wshaddix/dotnet-skills/dotnet-aot-architecture

Claude Code and agent skill by wshaddix/dotnet-skills

Trust tier 2
  • community
LLM review pending
Source check pending

Checking that the SKILL.md file is still in the repository.

Designing AOT-first apps. Source gen over reflection, AOT-safe DI, serialization, factories.

Install

npx vskill@latest install wshaddix/dotnet-skills/dotnet-aot-architecture

SKILL.md

dotnet-aot-architecture

AOT-first application design patterns for .NET 8+: preferring source generators over reflection, explicit DI registration over assembly scanning, AOT-safe serialization choices, library compatibility assessment, and factory patterns replacing Activator.CreateInstance.

Version assumptions: .NET 8.0+ baseline. Patterns apply to all AOT-capable project types (console, ASP.NET Core Minimal APIs, worker services).

Out of scope: Native AOT publish pipeline and MSBuild configuration -- see [skill:dotnet-native-aot]. Trim-safe library authoring and annotations -- see [skill:dotnet-trimming]. WASM AOT compilation -- see [skill:dotnet-aot-wasm]. MAUI-specific AOT -- see [skill:dotnet-maui-aot]. Source generator authoring (Roslyn API) -- see [skill:dotnet-csharp-source-generators]. DI container internals -- see [skill:dotnet-csharp-dependency-injection]. Serialization depth -- see [skill:dotnet-serialization].

Cross-references: [skill:dotnet-native-aot] for the AOT publish pipeline, [skill:dotnet-trimming] for trim annotations and library authoring, [skill:dotnet-serialization] for serialization patterns, [skill:dotnet-csharp-source-generators] for source gen mechanics, [skill:dotnet-csharp-dependency-injection] for DI fundamentals, [skill:dotnet-containers] for runtime-deps deployment, [skill:dotnet-native-interop] for general P/Invoke patterns and marshalling.


Source Generators Over Reflection

The primary AOT enabler is replacing runtime reflection with compile-time source generation. Source generators produce code at build time that the AOT compiler can analyze and include.

Key Source Generator Replacements
Reflection PatternSource Generator / AOT-Safe AlternativeLibrary
JsonSerializer.Deserialize<T>()[JsonSerializable] contextSystem.Text.Json (built-in)
Activator.CreateInstance<T>()Factory pattern with explicit newManual
Type.GetProperties() for mapping[Mapper] attributeMapperly
Regex pattern compilation[GeneratedRegex] attributeBuilt-in (.NET 7+)
ILogger.Log(...) with string interpolation[LoggerMessage] attributeMicrosoft.Extensions.Logging
Assembly scanning for DIExplicit services.Add*()Manual
[DllImport] P/Invoke[LibraryImport]Built-in (.NET 7+)
AutoMapper CreateMap<>()[Mapper] source genMapperly
Example: Migrating to Source Gen
csharp
// BEFORE: Reflection-based (breaks under AOT)
var logger = loggerFactory.CreateLogger<OrderService>();
logger.LogInformation("Order {OrderId} created for {Customer}", order.Id, order.CustomerId);
// AFTER: Source-generated (AOT-safe, zero-alloc)
public partial class OrderService
{
[LoggerMessage(Level = LogLevel.Information,
Message = "Order {OrderId} created for {Customer}")]
private static partial void LogOrderCreated(
ILogger logger, int orderId, string customer);
}
// Usage:
LogOrderCreated(_logger, order.Id, order.CustomerId);

See [skill:dotnet-csharp-source-generators] for source generator mechanics and authoring patterns.


AOT-Safe DI Patterns

Dependency injection in AOT requires explicit service registration. Assembly scanning (AddServicesFromAssembly) and open-generic resolution may require reflection that AOT cannot satisfy.

