nuget-manager skill: manage NuGet packages with the dotnet CLI

Makes your agent add, remove and update NuGet packages through the dotnet CLI instead of editing project files.

Installs: 14.4K; on skills.sh
Stars: 40.7K; on GitHub
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

This skill makes your agent use dotnet add package and dotnet remove package to add or remove NuGet packages, and never edit .csproj or props files for that. A direct file edit is allowed only to change the version of a package that is already there.

For a version update the agent verifies the version exists on NuGet, finds whether versions live in the project or in Directory.Packages.props, makes the edit, and runs dotnet restore. If restore fails it reverts. It needs the .NET SDK and jq or PowerShell.

Good for

.NET developers who want package changes done the safe way
Teams using central package management in Directory.Packages.props
Anyone bumping a package version across a solution

Install nuget-manager

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the nuget-manager skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill nuget-manager

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

From its listing on skills.sh. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Manage NuGet packages in .NET projects/solutions. Use this skill when adding, removing, or updating NuGet package versions. It enforces using `dotnet` CLI for package management and provides strict procedures for direct file edits only when updating versions.

Sections in SKILL.md

Overview
Prerequisites
Core Rules
Workflows
Adding a Package
Removing a Package
Updating Package Versions
Examples
User: "Add Serilog to the WebApi project"
User: "Update Newtonsoft.Json to 13.0.3 in the whole solution"

Key facts

Author: GitHub (github/awesome-copilot, a community collection; the skill author is not named in the SKILL.md)
Repo: github/awesome-copilot, folder skills/nuget-manager
Installs on skills.sh: 14,419 as of 2 Nov 2026
GitHub stars: 40,666 for the whole github/awesome-copilot repo, 2 Nov 2026
License: MIT (awesome-copilot repo)
Last commit in the repo: 2026-10-30
What is inside: 1 file (SKILL.md only)
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub pass, Socket pass, Snyk warn
Needs: .NET SDK (the SKILL.md suggests 8.0 or later), dotnet on PATH, and jq or PowerShell

What it includes

CLI to add or remove; direct edits only to change versions
Never hand-edit .csproj, .props or Directory.Packages.props to add or remove a package. Version changes follow a fixed four-step workflow.
Read · Core rules
dotnet add [PROJECT] package NAME [--version V]
Adds the package to the named project through the CLI.
Try: “Add Serilog to the WebApi project.”
Runs code · Add a package
dotnet remove [PROJECT] package NAME
Removes the package through the CLI.
Runs code · Remove a package
Verify, locate, edit, then dotnet restore
Checks the version exists with dotnet package search --exact-match --format json (parsed with jq or PowerShell), decides between per-project and central versions, edits the version string, and runs dotnet restore. On errors it reverts the change.
Try: “Update Newtonsoft.Json to 13.0.3 across the whole solution.”
Runs code · Update a version

From the official docs

Permissions

Low risk

The agent edits your project and props files and runs dotnet commands that contact NuGet. Commit your work first so you can review the diff.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

It changes project files
Adds, removes and version edits alter your .csproj or Directory.Packages.props. Review the diff before committing. github.com
Third-party content from a community collection
The awesome-copilot README says its customizations come from third-party developers and asks you to inspect them before installing. Read the SKILL.md first. github.com

Technical details

Turning on read-only	The SKILL.md defines no read-only switch.
Talks to	NuGet, for package search and restore
Scopes	Runs dotnet add package, dotnet remove package, dotnet package search and dotnet restore Edits the version in .csproj or Directory.Packages.props Runs jq or a PowerShell snippet to read search results

Questions

What does the nuget-manager skill do?

It makes your agent manage NuGet packages in .NET projects with the dotnet CLI for adds and removes, and a checked, restore-verified edit for version changes.

How do I install it?

Use the install box on this page. It is a single SKILL.md, so adding the skill folder is the whole install. Your machine needs the .NET SDK, and jq or PowerShell for the version check.

Why does it refuse to edit my .csproj?

By its core rules, packages are added and removed only with the dotnet CLI. Editing the file by hand is allowed only to change the version of a package that is already referenced.

Does it handle central package management?

Yes. It looks for Directory.Packages.props in the solution root. If found, it edits the PackageVersion entry there. Otherwise it edits the PackageReference version in the .csproj.

Is it safe to run?

It edits project files and runs dotnet commands that reach NuGet. If restore fails, the skill tells it to revert the edit. Commit your work first so you can undo anything else.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: github/awesome-copilot
Folder: skills/nuget-manager

github/awesome-copilot skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 2

nuget-manager SKILL.md · github.com
awesome-copilot README · github.com