Template Validation

Workflow

Step 1: Locate the template.json

The file can be at:

• Direct path: path/to/template.json
• In a template directory: path/to/.template.config/template.json
• In a .template.config directory: path/.template.config/template.json

Step 2: Parse and validate

Read the JSON. If it's malformed, report the JSON parse error with line number.

Run all 8 validation categories above. Collect errors, warnings, and suggestions separately.

Step 3: Report results

Lead with a one-line verdict, then a single findings table. This decisive shape is required — do not scatter findings across prose paragraphs.

Verdict header (pick one):

• ❌ Not ready — N error(s), M warning(s) — has errors
• ⚠️ Publishable but N warning(s) — no errors, has warnings
• ✅ Ready to publish — 0 errors, 0 warnings — no errors or warnings (optional suggestions may still apply)

Then one table, ordered errors → warnings → suggestions:

| Severity | Location (JSON path or line:col) | Issue | Fix | |----------|------------------------------------|-------|-----| | ERROR | shortName | "list" conflicts with a dotnet new subcommand | Rename to a distinctive value, e.g. "my-list" | | ERROR | symbols.maxRetries.defaultValue | "abc" is not a valid int | Set a numeric default, e.g. "3" | | ERROR | 12:5 | JSON parse error: unexpected , | Remove the trailing comma |

Every ERROR and WARNING MUST include a concrete fix — the corrected value, JSON snippet, or a specific edit instruction (e.g. "remove the trailing comma"), not just a restatement of the problem. A finding without an actionable fix is incomplete. This is the single biggest thing that separates a useful validation from a generic lint.

Close with the total: "N error(s), M warning(s), K suggestion(s)."

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