET applications. USE FOR: DbContext, migrations, model configuration, EF queries, tracking, loading, performance, transactions, and EF6 migration decisions. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Build, review, or migrate .NET MAUI applications across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows with correct cross-platform UI, platform integration, and native packaging assumptions. USE FOR: working on cross-platform mobile or desktop UI in .NET MAUI; integrating device capabilities, navigation, or platform-specific code; migrating Xamarin.Forms or aligning. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.
Use ML.NET to train, evaluate, or integrate machine-learning models into .NET applications with realistic data preparation, inference, and deployment expectations. USE FOR: ML.NET integration; local model training or retraining; inference pipelines, model loading, evaluation, and deployment review. DO NOT USE FOR: unrelated stacks; generic tasks that do not need this specific guidance. INVOKES: inspect the repository context, edit targeted files, and run relevant build, test, lint, or validation commands when changes are made.