Coverlet for .NET

Trigger On

• the repo uses or wants

  coverlet

• CI needs line or branch coverage for .NET tests
• the team needs to choose between

  coverlet.collector

  ,

  coverlet.msbuild

  , or

  coverlet.console

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

• coverage report rendering by itself
• repos that intentionally use a different coverage engine

Inputs

• the nearest

  AGENTS.md

• active runner model: VSTest or Microsoft.Testing.Platform
• target test projects

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. Choose the driver deliberately:

   • coverlet.collector

     for VSTest

     dotnet test --collect

   • coverlet.msbuild

     for MSBuild property-driven runs

   • coverlet.console

     for standalone scenarios
2. Add coverage packages only to test projects.
3. Do not mix

   coverlet.collector

   and

   coverlet.msbuild

   in the same test project.
4. Pair raw coverage collection with

   ReportGenerator

   only when humans need rendered reports.

Bootstrap When Missing

If coverage is not configured yet:

1. Detect current state:

   • rg -n "coverlet\\.(collector|msbuild)|CollectCoverage|XPlat Code Coverage" -g '*.csproj' -g '*.props' -g '*.targets' .

   • dotnet tool list --local

   • dotnet tool list --global

   • command -v coverlet

2. Install exactly one driver path:
   • VSTest collector:

     dotnet add TEST_PROJECT.csproj package coverlet.collector

   • MSBuild driver:

     dotnet add TEST_PROJECT.csproj package coverlet.msbuild

   • Console tool:

     dotnet new tool-manifest

     (if missing) and

     dotnet tool install coverlet.console

3. Record one concrete local and CI command in

   AGENTS.md

   :
   • collector:

     dotnet test TEST_PROJECT.csproj --collect:"XPlat Code Coverage"

   • msbuild:

     dotnet test TEST_PROJECT.csproj /p:CollectCoverage=true /p:CoverletOutputFormat=cobertura

   • console:

     dotnet tool run coverlet TEST_ASSEMBLY.dll --target "dotnet" --targetargs "test TEST_PROJECT.csproj --no-build"

4. Run the chosen command once and return

   status: configured

   or

   status: improved

   .
5. If another coverage engine already owns coverage for this repo, return

   status: not_applicable

   .

Deliver

• explicit coverage driver selection
• reproducible coverage commands for local and CI runs

Validate

• coverage driver matches the runner model
• coverage files are stable and consumable by downstream reporting

Ralph Loop

Use the Ralph Loop for every task, including docs, architecture, testing, and tooling work.

1. Plan first (mandatory):
   • analyze current state
   • define target outcome, constraints, and risks
   • write a detailed execution plan
   • list final validation skills to run at the end, with order and reason
2. Execute one planned step and produce a concrete delta.
3. Review the result and capture findings with actionable next fixes.
4. Apply fixes in small batches and rerun the relevant checks or review steps.
5. Update the plan after each iteration.
6. Repeat until outcomes are acceptable or only explicit exceptions remain.
7. 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

• references/commands.md

• references/patterns.md

• references/coverlet.md

Example Requests

• "Add Coverlet to this .NET solution."
• "Choose the right Coverlet driver for CI."