dotnet-centralise-packages

Convert the current .NET solution to use Central Package Management, centralizing all package versions in a single Directory.Packages.props file.

Steps

1. Find the solution file (*.sln) in the current directory

   • If no .sln found, warn and stop

2. List all packages (including transitive)

   dotnet package list --include-transitive --format json
   

3. Parse JSON output to extract:

   • All unique packages across all projects
   • Their versions
   • Whether each package is direct or transitive
   • If same package has different versions, use the highest version

4. Check for existing CPM files

   • If Directory.Packages.props exists, ask user: overwrite or merge
   • Note existing Directory.Build.props content if present

5. Create Directory.Packages.props next to the .sln file:

   <Project>
     <ItemGroup>
       <PackageVersion Include="PackageName" Version="X.Y.Z" />
       <!-- one entry per unique package -->
     </ItemGroup>
   </Project>
   

6. Create or update Directory.Build.props next to the .sln file:

   • If file exists, add the property to existing content
   • If file doesn’t exist, create it:

   <Project>
     <PropertyGroup>
       <ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>true</ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>
     </PropertyGroup>
   </Project>
   

7. Update all .csproj files:

   • Remove Version attribute from all <PackageReference> elements
   • Before: <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
   • After: <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" />

8. Run build to verify:

   dotnet build
   

9. If build fails, ask the user:

   • Fix automatically: Review errors and attempt fixes
   • Fix manually: Show errors and let user handle

10. Report results:

    • List all created/modified files
    • Show package count centralized
    • Confirm build status

Transitive vs Direct Packages

• Direct packages: Explicitly in csproj via <PackageReference>. These get centralized.
• Transitive packages: Pulled in as dependencies. Generally NOT centralized unless:
  • User explicitly wants to pin a transitive package version
  • A transitive package needs a security update

When centralizing:

• Only add direct packages to Directory.Packages.props by default
• Report transitive packages separately for awareness
• If user wants to pin a transitive, add it as a <PackageVersion> entry

Version Conflict Resolution

When the same package has different versions across projects:

• Automatically use the highest/latest version
• No user prompt needed

Error Handling

• If no .sln found: warn about solution-level CPM requirement
• If Directory.Packages.props already exists: ask to overwrite or merge
• If build fails after conversion: offer automatic fix or manual intervention