Explicit Registration (Preferred)
csharp
var builder = WebApplication.CreateSlimBuilder(args);
// Explicit registrations -- AOT-safe
builder.Services.AddSingleton<IOrderRepository, PostgresOrderRepository>();
builder.Services.AddScoped<IOrderService, OrderService>();
builder.Services.AddTransient<IEmailSender, SmtpEmailSender>();
builder.Services.AddSingleton(TimeProvider.System);
Avoid Assembly Scanning
csharp
// BAD: Assembly scanning uses reflection -- breaks under AOT
builder.Services.Scan(scan => scan
.FromAssemblyOf<OrderService>()
.AddClasses(classes => classes.AssignableTo<IService>())
.AsImplementedInterfaces()
.WithScopedLifetime());
// GOOD: Explicit registrations grouped by concern
builder.Services.AddOrderServices();
builder.Services.AddInventoryServices();
// Extension method groups related registrations
public static class OrderServiceExtensions
{
public static IServiceCollection AddOrderServices(
this IServiceCollection services)
{
services.AddScoped<IOrderService, OrderService>();
services.AddScoped<IOrderRepository, PostgresOrderRepository>();
services.AddScoped<IOrderValidator, OrderValidator>();
return services;
}
}
Keyed Services (.NET 8+)
csharp
// AOT-safe keyed service registration
builder.Services.AddKeyedSingleton<INotificationSender, EmailSender>("email");
builder.Services.AddKeyedSingleton<INotificationSender, SmsSender>("sms");
// Resolve by key
app.MapPost("/notify", ([FromKeyedServices("email")] INotificationSender sender) =>
sender.SendAsync("Hello"));

See [skill:dotnet-csharp-dependency-injection] for full DI patterns.


Serialization Choices for AOT

Decision Matrix
SerializerAOT-SafeSetup RequiredBest For
System.Text.Json + source genYes[JsonSerializable] contextAPIs, config, JSON interop
Protobuf (Google.Protobuf)Yes.proto schema filesgRPC, service-to-service
MessagePack + source genYes[MessagePackObject] + source gen resolverCaching, real-time
Newtonsoft.JsonNoN/ADo not use for AOT
STJ without source genNoN/AFalls back to reflection
STJ Source Gen Setup
csharp
// Define serializable types
[JsonSerializable(typeof(Product))]
[JsonSerializable(typeof(List<Product>))]
[JsonSourceGenerationOptions(
PropertyNamingPolicy = JsonKnownNamingPolicy.CamelCase)]
internal partial class AppJsonContext : JsonSerializerContext { }
// Register in ASP.NET Core
builder.Services.ConfigureHttpJsonOptions(options =>
{
options.SerializerOptions.TypeInfoResolverChain.Insert(0,
AppJsonContext.Default);
});

See [skill:dotnet-serialization] for comprehensive serialization patterns.


Factory Patterns Replacing Activator.CreateInstance

Activator.CreateInstance uses runtime reflection to create instances and is incompatible with AOT. Replace with factory patterns that use explicit construction.

Simple Factory
csharp
// BAD: Reflection-based creation -- breaks under AOT
public T CreateHandler<T>() where T : class
=> (T)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(T))!;
// GOOD: Factory with explicit registration
public class HandlerFactory
{
private readonly Dictionary<Type, Func<IHandler>> _factories = new();
public void Register<T>(Func<T> factory) where T : IHandler
=> _factories[typeof(T)] = () => factory();
public IHandler Create<T>() where T : IHandler
=> _factories[typeof(T)]();
}
// Registration
var factory = new HandlerFactory();
factory.Register<OrderHandler>(() => new OrderHandler(repository, logger));
factory.Register<PaymentHandler>(() => new PaymentHandler(gateway));
Strategy Pattern via DI
csharp
// BAD: Dynamic type resolution
public IPaymentProcessor GetProcessor(string type)
{
var processorType = Type.GetType($"MyApp.Payments.{type}Processor");
return (IPaymentProcessor)Activator.CreateInstance(processorType!)!;
}
// GOOD: Keyed services (.NET 8+)
builder.Services.AddKeyedScoped<IPaymentProcessor, CreditCardProcessor>("CreditCard");
builder.Services.AddKeyedScoped<IPaymentProcessor, BankTransferProcessor>("BankTransfer");
builder.Services.AddKeyedScoped<IPaymentProcessor, WalletProcessor>("Wallet");
// Resolve at runtime without reflection
app.MapPost("/pay", (
[FromQuery] string type,
IServiceProvider sp) =>
{
var processor = sp.GetRequiredKeyedService<IPaymentProcessor>(type);
return processor.ProcessAsync();
});
Enum-Based Factory
csharp
// For a fixed set of types, use a switch expression
public static IExporter CreateExporter(ExportFormat format) => format switch
{
ExportFormat.Csv => new CsvExporter(),
ExportFormat.Json => new JsonExporter(),
ExportFormat.Pdf => new PdfExporter(),
_ => throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(format))
};

Library Compatibility Assessment

Assessment Checklist

Before adopting a NuGet package in an AOT project:

