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dotnet-clickonce-config · a5c-ai | DecimalAI

a5c-ai/dotnet-clickonce-config

SkillScore95Maintained

Configure ClickOnce deployment with auto-update, prerequisites, and publish settings for .NET applications

DevOpsby a5c-ai

Links this skill to your agents and keeps it current with the author’s updates.

Automatic

DevOps & SRE pack

1 · One-time — install the CLI (docs ↗)

pip install decimalai

2 · Get the skill — writes .claude/skills/a5c-ai-dotnet-clickonce-config/SKILL.md

decimalai skills pull a5c-ai-dotnet-clickonce-config --out .claude/skills/

No CLI? Get the same file — curl · raw file

curl -fsSL --create-dirs -o .claude/skills/a5c-ai-dotnet-clickonce-config/SKILL.md https://app.decimal.ai/s/a5c-ai-dotnet-clickonce-config/SKILL.md

Raw file: /s/a5c-ai-dotnet-clickonce-config/SKILL.md ↗ · machine-readable summary at /s/a5c-ai-dotnet-clickonce-config.json ↗

In productionGlobal

how this skill behaves on real traffic · last 30 days

No production data for this skill yet — usage numbers appear here once agents start running it.

Anonymized aggregate across every org using this skill — proof from real production use, not a demo.

Does this skill help? · Benchmark: with vs. withoutsign in to run this on your agents

22 test cases from the publisher’s eval.yaml · each run twice on gemini-3.6-flash — with the skill injected, then without · last run 54d ago

Yes — +27% lift · at higher cost+88% tokens0% turns95% of whole cases pass with skill (21/22)

Test case	Without → With	Effect	Δ tokens	Δ turns
case-01	✗→✓	▲ Improved	142%	0%
case-02	✗→✓	▲ Improved	33%	0%
case-03	✗→✓	▲ Improved	43%	0%
case-08	✗→✓	▲ Improved	70%	0%
case-11	✗→✓	▲ Improved	64%	0%

Showing 5 of 22 cases

SkillSafety

✓ 3 of 3 passed

Code scan15 of 15 checks clean

0 critical · 0 warning · 0 info — scanner v4 — 7/31/2026

live_secretremote_code_executionreverse_shelldata_exfiltrationssrf_metadataagent_snoopinganti_refusaldestructive_commandsobfuscated_unicodeunicode_homoglyphopaque_blobsuspicious_urltool_overreachtrigger_abuseprompt_injection_phrasing

IntentSafe

LLM judge · does the skill do what it claims

ContentClean

LLM judge · policy & harmful-content review

Source

Imported

a5c-ai / babysitter

library/specializations/desktop-development/skills/dotnet-clickonce-config/SKILL.md

View on GitHub ↗

License MITImported 7/31/2026Version v1

Skill contents

SKILL.md

dotnet-clickonce-config

Configure ClickOnce deployment for .NET applications with auto-update capabilities, prerequisite management, and publish settings. This skill sets up the complete ClickOnce deployment pipeline.

Capabilities

Configure ClickOnce publish settings
Set up automatic update checking
Manage application prerequisites
Configure file associations
Set up signing with certificates
Generate publish profiles
Configure deployment manifest
Set up web or file share deployment

Input Schema

json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "projectPath": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Path to the .NET project"
    },
    "publishSettings": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "publishUrl": { "type": "string" },
        "installUrl": { "type": "string" },
        "updateMode": { "enum": ["foreground", "background"] },
        "updateInterval": { "type": "number" },
        "minimumVersion": { "type": "string" }
      }
    },
    "prerequisites": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "fileAssociations": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "extension": { "type": "string" },
          "description": { "type": "string" }
        }
      }
    },
    "signing": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "certificatePath": { "type": "string" },
        "timestampUrl": { "type": "string" }
      }
    }
  },
  "required": ["projectPath", "publishSettings"]
}

Output Schema

json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "success": { "type": "boolean" },
    "files": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "path": { "type": "string" },
          "type": { "enum": ["pubxml", "manifest", "settings"] }
        }
      }
    },
    "publishCommand": { "type": "string" }
  },
  "required": ["success"]
}

