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DynamoDS/Dynamo/.github/copilot-instructions.md

Dynamo is a visual programming tool that aims to be accessible to both non-programmers and programmers alike. It gives users the ability to visually script behavior, define custom pieces of logic, and script using various textual programming languages. Dynamo is primarily developed in C# and WPF, with a focus on Windows compatibility, though the Dynamo engine (DynamoCore) can be built for Linux and macOS. Windows (Full Build): DynamoCore Only (Cross-Platform): Static analysis (the lint step): Dynamo has no separate linter.…

Copilot instructions2k starsChanged yesterday

What's in it

  1. Dynamo Repository Copilot Instructions
  2. Project Overview
  3. Tech Stack
  4. Build and Test Commands
  5. Building the Project
  6. Running Tests
  7. Code Style and Formatting
  8. Follow Existing Standards
  9. XML Documentation
  10. Code Analysis
  11. Public API Management
  12. Project Structure
  13. Contribution Guidelines
  14. Pull Requests
  15. API Compatibility
  16. Node Development
  17. Node Registration Patterns
  18. Required Documentation for New Nodes
  19. Localization
  20. Central Package Management
  21. Security and Restrictions
  22. Security Rules
  23. File Size Limits
  24. Agent Skills and Templates
  25. Debugging Quick Start
  26. Blast Radius
  27. After Changes — Proof Checklist
  28. Important Documentation
# Dynamo Repository Copilot Instructions

## Project Overview

Dynamo is a visual programming tool that aims to be accessible to both non-programmers and programmers alike. It gives users the ability to visually script behavior, define custom pieces of logic, and script using various textual programming languages. Dynamo is primarily developed in C# and WPF, with a focus on Windows compatibility, though the Dynamo engine (DynamoCore) can be built for Linux and macOS.

## Tech Stack

- **Primary Language**: C# (.NET 10)
- **UI Framework**: Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
- **Build System**: MSBuild and dotnet CLI
- **IDE**: Visual Studio 2022 (any edition)
- **Testing**: NUnit
- **Node.js**: Required for certain build steps
- **Target Platforms**: Windows (full UI), Linux and macOS (engine only)

## Build and Test Commands

### Building the Project

**Windows (Full Build):**
```bash
# Restore dependencies for Windows
dotnet restore src/Dynamo.All.sln --runtime=win-x64 -p:Configuration=Release -p:DotNet=net10.0

# Build with MSBuild
msbuild src/Dynamo.All.sln /p:Configuration=Release

# CI parity (what build_dynamo_all.yml runs) — PublicAPI analyzers become errors
msbuild src/Dynamo.All.sln /p:Configuration=Release /warnAsError:RS0016,RS0017 /p:PublicApiAnalyzers=true
```

**DynamoCore Only (Cross-Platform):**
```bash
# For Windows
dotnet restore src/DynamoCore.sln --runtime=win-x64 -p:Configuration=Release -p:DotNet=net10.0
msbuild src/DynamoCore.sln /p:Configuration=Release

# For Linux
dotnet restore src/DynamoCore.sln --runtime=linux-x64 -p:Configuration=Release -p:Platform=NET_Linux -p:DotNet=net10.0
dotnet build src/DynamoCore.sln -c Release /p:Platform=NET_Linux
```

**Static analysis (the lint step):** Dynamo has no separate linter. Static checks are the Roslyn analyzers the build runs — security rules CA2327/CA2328/CA2329/CA2330 are always errors; PublicAPI rules RS0016/RS0017 are errors only with the CI flags above (a plain local build only warns). Formatting rules live in `.editorconfig`. Run the CI-parity build before opening a PR.

**CI vs local:** `build_dynamo_all.yml` (Windows) runs the CI-parity build; `build_dynamo_core.yml` builds `DynamoCore.sln` on Linux but runs no tests there — `dotnet test` currently discovers no tests on Linux. Run `dotnet test` on Windows.

