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+# C# Template Project
+
+Modern C# project template with .NET 9.0, best practices, and development tools configured.
+
+Always reference these instructions first and fallback to search or bash commands only when you encounter unexpected information that does not match the info here.
+
+## Working Effectively
+
+### Prerequisites and Environment Setup
+- Install .NET 9.0 SDK (required version: 9.0.304):
+  - `curl -sSL https://dot.net/v1/dotnet-install.sh | bash /dev/stdin --version 9.0.304` -- takes 30-60 seconds to complete. NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 90+ seconds.
+  - `export PATH="$HOME/.dotnet:$PATH"` (add to your session)
+  - Verify: `dotnet --version` should return `9.0.304`
+
+### Project Creation and Build Process
+- Create a new console application:
+  - `dotnet new console -n MyProject -o src/MyProject`
+  - `dotnet new sln -n MySolution` (if no solution exists)
+  - `dotnet sln add src/MyProject/MyProject.csproj`
+- Build the project:
+  - `dotnet build` -- takes ~5 seconds. Set timeout to 30+ seconds for safety.
+  - `dotnet build --configuration Release` (optimized release build)
+  - `dotnet build --verbosity normal` (for detailed output including warnings)
+  - `dotnet build --no-restore` (skip package restore if already done)
+- Run the application:
+  - `dotnet run --project src/MyProject`
+  - `dotnet run --project src/MyProject --configuration Release`
+- Clean build artifacts:
+  - `dotnet clean`
+  - `dotnet clean --configuration Release`
+
+### Testing
+- Create test project:
+  - `dotnet new xunit -n MyProject.Tests -o src/MyProject.Tests`
+  - `dotnet sln add src/MyProject.Tests/MyProject.Tests.csproj`
+  - Add project reference: `dotnet add src/MyProject.Tests reference src/MyProject/MyProject.csproj`
+- Run tests:
+  - `dotnet test` -- takes ~5 seconds including build. Set timeout to 30+ seconds.
+  - `dotnet test --verbosity normal` (for detailed test output)
+  - `dotnet test --logger trx` (for test result files)
+
+### Code Quality and Formatting
+- Format code (ALWAYS run before committing):
+  - `dotnet format` -- formats according to .editorconfig rules
+  - `dotnet format --verify-no-changes` (check if formatting is needed)
+  - `dotnet format --verbosity diagnostic` (detailed formatting output)
+
+## Validation
+
+### Manual Validation Steps
+- ALWAYS run through this validation after making changes to ensure the template works correctly:
+  1. Create a sample console application: `dotnet new console -n TestApp -o src/TestApp`
+  2. Create solution if needed: `dotnet new sln -n TestSolution`
+  3. Add project to solution: `dotnet sln add src/TestApp/TestApp.csproj`
+  4. Build the project: `dotnet build` (should complete in ~5 seconds)
+  5. Run the application: `dotnet run --project src/TestApp` (should output "Hello, World!")
+  6. Create and run tests: `dotnet new xunit -n TestApp.Tests -o src/TestApp.Tests && dotnet sln add src/TestApp.Tests/TestApp.Tests.csproj && dotnet test`
+  7. Format and verify formatting: `dotnet format && dotnet format --verify-no-changes`
+  8. Clean up: `rm -rf src/TestApp src/TestApp.Tests TestSolution.sln`
+
+### Expected Build Behavior
+- Initial builds may take longer due to package restoration
+- Subsequent builds are very fast (~5 seconds)
+- No warnings should appear with default template settings
+- All projects inherit settings from Directory.Build.props
+
+## Configuration and Important Files
+
+### Key Configuration Files
+- `global.json` - Specifies .NET SDK version (9.0.304) with latestFeature rollForward
+- `Directory.Build.props` - MSBuild properties applied to all projects:
+  - LangVersion: preview (latest C# features)
+  - Nullable: enable (nullable reference types)
+  - ImplicitUsings: true (global usings enabled)
+  - DebugType: embedded (embedded debug symbols)
+  - NoWarn: CA2254 (suppresses specific analyzer warning)
+- `.editorconfig` - Code style and formatting rules
+- `.devcontainer/devcontainer.json` - Dev container configuration with pre-installed extensions
+
+### Project Structure
+```
+├── .devcontainer/          # Dev container configuration
+├── .github/                # GitHub configuration and workflows
+├── src/                    # Source code directory (initially empty with .gitkeep)
+├── Directory.Build.props   # MSBuild properties for all projects
+├── global.json            # .NET SDK version specification
+├── .editorconfig          # Code style and formatting rules
+├── .gitignore             # Git ignore patterns
+├── CODEOWNERS             # Code ownership configuration
+└── README.md              # Project documentation
+```
+
+## Common Tasks
+
+### Creating Different Project Types
+- Console application: `dotnet new console -n ProjectName -o src/ProjectName`
+- Class library: `dotnet new classlib -n ProjectName -o src/ProjectName`
+- Web API: `dotnet new webapi -n ProjectName -o src/ProjectName`