.csproj Configuration

xml
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
    <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>

    <!-- ClickOnce settings -->
    <PublishUrl>https://myserver.com/myapp/</PublishUrl>
    <InstallUrl>https://myserver.com/myapp/</InstallUrl>
    <UpdateUrl>https://myserver.com/myapp/</UpdateUrl>
    <ApplicationRevision>1</ApplicationRevision>
    <ApplicationVersion>1.0.0.*</ApplicationVersion>
    <IsWebBootstrapper>true</IsWebBootstrapper>
    <PublisherName>My Company</PublisherName>
    <ProductName>My Application</ProductName>
    <MapFileExtensions>true</MapFileExtensions>
    <Install>true</Install>
    <InstallFrom>Web</InstallFrom>
    <UpdateEnabled>true</UpdateEnabled>
    <UpdateMode>Foreground</UpdateMode>
    <UpdateInterval>7</UpdateInterval>
    <UpdateIntervalUnits>Days</UpdateIntervalUnits>
    <UpdatePeriodically>true</UpdatePeriodically>
    <UpdateRequired>false</UpdateRequired>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <!-- Prerequisites -->
  <ItemGroup>
    <BootstrapperPackage Include=".NETFramework,Version=v4.8">
      <Visible>False</Visible>
      <ProductName>.NET Framework 4.8</ProductName>
      <Install>true</Install>
    </BootstrapperPackage>
  </ItemGroup>

</Project>

Publish Profile (pubxml)

xml
<!-- Properties/PublishProfiles/ClickOnce.pubxml -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project>
  <PropertyGroup>
    <PublishProtocol>ClickOnce</PublishProtocol>
    <PublishDir>bin\publish\</PublishDir>
    <PublishUrl>https://myserver.com/myapp/</PublishUrl>
    <InstallUrl>https://myserver.com/myapp/</InstallUrl>
    <UpdateUrl>https://myserver.com/myapp/</UpdateUrl>
    <ApplicationVersion>1.0.0.*</ApplicationVersion>
    <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
    <Platform>Any CPU</Platform>
    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
    <SelfContained>false</SelfContained>
    <RuntimeIdentifier>win-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
    <PublishSingleFile>false</PublishSingleFile>
    <PublishReadyToRun>false</PublishReadyToRun>

    <!-- Install settings -->
    <Install>true</Install>
    <InstallFrom>Web</InstallFrom>
    <CreateDesktopShortcut>true</CreateDesktopShortcut>
    <CreateWebPageOnPublish>true</CreateWebPageOnPublish>
    <WebPageFileName>publish.htm</WebPageFileName>

    <!-- Update settings -->
    <UpdateEnabled>true</UpdateEnabled>
    <UpdateMode>Foreground</UpdateMode>
    <UpdateInterval>7</UpdateInterval>
    <UpdateIntervalUnits>Days</UpdateIntervalUnits>
    <UpdatePeriodically>true</UpdatePeriodically>
    <UpdateRequired>false</UpdateRequired>

    <!-- Security -->
    <SignManifests>true</SignManifests>
    <ManifestCertificateThumbprint>1234567890ABCDEF</ManifestCertificateThumbprint>
    <ManifestTimestampRFC3161Url>http://timestamp.digicert.com</ManifestTimestampRFC3161Url>

    <!-- File associations -->
    <TargetCulture>en-US</TargetCulture>
    <ProductName>My Application</ProductName>
    <PublisherName>My Company</PublisherName>
    <OpenBrowserOnPublish>false</OpenBrowserOnPublish>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

