Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore how to utilize .NET analyzers to enhance the code quality and maintainability of your C# projects. By integrating tools like Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.NetAnalyzers and StyleCop.Analyzers, you can enforce coding standards, identify potential issues, and improve the overall quality of your codebase.

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of C# and .NET development.
  • A .NET API Project.

Steps

1. Install NuGet Packages

We should start by installing Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.NetAnalyzers. This is maintained by Microsoft and can be consider “Best Practices”.

If you want even more rules you could also look into StyleCop.Analyzers.

The packages should be added to every project in the solution.

2. Rebuild the project and check your errors and warnings.

It’s common to get a lot of warnings if you have big older projects.

Something like this: alt text

It could be overwhelming to go through all errors and warnings, but it’s important for code quality.

3. Decide which rules to obey

The best part is that you and your colleges can decide which rules you want to follow by configure the .editorconfig. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/create-portable-custom-editor-options

For example:

# CA Rules
# https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/fundamentals/code-analysis/overview

dotnet_diagnostic.CS1591.severity = none

dotnet_diagnostic.CA1002.severity = none
dotnet_diagnostic.CA1008.severity = none
dotnet_diagnostic.CA1014.severity = none
dotnet_diagnostic.CA1031.severity = none
dotnet_diagnostic.CA1054.severity = none

4. Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have delved into the realm of .NET analyzers, powerful tools that can significantly enhance the quality and maintainability of your C# projects. By leveraging tools like Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.NetAnalyzers and StyleCop.Analyzers, developers can enforce coding standards, identify potential issues, and elevate the overall quality of their codebase.