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csharp-async

Get best practices for C# async programming

30,445stars3,629forksUpdated 4/20/2026

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About csharp-async

The csharp-async skill provides guidance on writing robust, efficient, and maintainable asynchronous code in C#. It focuses on helping developers avoid common pitfalls and adopt industry-standard practices when working with async and await. By emphasizing proper method design, exception handling, and performance considerations, this skill addresses common challenges such as deadlocks, inefficient task usage, and unclear code structure in asynchronous programming.

This skill offers a comprehensive set of best practices, including naming conventions like using the 'Async' suffix, choosing appropriate return types such as Task or Task<T>, and leveraging advanced constructs like ValueTask<T> for performance-sensitive scenarios. It also highlights correct exception handling techniques, including the use of try/catch around await expressions and proper exception propagation. Additionally, it provides performance optimization strategies such as using Task.WhenAll() for parallel execution, Task.WhenAny() for responsiveness, and minimizing unnecessary async/await usage. The skill further outlines implementation patterns like async streams and the task-based asynchronous pattern (TAP) for designing scalable APIs.

The csharp-async skill is particularly useful for C# developers building applications that rely on asynchronous operations, such as web services, desktop applications, and libraries. It is suitable for both intermediate and advanced developers who want to refine their async programming practices, as well as teams conducting code reviews to ensure consistency and reliability in their codebases. By applying these best practices, users can improve application responsiveness, reduce bugs, and enhance overall code quality.

FAQ

When should I use Task versus Task<T> in async methods?

Use Task<T> when your method returns a value and Task when it does not return any result.

Is it ever acceptable to use async void methods?

Async void methods should only be used for event handlers. For all other cases, Task or Task<T> should be used.

How can I avoid deadlocks in async C# code?

Use ConfigureAwait(false) in library code where appropriate and avoid blocking calls like .Wait() or .Result.

What are common mistakes in async programming with C#?

Common mistakes include mixing blocking and async code, not awaiting tasks, using async void improperly, and swallowing exceptions.

When should I consider using ValueTask<T>?

ValueTask<T> should be considered in high-performance scenarios where reducing allocations is important.

Install csharp-async

Download and extract the skill files to your .claude/skills/ directory.

Quick Setup:

  1. Copy the skill folder to .claude/skills/
  2. Claude will automatically detect and use the skill