Programmatic Update Checking

csharp
using System.Deployment.Application;

public class UpdateManager
{
    public async Task<bool> CheckForUpdatesAsync()
    {
        if (!ApplicationDeployment.IsNetworkDeployed)
        {
            return false;
        }

        var deployment = ApplicationDeployment.CurrentDeployment;

        try
        {
            var info = deployment.CheckForDetailedUpdate();

            if (info.UpdateAvailable)
            {
                if (info.IsUpdateRequired)
                {
                    // Force update
                    deployment.Update();
                    Application.Restart();
                    return true;
                }
                else
                {
                    // Optional update - prompt user
                    var result = MessageBox.Show(
                        $"Version {info.AvailableVersion} is available. Update now?",
                        "Update Available",
                        MessageBoxButton.YesNo);

                    if (result == MessageBoxResult.Yes)
                    {
                        deployment.Update();
                        Application.Restart();
                        return true;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        catch (DeploymentDownloadException ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show($"Update failed: {ex.Message}");
        }

        return false;
    }

    public Version GetCurrentVersion()
    {
        if (ApplicationDeployment.IsNetworkDeployed)
        {
            return ApplicationDeployment.CurrentDeployment.CurrentVersion;
        }
        return Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Version;
    }
}

Publishing Commands

bash
# Publish via dotnet CLI
dotnet publish -p:PublishProfile=ClickOnce

# Publish via MSBuild
msbuild /t:Publish /p:PublishProfile=ClickOnce

# Publish with version increment
dotnet publish -p:PublishProfile=ClickOnce -p:ApplicationRevision=$(($(date +%s)))

Signing Configuration

xml
<!-- Sign manifests with certificate -->
<PropertyGroup>
  <SignManifests>true</SignManifests>
  <ManifestCertificateThumbprint>YOUR_CERT_THUMBPRINT</ManifestCertificateThumbprint>
  <ManifestTimestampRFC3161Url>http://timestamp.digicert.com</ManifestTimestampRFC3161Url>
</PropertyGroup>

powershell
# Find certificate thumbprint
Get-ChildItem -Path Cert:\CurrentUser\My | Format-Table Thumbprint, Subject

# Sign manually
mage -sign MyApp.application -CertFile cert.pfx -Password mypassword

Server Setup (IIS)

xml
<!-- web.config for ClickOnce hosting -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
  <system.webServer>
    <staticContent>
      <mimeMap fileExtension=".application" mimeType="application/x-ms-application"/>
      <mimeMap fileExtension=".manifest" mimeType="application/x-ms-manifest"/>
      <mimeMap fileExtension=".deploy" mimeType="application/octet-stream"/>
    </staticContent>
  </system.webServer>
</configuration>

Best Practices

Always sign manifests: Required for production
Use semantic versioning: Clear version updates
Set minimum version: Force updates for critical fixes
Test update flow: Verify before releasing
Use HTTPS: Secure download channel
Monitor publish folder: Verify deployment success

Related Skills

windows-authenticode-signer - Code signing
auto-update-system process - Update workflow
desktop-build-pipeline process - CI/CD

Related Agents

wpf-dotnet-expert - .NET expertise
release-manager - Release coordination

Illustrative Want to see what a5c-ai/dotnet-clickonce-config would put in front of your model? Preview the rendered body and check its trigger phrases — no LLM call, no signup.

Latest benchmark · publisher runVerified

8/1/2026, 02:43 UTC · 22 cases

Lift

+27%

95% vs 68%

Agent turns

0%

1.0 vs 1.0

Tokens

+88%

3,568.18 vs 1,898

fail → pass · 7pass → pass · 14pass → fail · 1

Per-case results (22)

