Adding new skills for Build, Test and downloading correct .NET SDK

.github/skills/building-code/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: building-code
+description: >-
+  Instructions for restoring and building the WinForms repository.
+  Use when asked how to restore NuGet packages, build the full solution,
+  build a single project, create packages, or troubleshoot build errors.
+metadata:
+  author: dotnet-winforms
+  version: "1.0"
+---
+
+# Building the WinForms Repository
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+* Windows is required for WinForms runtime scenarios, test execution, and Visual
+  Studio workflows.
+* Linux is supported for command-line restore/build only; use `build.sh`
+  instead of `build.cmd` / `Restore.cmd`.
+* Visual Studio 2022 (for IDE builds) — see `WinForms.vsconfig` for required workloads.
+* The repo-local .NET SDK (specified in `global.json`) is used automatically by
+  `build.cmd` and `Restore.cmd`. You do **not** need a machine-wide SDK install
+  for command-line builds.
+
+---
+
+## 1  Restore
+
+Restoring downloads the repo-local SDK and all NuGet packages.
+
+```
+.\Restore.cmd
+```
+
+Under the hood this runs:
+
+```powershell
+eng\common\Build.ps1 -NativeToolsOnMachine -restore
+```
+
+You can pass any extra `Build.ps1` flags after `Restore.cmd`, e.g.
+`.\Restore.cmd -configuration Release`.
+
+---
+
+## 2  Full Solution Build (preferred)
+
+```
+.\build.cmd
+```
+
+This restores **and** builds `Winforms.sln` in `Debug|Any CPU` by default.
+
+Under the hood this runs:
+
+```powershell
+eng\common\Build.ps1 -NativeToolsOnMachine -restore -build -bl
+```
+
+### Common flags
+
+| Flag | Short | Description |
+|------|-------|-------------|
+| `-configuration <Debug\|Release>` | `-c` | Build configuration (default: `Debug`) |
+| `-platform <x86\|x64\|Any CPU>` | | Platform (default: `Any CPU`) |
+| `-restore` | `-r` | Restore only |
+| `-build` | `-b` | Build only (skip restore if already done) |
+| `-rebuild` | | Clean + build |
+| `-clean` | | Delete build artifacts |
+| `-pack` | | Create NuGet packages (`Microsoft.Private.Winforms`) |
+| `-bl` / `-binaryLog` | | Emit `artifacts\log\Debug\Build.binlog` |
+| `-ci` | | CI mode (stricter warnings, signing, etc.) |
+| `-test` | `-t` | Build **and** run unit tests |
+| `-integrationTest` | | Build **and** run integration / functional tests |
+
+### Examples
+
+```bash
+# Release build
+.\build.cmd -configuration Release
+
+# Build and run unit tests
+.\build.cmd -test
+
+# Create NuGet package
+.\build.cmd -pack
+```
+
+---
+
+## 3  Optimized Building a Single Project (fast inner-loop)
+
+Prefer rebuilding just the project(s) with recent changes by using the
+standard `dotnet build` command, **after** at least one initial successful
+full restore (via `.\Restore.cmd` or `.\build.cmd`).
+
+This is **much** faster than building the whole solution.
+
+```bash
+# Build a single src project
+dotnet build src\System.Windows.Forms\System.Windows.Forms.csproj
+
+# Build a single test project
+dotnet build src\test\unit\System.Windows.Forms\System.Windows.Forms.Tests.csproj
+
+# Release configuration
+dotnet build src\System.Windows.Forms\System.Windows.Forms.csproj -c Release
+```
+
+> **Tip:** The repo-local SDK must be on your `PATH`. Running `.\start-code.cmd`
+> or `.\start-vs.cmd` prepends it automatically. From a plain terminal you can
+> also run `.\Restore.cmd` first (it sets up the SDK).
+
+---
+
+## 4  Building from Visual Studio
+
+1. Run `.\Restore.cmd` (one-time, or after SDK/package changes).
+2. Run `.\start-vs.cmd` — opens `Winforms.sln` with the repo-local SDK on `PATH`.
+3. Build normally (<kbd>Ctrl+Shift+B</kbd>).