  1. Check for `IsAotCompatible` in the package source -- packages that set this are validated against AOT analyzers
  2. Check for `[RequiresDynamicCode]` / `[RequiresUnreferencedCode]` annotations -- these indicate AOT-incompatible APIs
  3. Run AOT analyzers against your usage -- dotnet build /p:EnableAotAnalyzer=true
  4. Check the package's GitHub issues for AOT/trimming reports -- search for "Native AOT", "trimming", "IL2026", "IL3050"
  5. Look for source-generated alternatives -- many reflection-based libraries now have source-gen companions
Common Library Status
LibraryAOT StatusAOT-Safe Alternative
AutoMapperBreaksMapperly
MediatRPartial (explicit registration)Direct method calls or factory
FluentValidationPartialManual validation or source gen
DapperCompatible (.NET 8+ AOT support)--
Entity Framework CorePartial (precompiled queries)Dapper for AOT-heavy paths
RefitCompatible (7+ with source gen)--
PollyCompatible (v8+)--
SerilogPartial[LoggerMessage] source gen
HangfireBreaksCustom IHostedService
Testing Compatibility
bash
# Build with all analyzers enabled
dotnet build /p:EnableAotAnalyzer=true /p:EnableTrimAnalyzer=true /p:TrimmerSingleWarn=false
# Warnings indicate AOT-incompatible usage
# IL3050 = RequiresDynamicCode (definitely breaks)
# IL2026 = RequiresUnreferencedCode (may break)

AOT Application Architecture Template

src/
MyApp/
Program.cs # CreateSlimBuilder, explicit DI
MyApp.csproj # PublishAot=true, EnableAotAnalyzer=true
JsonContext.cs # [JsonSerializable] for all API types
Endpoints/
OrderEndpoints.cs # Minimal API route groups
ProductEndpoints.cs
Services/
OrderService.cs # Business logic (no reflection)
IOrderService.cs
Repositories/
OrderRepository.cs # Data access (Dapper or EF precompiled)
Extensions/
ServiceCollectionExtensions.cs # Grouped DI registrations

Agent Gotchas

  1. Do not use `Activator.CreateInstance` in AOT projects. It requires runtime reflection that is not available. Use factory patterns, DI keyed services, or switch expressions instead.
  2. Do not use assembly scanning for DI registration (Scan, RegisterAssemblyTypes, FromAssemblyOf). These use reflection to discover types at runtime. Register services explicitly.
  3. Do not use `System.Text.Json` without a `[JsonSerializable]` context in AOT. Without a source-generated context, STJ falls back to reflection and fails at runtime.
  4. Do not assume a library is AOT-compatible without testing. Run dotnet build /p:EnableAotAnalyzer=true and check for IL3050/IL2026 warnings against your specific usage.
  5. Do not use `Type.GetType()` or `Assembly.GetTypes()` for runtime discovery. These rely on metadata that may be trimmed. Use compile-time known types.

References

This is the start of the file. Read the full SKILL.md on GitHub.

Security

  • Security scanPassed, 100 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
  • Model reviewNot runA model review is scheduled for the next rescan.

Quality evaluation

  • Task evaluationNot runNo evaluation yet. Run one in Skill Studio.

Source

Popularity

Repository stars
86
Repository forks
14
7-day trend score
3

Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Refreshed 18 Mar 2026, 7 months ago.

Works with

Any agent vskill installs to: 56 targets in all. These 39 have a page on this site.

  • Claude Code
  • Cursor
  • GitHub Copilot
  • Windsurf
  • Codex
  • Gemini CLI
  • Cline
  • Amp
  • Roo Code
  • Goose
  • Continue
  • Kilo Code
  • Junie
  • Trae
  • OpenHands
  • Qwen Code
  • AI Agent
  • Tabnine Chat
  • Sourcegraph Cody
  • Amazon Q
  • Firebase Genkit
  • Sweep
  • Devin
  • Phind
  • Mentat
  • Claude Desktop
  • Aider
  • GPT Pilot
  • Plandex
  • bolt.new
  • v0
  • Replit Agent
  • Anse
  • TypingMind
  • BetterChatGPT
  • LibreChat
  • Warp AI
  • Pieces
  • Fig AI
Embed badge
vskill VERIFIED badge
[![vskill VERIFIED](https://verified-skill.com/api/v1/skills/wshaddix/dotnet-skills/dotnet-aot-architecture/badge)](https://verified-skill.com/skills/wshaddix/dotnet-skills/dotnet-aot-architecture)

Something wrong with this skill or its page? Tell us.