Case	Status	Duration (ms)			Turns			Tokens			Tool calls
Case	Status	Without	With	Δ	Without	With	Δ	Without	With	Δ	Without	With	Δ
case-01 I need to configure ClickOnce deployment for my WPF app located at `C:\Projects\DesktopApp\DesktopApp.csproj`. The deployment should host files at `https://deploy.mycompany.com/apps/desktop/`, check for updates automatically in background mode every 14 days, and use a code signing cert located at `C:\Certs\release.pfx` with timestamping. Please generate the deployment configuration, returning a JSON response indicating success, created pubxml/manifest file paths, and the CLI command to execute the publish.	fail→pass	11,280	9,296	-18%	1	1	0%	1,912	4,622	+142%	0	0	—
case-02 We are setting up a ClickOnce publish pipeline for our desktop application at `./src/InventorySystem/InventorySystem.csproj`. Set up web installation pointing to `https://downloads.acme.org/inventory/`, configure foreground updates, add .NET Framework 4.8 as a prerequisite package, and map the `.inv` file extension to open with this application. Return a JSON payload including the success boolean, generated file objects with their types, and the publish command string.	fail→pass	12,986	7,340	-43%	1	1	0%	3,063	4,065	+33%	0	0	—
case-03 Can you help me set up a ClickOnce deployment profile for `D:\work\OrderTracker\OrderTracker.csproj`? It should publish to `https://updates.internal.net/ordertracker/`, mandate foreground update checks with a minimum required version of `2.1.0.0`, and include certificate signing parameters. Provide the final response structured as JSON containing whether it succeeded, the array of generated file paths, and the publish command.	fail→pass	12,287	8,127	-34%	1	1	0%	2,930	4,185	+43%	0	0	—
case-04 I need to sign a standalone Windows executable binary file `MyApp.exe` directly using Windows Authenticode tools like `signtool.exe` with `release.pfx` and RFC 3161 timestamping without creating ClickOnce manifests or publish profiles. Provide the signtool command line.	pass→pass	5,930	5,744	-3%	1	1	0%	1,187	3,202	+170%	0	0	—
case-05 We are packaging a WinForms .NET application using MSIX in Visual Studio. Can you write a `Wapproj` packaging project file XML to create an MSIX app bundle for Windows Store distribution?	pass→pass	14,410	13,560	-6%	1	1	0%	2,966	5,164	+74%	0	0	—
case-06 How do I configure an auto-update mechanism for an Electron desktop application using electron-updater and a GitHub Releases provider?	pass→pass	15,456	10,815	-30%	1	1	0%	3,106	4,465	+44%	0	0	—
case-07 We are hosting ClickOnce deployment files on IIS for a .NET desktop app. We need to configure `web.config` so IIS serves `.application`, `.manifest`, and `.deploy` files with correct MIME types instead of returning 404.3 errors. Provide the `web.config` XML snippet.	pass→pass	3,391	4,264	+26%	1	1	0%	884	3,122	+253%	0	0	—
case-08 Create a `ClickOnce.pubxml` MSBuild publish profile for a .NET 8 Windows WPF app. The profile should deploy to `https://deploy.acme.com/app/`, enable desktop shortcuts, enable foreground updates every 7 days, set runtime identifier to `win-x64`, and configure RFC 3161 timestamping URL `http://timestamp.digicert.com`. Return the pubxml XML content.	fail→pass	10,041	7,048	-30%	1	1	0%	2,380	4,035	+70%	0	0	—
case-09 Write a C# helper class using .NET ClickOnce deployment APIs that checks if the app is network deployed, checks for detailed updates, prompts the user if optional update is available, or automatically updates and restarts if required. Show the code.	pass→fail	15,839	11,737	-26%	1	1	0%	3,465	4,901	+41%	0	0	—
case-10 What is the dotnet CLI command to publish a .NET solution using a ClickOnce publish profile named `ClickOnce`?	pass→pass	6,101	2,304	-62%	1	1	0%	1,096	2,665	+143%	0	0	—
case-11 In a C# WPF application deployed via ClickOnce, how do you safely retrieve the deployment version when network-deployed versus falling back to assembly version when running locally?	fail→pass	13,271	9,220	-31%	1	1	0%	2,462	4,046	+64%	0	0	—
case-12 I have a ClickOnce deployment manifest `MyApp.application` and a PFX certificate `cert.pfx`. What PowerShell or MAGE tool command signs the application manifest manually?	pass→pass	9,166	4,820	-47%	1	1	0%	1,661	3,229	+94%	0	0	—
case-13 Show the PropertyGroup XML elements to add directly inside a .NET 8 SDK-style `.csproj` file to set up ClickOnce web installation from `https://app.example.com/deploy/`, set PublishName to 'Acme Tools', enable update checks every 7 days in foreground mode.	pass→pass	8,320	4,415	-47%	1	1	0%	1,449	3,361	+132%	0	0	—
case-14 How do you specify .NET Framework 4.8 as an installer prerequisite bootstrapper package inside an ItemGroup in a C# project file?	fail→pass	8,108	3,313	-59%	1	1	0%	1,538	2,945	+91%	0	0	—
case-15 In a Linux CI pipeline bash script, how can we invoke `dotnet publish` with a ClickOnce profile while dynamically passing a unique ApplicationRevision property generated from epoch timestamp?	pass→pass	12,485	7,895	-37%	1	1	0%	2,131	3,587	+68%	0	0	—
case-16 What PowerShell command lists personal certificates in the current user certificate store showing Thumbprint and Subject so we can copy the thumbprint into a ClickOnce pubxml profile?	pass→pass	6,568	2,998	-54%	1	1	0%	1,205	2,802	+133%	0	0	—
case-17 In a ClickOnce publish profile XML, how do you specify that updates are required and set mandatory minimum update properties?	pass→pass	7,001	5,023	-28%	1	1	0%	1,366	3,277	+140%	0	0	—
case-18 In a ClickOnce pubxml file, how do you ensure MSBuild automatically generates an HTML publish web page named `index.htm` upon publish?	pass→pass	7,551	3,058	-60%	1	1	0%	1,400	2,819	+101%	0	0	—
case-19 When writing C# code for ClickOnce automatic updates, what specific exception class should be caught to handle network or download failures during update checks?	pass→pass	6,672	5,286	-21%	1	1	0%	1,228	3,025	+146%	0	0	—
case-20 In a .NET 8 ClickOnce pubxml file targeting `win-x64`, what property configures whether the deployment relies on an installed .NET runtime versus bundling the runtime?	pass→pass	3,924	3,771	-4%	1	1	0%	741	2,990	+304%	0	0	—
case-21 What MSBuild/ClickOnce project configuration settings associate a custom file extension `.docfile` with a friendly description 'Document File' for a ClickOnce application?	pass→pass	9,924	5,077	-49%	1	1	0%	1,879	3,244	+73%	0	0	—
case-22 What is the command line invocation using standard `msbuild` executable to publish a ClickOnce deployment profile?	fail→pass	9,161	2,799	-69%	1	1	0%	1,707	2,749	+61%	0	0	—

