Copilot .NET Modernization

Copilot .NET Modernization is an extension for Visual Studio Code that upgrades .NET applications using GitHub Copilot and Agent Mode.

GitHub Copilot modernization for .NET is a public preview extension for Visual Studio Code that helps users bring .NET applications to the latest version. It is built for developers working with Git-based repositories and .NET Core 3.x, .NET 5, .NET 6, .NET 7, or .NET 8 projects. