Dot Stack Architecture (.NET)

VerifiedSafe

Defines the layout, naming, and dependency rules for .NET projects in a dotcore/dotapps structure. Use this skill when adding or editing shared libraries under dotcore/ or applications under dotapps/ to ensure consistent separation of concerns and acyclic dependencies.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DevelopmentIntermediate
606/2/2026
CursorClaude Code
#dotnet#dotcore#dotapps#architecture#shared-libraries

Recommended for

Our review

This skill defines directory structure, naming, and dependency rules for .NET projects using the dotcore (shared libraries) and dotapps (runnable apps) architecture.

Strengths

  • Clearly separates reusable libraries from applications
  • Prevents circular dependencies between projects
  • Enforces consistent naming conventions
  • Facilitates maintainability and scalability

Limitations

  • Only applicable to projects following this specific architecture
  • Requires discipline to avoid rule violations
  • May be overly rigid for small projects without sharing needs
When to use it

When working on a .NET project with multiple applications sharing common libraries and you want to follow a standardized architecture.

When not to use it

For a standalone single application or a project that does not need a clean separation between shared code and apps.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score95/100

The skill provides only project layout and naming guidelines for a .NET codebase. It includes standard build and run commands (dotnet build, dotnet run) but no network access, file deletion, or exfiltration instructions. No obfuscation or disabling of safety features. All actions are legitimate development tasks.

No concerns found

Examples

Add a new shared library
I need to create a new shared library for logging that will be used by multiple apps. Where should I put it and what should I name it according to the dotcore/dotapps architecture?
Reference a library from an app
I'm adding a new feature to the Cli app and need to use classes from DotCore.Utils. What is the correct project reference path to add in the Cli.csproj file?
Add a test project
I want to add unit tests for DotCore.Foundations. Where should the test project live and what should its project reference look like?

name: dot description: When working on dotcore (shared .NET libs = public class libraries = pycore counterpart) or dotapps (runnable apps), follow layout, naming, and dependency rules. All shared libraries live in dotcore; apps reference only dotcore.

Dot Stack Skill (dotcore + dotapps)

Use this skill when editing or adding code under dotcore/ or dotapps/.

  • dotcore = .NET public class libraries (公共类库) = counterpart of pycore. All shared libraries used by more than one app (DotCore.Foundations, DotCore.Common, DotCore.Utils, DotCore.Infrastructure, DotCore.UIInspect, DotCore.UITheme, etc.) live here.
  • dotapps = runnable applications; they reference dotcore and, when needed, their own sub-app characteristic library (子APP的特征类库) under dotapps/<App>/ (e.g. dotapps/d3check/D3CheckCore/). No app-to-app references.

Canonical spec: development-guides/DOT_ARCHITECTURE.md. Cursor rule: .cursor/rules/dot.mdc. UI (WPF/MAUI/Blazor/Avalonia): canonical spec development-guides/DOT_UI_PROJECT_SPECIFICATION.md, .cursor/rules/dot-ui.mdc. Progress and pycore↔dotcore mapping: dotcore/DOT_PUBLIC_LIBRARY_PROGRESS.md.

When to Use

  • Editing or adding code under dotcore/ (any DotCore.* project or tests).
  • Editing or adding code under dotapps/ (SimpleUi, Cli, CallModule, d3check, or any new app).
  • Adding a new shared library (as a new DotCore.* under dotcore) or a new app (under dotapps).
  • Choosing where to put types, utilities, or config used by multiple apps (dotcore, not dotapps).

Instructions

1. Layout: all shared libs in dotcore, apps in dotapps

  • dotcore/ = shared class libraries only. Every subfolder is one library (e.g. DotCore.Foundations). All code used by more than one app, or shared infrastructure, belongs here. Sub-app characteristic libs (子APP的特征类库) belong under dotapps/<App>/ (e.g. dotapps/d3check/D3CheckCore/), not in dotcore. No runnable apps under dotcore.
  • dotapps/ = runnable applications only. Every subfolder is one app (e.g. SimpleUi, Cli, CallModule, d3check). Apps reference dotcore and, when needed, a project under the same app (e.g. d3check → D3CheckCore); no app-to-app project references.
  • Tests live under dotcore/tests/ (e.g. DotCore.Foundations.Tests).

2. Naming and code language

  • Language: All code, comments, and user-facing strings in English. ASCII only in source code.
  • Libraries: Folder and project name DotCore.<Name> (e.g. DotCore.Utils). Namespace DotCore.*.
  • Apps: Folder and assembly name match (e.g. SimpleUi). Root namespace DotApps.<AppName> (e.g. DotApps.SimpleUi).

3. Dependencies

  • Direction: Apps → Libraries only. Libraries do not reference apps. Libraries may reference other libraries only in a DAG (no cycles).
  • DotCore.Foundations: No project refs; BCL/minimal NuGet only.
  • DotCore.Common: Foundations only.
  • DotCore.Utils / DotCore.Infrastructure: Foundations + Common (and optional third-party).
  • DotCore.UIInspect: Optional third-party (e.g. FlaUI) only; no dotcore project refs if not needed.
  • Apps: Reference only the DotCore.* projects they need (e.g. Cli uses Foundations, Common, Utils; SimpleUi uses UIInspect).

4. Project reference paths

  • From app (dotapps/<AppName>/): ..\..\dotcore\DotCore.<Name>\DotCore.<Name>.csproj
  • From library (dotcore/): ..\DotCore.<Name>\DotCore.<Name>.csproj
  • From test (dotcore/tests/...): ..\..\DotCore.<Name>\DotCore.<Name>.csproj

5. Adding a new library

  • Create dotcore/DotCore.<Name>/ with DotCore.<Name>.csproj.
  • Obey dependency rule: only reference DotCore.* projects that are allowed (see §3).
  • Add the project to dotcore/dotcore.sln.
  • Update DOT_ARCHITECTURE.md and dotcore/DESIGN.md project list.

6. Adding a new app

  • Create dotapps/<AppName>/ with <AppName>.csproj and entry point (e.g. Program.cs).
  • Set RootNamespace to DotApps.<AppName>, AssemblyName to <AppName>.
  • Add ProjectReference only to required dotcore libs (path ..\..\dotcore\DotCore.<Name>\DotCore.<Name>.csproj).
  • Add the project to dotcore/dotcore.sln.
  • Optionally use dotapps/start.ps1 menu "Create new app" to scaffold.

7. Build and run

  • From repo root: dotnet build dotcore/dotcore.sln
  • Run app: dotnet run --project dotapps/<AppName>/<AppName>.csproj (with optional args after --).
  • Menu: .\dotapps\start.ps1 (from repo root or from dotapps/) for "Create new app" or "Run existing app".

8. Updating this skill / rules

Summary

| Need | Where | |------|--------| | Shared types / utilities used by more than one app | dotcore/DotCore.* | | Sub-app characteristic library (single-app domain types) | dotapps/<AppName>/<SubLib>/ (e.g. dotapps/d3check/D3CheckCore/) | | Runnable app | dotapps/<AppName>/ | | Canonical layout and naming | DOT_ARCHITECTURE.md | | Cursor rule (globs dotcore/, dotapps/) | .cursor/rules/dot.mdc | | UI layer (Clean Architecture + MVVM + Fluent 2) | DOT_UI_PROJECT_SPECIFICATION.md, .cursor/rules/dot-ui.mdc | | Build | dotnet build dotcore/dotcore.sln | | Run app | dotnet run --project dotapps/... or start.ps1 |

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