These cases were also screened by the skill’s intent / safety pass.See the Trust review ↗Reproduce this benchmark in Colab ↗

How this skill was measured

DecimalAI ran this skill against gemini-3.6-flash twice over the same eval suite — once with the skill loaded and once without — and compared the two runs case by case. 22 cases were attempted. The headline lift of +27 percentage points is the difference between those two pass rates over the 22 comparable cases. 1 case got worse with the skill loaded, and it is included in that figure.

Model measured: gemini-3.6-flash
Graded by: gemini-3.6-flash
Grading method: judged
Verification: verified
Pass rate without the skill: 68.2%
Pass rate with the skill: 95.5%
Cases attempted: 22
Cases counted toward lift: 22
Cases that regressed: 1
Skill version measured: v1
Run completed: 8/1/2026, 02:43 UTC

Measured example — same prompt, with vs. without the skill · from the benchmark run · case case-01

Prompt

I need to configure ClickOnce deployment for my WPF app located at `C:\Projects\DesktopApp\DesktopApp.csproj`. The deployment should host files at `https://deploy.mycompany.com/apps/desktop/`, check for updates automatically in background mode every 14 days, and use a code signing cert located at `C:\Certs\release.pfx` with timestamping. Please generate the deployment configuration, returning a JSON response indicating success, created pubxml/manifest file paths, and the CLI command to execute the publish.

Without the skill loaded, the model failed this case. With it loaded, the same prompt on the same model passed. This is one improved case from the latest verified run; every case, including any that regressed, is in the table above.

Show both answers

SkillScore blends 4 signals1 of 4 complete

BenchmarkPass rate WITH skill on a verified run95

Live evalNeeds ≥10 evaluated traces in 30 days

AI ratingNeeds ≥10 rated traces

AdoptionNeeds ≥10 serves across ≥2 orgs in 30 days

Efficiency · separate axis (at equal correctness)+0% turns+111% tokens

Shown for transparency; not credited unless a verified run shows no correctness regression.

Backed by 1 of 4 signals — each added signal makes the score more robust.

Verified on gemini-3.6-flash · re-tested 54 days ago

Other measured skills in the registry, with their headline benchmark lift.