Dotnet-Boxed Templates is a collection of .NET project templates that provide pre-configured starting points for building applications with minimal boilerplate code.
The templates address the problem of repetitive setup work when starting new .NET projects by bundling common configurations, dependencies, and best practices into ready-to-use templates. The approach works through the dotnet new command-line interface, allowing developers to generate fully structured projects with a single command. Templates are available for ASP.NET Core APIs, ASP.NET Core GraphQL services, Microsoft Orleans distributed applications, and NuGet packages. Each template includes pre-configured tooling, Docker support, and code organization patterns that follow established conventions.
Developers should choose these templates if they want to skip the initial scaffolding phase and adopt opinionated but sensible defaults for .NET projects. The templates suit teams building web APIs, GraphQL services, or distributed systems who value consistency across projects and want to avoid reinventing project structure. Installation is straightforward through the dotnet CLI or Visual Studio's new project dialog. The templates include item templates for common files like .editorconfig and .gitattributes configurations, supporting normalized line endings and Git Large File System integration.
The project maintains active development with documented release notes and a public roadmap of planned features and enhancements. Pull requests receive timely review and feedback from maintainers. The codebase shows consistent attention to code quality through automated checks and testing practices. Documentation is comprehensive, with detailed guides for each template type and clear instructions for both CLI and Visual Studio workflows.
