Contributing to .NET | MSDN Community

Welcome to the .NET Contribution Hub!

Thank you for your interest in contributing to the .NET ecosystem. Your efforts help make .NET more robust, feature-rich, and accessible for developers worldwide. This guide outlines how you can get involved, from reporting bugs to submitting code changes.

Getting Started

Before you dive in, familiarize yourself with the core principles and expectations:

Code of Conduct: Adhere to the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Development Workflow: Understand the standard Git workflow, including forking, branching, committing, and pull requests.
Licensing: All contributions are subject to the MIT License.

How You Can Contribute

1. Reporting Bugs

Found an issue? Reporting it clearly and concisely is a valuable contribution. A good bug report helps us understand and fix the problem faster.

Search First: Check if a similar issue has already been reported.
Provide Details: Include steps to reproduce, expected behavior, actual behavior, relevant environment information (.NET version, OS, etc.), and error messages.
Use Templates: Many repositories provide issue templates to guide you.

Example of a good bug report:

# Bug Report: NullReferenceException when calling Foo.Bar() with null input

**Environment:**
.NET SDK 7.0.400 on Windows 11

**Steps to Reproduce:**
1. Create a new console application.
2. Add the following code:
   ```csharp
   using System;

   public class Program
   {
       public static void Main(string[] args)
       {
           var foo = new Foo();
           foo.Bar(null); // This line throws an exception
       }
   }

   public class Foo
   {
       public void Bar(string input)
       {
           Console.WriteLine(input.Length);
       }
   }
   ```
3. Run the application.

**Expected Behavior:**
The application should output the length of the string (or handle null gracefully).

**Actual Behavior:**
A `System.NullReferenceException` is thrown at `foo.Bar(null)`.
        

2. Suggesting Features and Improvements

Have an idea for a new feature or a way to improve existing functionality? We'd love to hear it!

Start a Discussion: Open an issue or a discussion thread to propose your idea.
Be Specific: Explain the problem your feature solves and how it would benefit users.
Consider Alternatives: Acknowledge potential trade-offs or alternative approaches.

3. Contributing Code

Ready to write some code? This is where you can make a significant impact.

Fork the Repository: Create your own copy of the .NET repository you want to contribute to.
Create a Branch: Make a new branch for your changes (e.g., `feature/my-new-thing` or `bugfix/fix-the-issue`).
Make Your Changes: Write your code, ensuring it follows existing style guidelines and includes relevant tests.
Test Thoroughly: Run all existing tests and add new ones for your changes.
Commit Your Changes: Write clear, concise commit messages.
Submit a Pull Request (PR): Open a PR from your fork to the main repository. Clearly describe your changes and reference any related issues.
Engage with Reviewers: Be prepared to respond to feedback and make necessary adjustments.

4. Improving Documentation

Clear and accurate documentation is crucial. If you spot typos, confusing explanations, or missing information, you can help!

Follow the same contribution steps as for code, but focus on documentation files (usually `.md` or `.rst`).
Ensure your documentation aligns with code changes.

5. Answering Questions and Helping Others

Engage with the community by answering questions on forums, Q&A sites, or GitHub discussions.

Key Resources

.NET GitHub Repository

The primary source for .NET core development. Explore the code, issues, and pull requests.
Go to GitHub
.NET Documentation

Official documentation for all things .NET.
Explore Docs
Developer Community

Connect with other .NET developers, ask questions, and share your knowledge.
Visit Forums

Ready to Make a Difference?

We're excited to have you on board. Start by exploring the repositories, picking an issue that interests you, or simply introducing yourself to the community.

Browse Open Issues Start a Discussion