### Running Tests

Tests are located in the `test/` directory. Use Visual Studio Test Explorer or dotnet test CLI to run tests.

**Running a single test:**
```bash
# Filter by test name (substring match)
dotnet test test/DynamoCoreTests/DynamoCoreTests.csproj --filter "Name~MyTestClass"

# Filter by NUnit category
dotnet test test/DynamoCoreTests/DynamoCoreTests.csproj --filter "Category=UnitTests"

# Combine with & (AND) or | (OR)
dotnet test test/DynamoCoreTests/DynamoCoreTests.csproj --filter "Name~WhenCondition&Category=UnitTests"
```

UI tests are split across `DynamoCoreWpfTests`, `DynamoCoreWpfTests2`, and `DynamoCoreWpfTests3`.

## Code Style and Formatting

### Follow Existing Standards

- **Coding Standards**: Follow the [Dynamo Coding Standards](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/Coding-Standards)
- **Naming Standards**: Follow the [Dynamo Naming Standards](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/Naming-Standards)
- **EditorConfig**: The repository includes `.editorconfig` with formatting rules:
  - Use spaces (4-space indentation)
  - LF line endings
  - UTF-8 encoding
  - Trim trailing whitespace
  - Insert final newline

### XML Documentation

- All public methods and properties **MUST** have XML documentation comments
- Use clear, concise descriptions that explain what the method does, its parameters, and return values

### Code Analysis

- The project uses Roslyn analyzers with specific rules enabled
- RS0016/RS0017 are errors in CI (`/warnAsError:RS0016,RS0017`) and warnings in a plain local build
- Security analyzers are configured with error severity (CA2327, CA2329, CA2330, CA2328)

### Public API Management

- **RS0016 Mitigation**: All new public APIs must be declared in `PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt` files
- Public API files are located in project directories (e.g., `src/DynamoCore/PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt`)
- When adding new public types, methods, or properties:
  1. Add the API signature to the appropriate `PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt` file
  2. Use the format: `namespace.ClassName.MemberName -> ReturnType`
  3. Entries in `PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt` are moved to `PublicAPI.Shipped.txt` upon release
- Existing PublicAPI files: DynamoCore, DynamoUtilities, DynamoCoreWpf, NodeServices

## Project Structure

```
Dynamo/
├── src/                          # Main source code
│   ├── DynamoCore.sln           # Core engine solution
│   ├── Dynamo.All.sln           # Complete solution with UI
│   ├── DynamoCore/              # Core engine
│   ├── DynamoCoreWpf/           # WPF UI components
│   ├── DynamoApplications/      # Application entry points
│   ├── Libraries/               # Node libraries
│   └── ...
├── test/                         # Unit and integration tests
├── doc/                          # Documentation
│   ├── distrib/NodeHelpFiles/   # Node documentation (.dyn, .md, .jpg)
│   └── integration_docs/        # Integration documentation
├── tools/                        # Build and utility tools
└── extern/                       # External dependencies
```

## Contribution Guidelines

### Pull Requests

- PR title must include the Jira ticket: `DYN-1234 concise summary`
- Use one of the [Dynamo PR templates](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/Choosing-a-Pull-Request-Template)
- All template declarations must be satisfied; Release Notes section is mandatory (use `N/A` if not user-facing)
- Include unit tests when adding new features
- Start with a test that highlights broken behavior when fixing bugs

### API Compatibility

- **DO NOT** introduce breaking changes to the public API; follow semantic versioning and keep backwards compatibility
- File an issue before proposing API changes
- Breaking = removed/renamed public members, reduced accessibility, or changed signatures/return types; if unavoidable, version appropriately and document it in the changelog
- If build requirements change, update README.md

## Node Development

### Node Registration Patterns

**Zero-touch** (static methods) — preferred for pure computation. Place static methods in a class under `src/Libraries/`. Namespace becomes the library category. Use XML `<search>` tags for keywords:

```csharp
/// <summary>Brief description.</summary>
/// <returns name="result">Output description.</returns>
/// <search>keyword1,keyword2</search>
public static double MyFunction(double x) { ... }
```