+- MVC Web App: `dotnet new mvc -n ProjectName -o src/ProjectName`
+- Blazor Server: `dotnet new blazorserver -n ProjectName -o src/ProjectName`
+- Worker Service: `dotnet new worker -n ProjectName -o src/ProjectName`
+- xUnit test project: `dotnet new xunit -n ProjectName.Tests -o src/ProjectName.Tests`
+- NUnit test project: `dotnet new nunit -n ProjectName.Tests -o src/ProjectName.Tests`
+- MSTest test project: `dotnet new mstest -n ProjectName.Tests -o src/ProjectName.Tests`
+
+### Common NuGet Packages
+- Logging: `dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Logging`
+- HTTP Client: `dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Http`
+- Configuration: `dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration`
+- Dependency Injection: `dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection`
+- Entity Framework Core: `dotnet add package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore`
+- AutoMapper: `dotnet add package AutoMapper`
+- FluentValidation: `dotnet add package FluentValidation`
+- Newtonsoft.Json: `dotnet add package Newtonsoft.Json`
+
+### Working with Solutions
+- Create solution: `dotnet new sln -n SolutionName`
+- Add project to solution: `dotnet sln add src/ProjectName/ProjectName.csproj`
+- List projects in solution: `dotnet sln list`
+- Remove project from solution: `dotnet sln remove src/ProjectName/ProjectName.csproj`
+- Build entire solution: `dotnet build` (from solution directory)
+
+### Working with Project References
+- Add project reference: `dotnet add src/ProjectA reference src/ProjectB/ProjectB.csproj`
+- Remove project reference: `dotnet remove src/ProjectA reference src/ProjectB/ProjectB.csproj`
+- List project references: `dotnet list src/ProjectA reference`
+
+### Package Management
+- Add package reference: `dotnet add src/ProjectName package PackageName`
+- Add specific version: `dotnet add src/ProjectName package PackageName --version 1.2.3`
+- Remove package reference: `dotnet remove src/ProjectName package PackageName`
+- List package references: `dotnet list src/ProjectName package`
+- List outdated packages: `dotnet list src/ProjectName package --outdated`
+- Restore packages: `dotnet restore`
+
+### Publishing and Deployment
+- Publish for current platform: `dotnet publish src/ProjectName --configuration Release`
+- Publish self-contained: `dotnet publish src/ProjectName --configuration Release --self-contained`
+- Publish for specific runtime: `dotnet publish src/ProjectName --configuration Release --runtime win-x64`
+- Publish single file: `dotnet publish src/ProjectName --configuration Release --runtime linux-x64 --self-contained --publish-single-file`
+
+### Development Workflow
+1. Create your project structure using the commands above
+2. Build frequently: `dotnet build`
+3. Run tests regularly: `dotnet test`
+4. For web applications: `dotnet run` starts the development server (typically on localhost:5000-5001 for HTTPS, or as shown in console output)
+5. Format code before committing: `dotnet format`
+6. Verify no formatting issues: `dotnet format --verify-no-changes`
+
+### Web Application Development
+- Run web application: `dotnet run` (check console output for the listening URL)
+- Run with specific environment: `dotnet run --environment Production`
+- Run with hot reload: `dotnet watch run` (automatically restarts on file changes)
+- HTTPS development certificate: `dotnet dev-certs https --trust` (run once per machine)
+
+### Performance and Diagnostics
+- Build with optimizations: `dotnet build --configuration Release`
+- Time build: `time dotnet build` (to measure build performance)
+- Verbose output: `dotnet build --verbosity diagnostic`
+- No-op build check: `dotnet build --no-restore --no-dependencies` (to check if rebuild is needed)
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Common Issues
+- **SDK version mismatch**: Ensure .NET 9.0.304 is installed and PATH is updated
+- **Build failures**: Run `dotnet clean` then `dotnet restore` followed by `dotnet build`
+- **Formatting errors**: Run `dotnet format` to auto-fix most issues
+- **Missing packages**: Run `dotnet restore` to restore NuGet packages
+- **Dev container issues**: Rebuild container if extensions are not working
+
+### Verification Commands
+- Check .NET version: `dotnet --version`
+- List installed SDKs: `dotnet --list-sdks`
+- Check solution status: `dotnet sln list`
+- Verify project builds: `dotnet build --verbosity normal`
+
+## Additional Notes
+- The template is configured for modern C# development with nullable reference types enabled
+- All projects automatically inherit common MSBuild properties from Directory.Build.props
+- The dev container includes GitHub Copilot and C# development extensions
+- Code style enforcement is configured via .editorconfig with specific rules for C# files
+- Build times are very fast (~5 seconds) due to the minimal template structure
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