+
+## 5  Building from Visual Studio Code
+
+1. (Optional) `.\Restore.cmd`
+2. `.\start-code.cmd` — opens the workspace with the repo-local SDK on `PATH`.
+3. Build from the integrated terminal: `.\build.cmd` or `dotnet build <project>`.
+
+---
+
+## Build Outputs
+
+| Artifact | Location |
+|----------|----------|
+| Binaries | `artifacts\bin\<Project>\Debug\<tfm>\` |
+| Logs | `artifacts\log\` |
+| Binary log | `artifacts\log\Debug\Build.binlog` |
+| Test results | `artifacts\TestResults\` |
+| NuGet packages | `artifacts\packages\` |
+
+Use the [MSBuild Structured Log Viewer](https://msbuildlog.com/) to inspect
+`.binlog` files when troubleshooting build errors.
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+* **Most errors are compile errors** — fix them as usual.
+* **MSBuild task errors** — inspect `artifacts\log\Debug\Build.binlog`.
+* **SDK version mismatch** — the repo pins its SDK in `global.json`;
+  run `.\Restore.cmd` to ensure the correct SDK is available.
+* **VS preview features** — if using a non-Preview VS, enable
+  *Tools → Options → Environment → Preview Features →
+  Use previews of the .NET SDK*.

.github/skills/download-sdk/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: download-sdk
+description: >-
+  Instructions for downloading and installing .NET preview runtime versions
+  required by the WinForms repository. Use when test executables fail with
+  "framework not found" errors or when a specific .NET preview runtime
+  version needs to be installed.
+metadata:
+  author: dotnet-winforms
+  version: "1.0"
+---
+
+# Downloading and Installing .NET Preview Runtimes
+
+The WinForms repository targets **.NET preview** builds. Test executables and
+built assemblies require a matching runtime version that may not be publicly
+available on the official .NET download page. Use the internal CI feed URL
+pattern below to download and install the exact version needed.
+
+---
+
+## 1  Determining the Required Version
+
+The required runtime version can be found in multiple ways:
+
+### From an error message
+
+When a test executable cannot find its target framework, the error includes the
+version:
+
+```
+Framework: 'Microsoft.NETCore.App', version '11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108' (x64)
+```
+
+### From runtimeconfig.json (programmatic — preferred)
+
+Each test executable has a `.runtimeconfig.json` next to it that declares the
+exact version required:
+
+```powershell
+$rc = Get-Content "artifacts\bin\System.Windows.Forms.Tests\Debug\net11.0-windows7.0\System.Windows.Forms.Tests.runtimeconfig.json" | ConvertFrom-Json
+$version = $rc.runtimeOptions.framework.version
+Write-Host "Required runtime: $version"
+```
+
+---
+
+## 2  Download URL Pattern
+
+Use the following base URL, replacing `{version}` with the full version string:
+
+### x64 (64-bit) — required for standard test runs
+
+```
+https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/{version}/dotnet-runtime-{version}-win-x64.msi
+```
+
+### x86 (32-bit) — required for 32-bit test runs
+
+```
+https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/{version}/dotnet-runtime-{version}-win-x86.msi
+```
+
+### Example
+
+For version `11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108`:
+
+```
+x64: https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108/dotnet-runtime-11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108-win-x64.msi
+x86: https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108/dotnet-runtime-11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108-win-x86.msi
+```
+
+---
+
+## 3  Download and Install (PowerShell)
+
+```powershell
+$version = "11.0.0-preview.4.26203.108"   # ← replace with needed version
+
+# Download both architectures
+$url64 = "https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/$version/dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x64.msi"
+$url86 = "https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/$version/dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x86.msi"
+$msi64 = "$env:TEMP\dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x64.msi"
+$msi86 = "$env:TEMP\dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x86.msi"
+
+Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url64 -OutFile $msi64 -UseBasicParsing
+Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url86 -OutFile $msi86 -UseBasicParsing
+
+# Install (requires elevation)
+Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList "/i `"$msi64`" /quiet /norestart" -Wait -Verb RunAs
+Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList "/i `"$msi86`" /quiet /norestart" -Wait -Verb RunAs
+
+# Verify installation
+& "C:\Program Files\dotnet\dotnet.exe" --list-runtimes | Select-String $version
+
+# Clean up
+Remove-Item $msi64, $msi86 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+```
+
+> **Important:** The `-Verb RunAs` flag triggers a UAC elevation prompt.
+> Without it, the MSI install silently fails with exit code **1603**.
+
+---
+
+## 4  Verifying the Installation
+
+After installation, verify the runtime is available:
+
+```powershell
+# x64
+& "C:\Program Files\dotnet\dotnet.exe" --list-runtimes | Select-String $version
+
+# x86
+& "C:\Program Files (x86)\dotnet\dotnet.exe" --list-runtimes | Select-String $version
+
+# Or check the shared framework directory directly
+Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App" -Filter "$($version.Split('-')[0])*"
+Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files (x86)\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App" -Filter "$($version.Split('-')[0])*"
+```
+
+---
+
+## 5  Fully Automated: Detect, Download, and Install
+
+This script reads the required version from any test executable's
+`runtimeconfig.json`, downloads both architectures, and installs them:
+
+```powershell
+# Auto-detect version from the first test runtimeconfig found
+$rc = Get-ChildItem "artifacts\bin\*Tests*\Debug\*\*.runtimeconfig.json" |
+    Select-Object -First 1
+$version = (Get-Content $rc | ConvertFrom-Json).runtimeOptions.framework.version
+Write-Host "Required runtime: $version"
+
+# Check if already installed
+$installed = & "C:\Program Files\dotnet\dotnet.exe" --list-runtimes 2>$null |
+    Select-String ([regex]::Escape($version))
+if ($installed) {
+    Write-Host "Runtime $version is already installed."
+    return
+}
+
+# Download
+$base = "https://ci.dot.net/public/Runtime/$version"
+$msi64 = "$env:TEMP\dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x64.msi"
+$msi86 = "$env:TEMP\dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x86.msi"
+Invoke-WebRequest "$base/dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x64.msi" -OutFile $msi64 -UseBasicParsing
+Invoke-WebRequest "$base/dotnet-runtime-$version-win-x86.msi" -OutFile $msi86 -UseBasicParsing
+
+# Install (elevated)
+Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList "/i `"$msi64`" /quiet /norestart" -Wait -Verb RunAs
+Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList "/i `"$msi86`" /quiet /norestart" -Wait -Verb RunAs
+
+# Verify
+& "C:\Program Files\dotnet\dotnet.exe" --list-runtimes | Select-String $version
+
+# Clean up
+Remove-Item $msi64, $msi86 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+```
+
+---
+
+## 6  Alternative: Use the Repo-Local Runtime
+
+The repository includes a local `.dotnet` folder (populated by `.\Restore.cmd`)
+that may already have the required runtime. To use it instead of installing
+system-wide:
+
+```powershell
+# From the repository root:
+$env:DOTNET_ROOT = "$PWD\.dotnet"
+$env:PATH = "$PWD\.dotnet;$env:PATH"
+```
+
+Check available versions:
+
+```powershell
+Get-ChildItem ".dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App" | Select Name
+```
+
+> **Note:** The repo-local runtime works for running test executables but may
+> not be picked up by `vstest.console.exe` or other external tools.
+
+---
+
+## 7  Troubleshooting
+
+| Problem | Solution |
+|---------|----------|
+| MSI install fails with exit code **1603** | Run with `-Verb RunAs` for admin elevation |
+| MSI install exits **0** but runtime not listed | The install ran without elevation and failed silently — retry with `-Verb RunAs` |
+| Download returns **404** | Double-check the version string; the runtime may not be published to the CI feed yet |
+| Test exe still says "framework not found" after install | Ensure the **architecture** matches (x64 vs x86); check that the test exe is looking for `Microsoft.NETCore.App` (not `Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App` or `Microsoft.AspNetCore.App`) |
+| Need `Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App` | Replace `Runtime` with `WindowsDesktop` in the URL: `https://ci.dot.net/public/WindowsDesktop/{version}/windowsdesktop-runtime-{version}-win-x64.msi` |