**Explicit NodeModel** — required for custom UI, dynamic ports, or multi-output nodes. Inherit from `NodeModel` in `src/Libraries/CoreNodeModels/`. Requires two constructors — a `[JsonConstructor]` private one and a public parameterless one:

```csharp
[NodeName("Display Name"), NodeCategory("Category.Sub")]
[IsDesignScriptCompatible]
public class MyNode : NodeModel
{
    [JsonConstructor]
    private MyNode(IEnumerable<PortModel> inPorts, IEnumerable<PortModel> outPorts)
        : base(inPorts, outPorts) { }

    public MyNode() { /* AddPorts(); RegisterAllPorts(); */ }

    public override IEnumerable<AssociativeNode> BuildOutputAst(
        List<AssociativeNode> inputAstNodes) { ... }
}
```

Use `[AlsoKnownAs("OldName")]` when renaming nodes to preserve backward compatibility.

### Required Documentation for New Nodes

For each new node, provide in `doc/distrib/NodeHelpFiles/`:
- A `.dyn` file (sample graph demonstrating usage)
- A `.md` file (markdown documentation)
- A `.jpg` file (visual preview/screenshot)

### Localization

- New user-facing strings **MUST** be added to appropriate `.resx` files
- UI changes should be documented with screenshots

### Central Package Management

- NuGet package versions for `PackageReference` projects live only in `Directory.Packages.props` at the repo root
- Legacy `packages.config` projects (e.g. `tools/DSTestCaseConverter`) are outside CPM and keep their versions locally
- `PackageReference` entries in csproj files must omit `Version`; bump a dependency by editing the props file
- Conditions selecting *which* package to reference (e.g. LibG Debug/Release in `DynamoCore.csproj`) stay in the csproj

## Security and Restrictions

### Security Rules

- **NEVER** commit secrets or credentials to source code
- **DO NOT** introduce new network connections without explicit documentation and no-network mode testing
- **DO NOT** add data collection without proper user consent checks and documentation
- Security analyzer warnings for XML-related vulnerabilities (CA2327, CA2329, CA2330, CA2328) are treated as errors

### File Size Limits

- Code changes should contain no files larger than 50 MB
- The check_file_size.yml workflow validates this

## Agent Skills and Templates

For detailed task workflows, rules, and templates, see `.claude/README.md`:

- **Skills**: each in `.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md` -- dynamo-codebase-patterns, dynamo-content-designer, dynamo-dotnet-expert, dynamo-dotnet-janitor, dynamo-ecosystem-reviewer, dynamo-onboarding, dynamo-pr-description, dynamo-jira-ticket, dynamo-skill-writer, dynamo-unit-testing, dynamo-ux-designer, dynamo-webview-component-scaffold
- **Templates**: bundled inside skill folders as `template.md` (Jira)

## Debugging Quick Start

- **Logs**: `DynamoLogger` writes `dynamoLog_<guid>.txt` to `%AppData%\Dynamo\Dynamo Core\<major>.<minor>\Logs\` (headless/CLI runs use the version-less parent). The in-app log viewer is under View > Log. `DynamoModel.Logger` (`src/DynamoCore/Models/DynamoModel.cs`) is the logging surface: `Log`, `LogWarning`, `LogError`, `LogInfo`.
- **Attach a debugger**: launch `DynamoSandbox` (or `DynamoSandbox.exe` from `bin\AnyCPU\Debug`) and attach VS to the process. `--NoNetworkMode` disables network surfaces for repro isolation (see [no-network-mode.md](../doc/distrib/no-network-mode.md)).
- **Node evaluation issues**: first breakpoints are `EngineController` (`src/DynamoCore/Engine/EngineController.cs`) for run/execution and `AstBuilder` (`src/DynamoCore/Engine/CodeGeneration/AstBuilder.cs`) for graph-to-DS compilation.
- **Common failures**: build breaks after SDK/dependency bumps are usually NuGet source issues — `dynamo-nuget.config` points at the `team-dynamo-nuget` Artifactory feed; a 403 there is a credentials gate, not a code problem. WPF/UI projects only build on Windows (`Dynamo.All.sln`); on Linux/macOS build `DynamoCore.sln` with `/p:Platform=NET_Linux`.

