dotNetBench — .NET Development Bench

Full-featured .NET development container using the workBenches layered image system.

Layer Architecture

Layer 0: workbench-base:latest     — Ubuntu 24.04, system tools, AI CLIs
Layer 1: devbench-base:latest      — Python, Node.js, dev tools
Layer 2: dotnet-bench:latest       — .NET SDK, cloud CLIs, DB clients (this image)
Layer 3: dotnet-bench:{username}   — User account (built automatically)
Runtime: devcontainer.json mounts  — Credentials, shell config, AI auth

What Layer 2 Installs (v2.0.0)

.NET SDK & Runtimes

• .NET 10 SDK, runtime, ASP.NET Core runtime
• Workloads: Aspire, wasm-tools (Blazor WASM AOT)

.NET Global Tools (18+)

• EF Core: dotnet-ef
• Diagnostics: dotnet-trace, dotnet-dump, dotnet-counters, dotnet-monitor
• Code quality: dotnet-sonarscanner, coverlet, dotnet-stryker, dotnet-format
• Scaffolding: dotnet-aspnet-codegenerator, libman
• Utilities: dotnet-outdated, dotnet-retire, dotnet-depends, dotnet-script
• Web: httprepl, Swashbuckle CLI
• Versioning: GitVersion, ReportGenerator

Cloud CLIs

• Azure CLI (includes Bicep)
• AWS CLI v2
• Docker CLI + Docker Compose (client only — host socket mount)
• kubectl (Kubernetes 1.32)
• Helm 3

Database Clients

• PostgreSQL (psql)
• MySQL (mysql)
• SQLite (sqlite3)
• Redis (redis-cli)
• MSSQL (sqlcmd via mssql-tools18)

PowerShell

• Cross-platform PowerShell (from Microsoft repo)

System Utilities

• htop, tree, less

Getting Started

Build

# Build Layer 2 (requires devbench-base:latest)
docker build -t dotnet-bench:latest -f Dockerfile.layer2 .

# Or use the build script
./scripts/build-layer2.sh

Open

1. Open this folder in VS Code
2. Click "Reopen in Container"
3. Layer 3 builds automatically via ensure-layer3.sh

Verify

dotnet --version          # .NET 10 SDK
dotnet ef --version       # EF Core tools
dotnet-trace --version    # Diagnostics
az --version              # Azure CLI
aws --version             # AWS CLI
docker --version          # Docker client
kubectl version --client  # Kubernetes
helm version              # Helm
psql --version            # PostgreSQL client
sqlcmd --version          # MSSQL client
pwsh --version            # PowerShell

Pre-configured Aliases

# .NET
dn / dnr / dnb / dnt / dnw    # dotnet run/build/test/watch
dnef / dna / dnrs / dnnew     # dotnet ef/add/restore/new

# Docker
d / dc / dps / di             # docker / compose / ps / images

# Kubernetes
k / kgp / kgs / kgd           # kubectl get pods/services/deployments

Forwarded Ports

• 5000 — .NET HTTP
• 5001 — .NET HTTPS
• 7071 — Azure Functions
• 8080 — Dev Server
• 3000 — Frontend dev
• 4200 — Angular dev

VS Code Extensions

Pre-configured: C# Dev Kit, Blazor WASM Companion, PowerShell, Azure Functions, Docker, Copilot, GitLens, Playwright, REST Client, NuGet Package Manager, and more.