binlog-failure-analysis

Replay .NET/MSBuild binary log files into searchable text for failure analysis.

5.1k|377|Updated Feb 3, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/dotnet/skills --skill binlog-failure-analysis-dotnet
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: binlog-failure-analysis
Source: https://github.com/dotnet/skills/tree/main/plugins/dotnet-msbuild/skills/binlog-failure-analysis
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/dotnet/skills --skill binlog-failure-analysis-dotnet

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps developers quickly diagnose and understand complex build failures in .NET/MSBuild projects by analyzing binary log files.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Binary Log Replay: Converts detailed binary build logs (.binlog) into searchable text formats.
  • Targeted Analysis: Isolates errors, warnings, and performance summaries for efficient debugging.
  • Use Case: When a .NET build fails unexpectedly, use this Skill to replay the build.binlog file, pinpoint the exact error message and its context, and identify the root cause in the project's dependencies or configuration.

Quick Start

Use the binlog-failure-analysis skill to analyze the attached file 'build.binlog' and report all errors.

Frequently Asked Questions about binlog-failure-analysis

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I diagnose MSBuild build failures using a binary log?

To diagnose MSBuild build failures, this Skill replays binary log files into searchable text logs, isolating compilation errors, dependency issues, and performance bottlenecks to pinpoint the root cause. It extracts detailed error reporting from your .binlog data for efficient debugging.

What is a .NET binlog and when do I need it for debugging?

A .NET binlog is a detailed binary build log generated by MSBuild. You need it for debugging when a .NET build fails unexpectedly, as replaying the binlog converts it into searchable text to isolate exact error messages and identify configuration or dependency root causes.

Can I analyze dependency issues and performance bottlenecks in .NET builds?

Yes, you can analyze dependency issues and performance bottlenecks in .NET builds. The Skill scopes its diagnostics to target compilation errors, dependency failures, and performance summaries by replaying the binary log into a searchable text format for root cause analysis.

What's the best way to convert a build.binlog file into a readable error report?

The best way to convert a build.binlog file into a readable error report is using this Skill's binary log replay feature. It transforms detailed binary build logs into searchable text formats, isolating errors and warnings to generate a focused root cause analysis report.

Does this MSBuild diagnostics approach work for complex compilation errors?

Yes, this MSBuild diagnostics approach works for complex compilation errors. By replaying binary log files into searchable text logs, it scopes specifically to diagnosing compilation errors and pinpointing the exact error message alongside its context to identify the root cause.

Why does my .NET build fail unexpectedly and how do I find the root cause?

If your .NET build fails unexpectedly, you can find the root cause by analyzing the build.binlog file. This Skill replays the binary log into searchable text, pinpoints the exact error message and its context, and identifies failures in project dependencies or configuration.