## Blast Radius

- **Public API**: `src/*/PublicAPI.{Shipped,Unshipped}.txt` (DynamoCore, DynamoCoreWpf, DynamoUtilities, NodeServices) — Roslyn analyzers RS0016/RS0017 fail **CI** on undeclared changes (CI passes `/warnAsError:RS0016,RS0017 /p:PublicApiAnalyzers=true`; a plain local build only warns). Breaking changes require an issue + SemVer.
- **Published NuGet packages** (from `tools/NuGet/template-nuget/`): `DynamoVisualProgramming.Core`, `.DynamoCoreNodes`, `.DynamoServices`, `.DynamoSamples`, `.Tests`, `.WpfUILibrary`, `.ZeroTouchLibrary`. Changes to `src/DynamoCore`, `src/DynamoCoreWpf`, or `src/Libraries` land in these packages and reach external consumers (e.g. DynamoRevit, downstream package authors).
- **Graph file format**: `.dyn` files are a public contract — schema documented in `doc/dyn-file-spec.md` (JSON Schema: `doc/dyn-file-spec.json`). Changes to node serialization (`NodeModel` constructors, `AlsoKnownAs` handling) affect every saved graph.
- **Cross-boundary edits**: `src/Engine/` (DesignScript runtime) changes ripple into every evaluation path; `src/Libraries/` node changes require matching `doc/distrib/NodeHelpFiles/` entries; `extern/` submodules pin native dependencies (LibG/ASM) — version bumps there are coordinated PRs across csproj files (see DYN-10825 for the pattern).

## After Changes — Proof Checklist

Run what matches your change. Builds work on Windows (and `DynamoCore.sln` on Linux); run the `dotnet test` lines on Windows:
- [ ] `dotnet build src/DynamoCore.sln -c Release` — after any `src/DynamoCore*`, `src/Engine/`, or `src/Libraries/` change
- [ ] `msbuild src/Dynamo.All.sln /p:Configuration=Release` — after WPF/UI changes (Windows only)
- [ ] `msbuild src/Dynamo.All.sln /p:Configuration=Release /warnAsError:RS0016,RS0017 /p:PublicApiAnalyzers=true` — before opening a PR (what CI runs; fails on undeclared public API)
- [ ] `dotnet test test/DynamoCoreTests/DynamoCoreTests.csproj --filter "Category=UnitTests"` — after engine/core changes
- [ ] `dotnet test test/Libraries/<TestDir>/<TestProject>.csproj --filter "Category=UnitTests"` — after node-library changes (names vary: `ls test/Libraries`, e.g. `NodeServicesTest/DynamoServicesTests.csproj`)
- [ ] New public member → added to the project's `PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt`
- [ ] New node → `.dyn` + `.md` + `.jpg` under `doc/distrib/NodeHelpFiles/`
- [ ] User-facing string → moved to a `.resx` file

## Important Documentation

- [Dynamo Wiki](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki)
- [Dynamo Coding Standards](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/Coding-Standards)
- [Dynamo Naming Standards](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/Naming-Standards)
- [API Changes](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/API-Changes)
- [Zero-Touch Plugin Development](https://github.com/DynamoDS/Dynamo/wiki/Zero-Touch-Plugin-Development)
- [Developer Resources](https://developer.dynamobim.org/)
- [Dynamo Samples](https://github.com/DynamoDS/DynamoSamples)
- [Contributing Guide](CONTRIBUTING.md)

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