SharpDeps — .NET Dependency Map

English · 日本語 · User guide

SharpDeps helps you explore dependencies in a .NET solution from a VS Code editor tab. Start with projects, drill down to namespaces and types, and select a connection to inspect its source references.

The screenshots and guide describe the 0.1.0 workbench. Use a matching VSIX or build this source to follow these instructions.

Install

Install a .vsix with Extensions: Install from VSIX… in the Command Palette. Published versions are available from the Visual Studio Marketplace and GitHub Releases; check the version in VS Code's Extensions view.

VS Code 1.90 or later and a trusted workspace are required to run analysis.

Mode	What it shows	Requirements
Quick	Declared project references and namespace dependencies inferred from using directives.	.NET 10 runtime; no SDK or MSBuild evaluation. The .NET Install Tool can acquire the runtime.
Semantic	Evaluated C# project references and code references resolved with MSBuild and Roslyn, including types and reference locations.	.NET 10 runtime and an installed SDK compatible with the target and its global.json. Restore the target's packages yourself.

The .NET Install Tool is installed as an extension dependency. SharpDeps does not acquire an SDK or restore project packages automatically.

CLI and optional MCP

Version 0.3.0 introduces a breaking MCP interface: one typed explore tool replaces the separate query tools. The CLI also accepts explore --term "related names or paths". See CLI and MCP exploration for trust, scope, freshness, response limits, and upgrading an existing index. Versions through 0.2.3 retain their earlier MCP interface.

The 0.3.0 release targets the NuGet tools and their checksums. The Visual Studio Marketplace extension remains at 0.2.1; no new VSIX or Open VSX publication is included. Check the registry or GitHub Release for package availability.

Use an available exact package version in place of <version>. Both tools require the .NET 10 runtime. Install them from NuGet, or use the nupkg downloads from GitHub Releases with a local NuGet feed.

dotnet tool install --global SharpDeps.Cli --version <version>
dotnet tool install --global SharpDeps.Mcp --version <version>

dnx runs a tool without permanent installation and requires .NET SDK 10.0.100 or later:

dnx SharpDeps.Cli@<version> --verbosity quiet -- help
dnx SharpDeps.Mcp@<version> --verbosity quiet -- --root /absolute/workspace

For unattended use with .NET SDK 11 or later, add --yes before --. The .NET 10 launcher does not accept that option.

An MCP client can launch the optional read-only host with:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sharpdeps": {
      "command": "dnx",
      "args": ["SharpDeps.Mcp@<version>", "--verbosity", "quiet", "--", "--root", "/absolute/workspace"],
      "env": { "DOTNET_NOLOGO": "1" }
    }
  }
}

Open your first map

1. Open your solution folder in VS Code.
2. Right-click a .sln, .slnx, or supported project file in Explorer and choose SharpDeps: Show Dependency Map.
3. Select a node or connection. Use Dependencies or Dependents to narrow the graph, and open reference evidence from Details.

You can also use the Command Palette. Quick supports .csproj, .fsproj, .vbproj, and .vcxproj targets; Semantic is intended for SDK-style C# projects. A project target follows its transitive project references.

For type-level references, select Semantic and choose Analyze. See the user guide for setup, filters, evidence, cycles, exports, and troubleshooting.

Explore and share

• Use the hierarchy or search to find projects, namespaces, and types. Graph and table views share the same scope.
• Use the bottom bar for horizontal/vertical direction, zoom, and Fit. Spacing opens above the bar to adjust node and rank spacing.
• A directed node pair has one line: solid when a declared, evaluated, or resolved relation exists; dashed when only inferred. Quick's solid lines show declarations, not proof of compiled code usage. Underlying relations remain available in Details.
• Export the current scope as Mermaid, JSON, SVG, or PNG. Copy for agent copies an evidence-backed context to the clipboard; it does not contact a service.
• Switch the UI with 日本語 or English in the top menu. Language, orientation, filters, selection, pane sizes, and camera are saved with the view.

Analysis and graph rendering run locally. A failed or cancelled analysis keeps the last successful result. Display limits restrict the picture, not discovery, search, or cycle detection.

Build from source

Use Node.js 20 or later and .NET SDK 10:

npm ci
npm run package

This builds both analyzer hosts and the webview, then creates sharpdeps-<package.json version>.vsix. To run a development host, use npm run build:analyzer and npm run build, then press F5 in VS Code.

License

MIT. See third-party notices for bundled components.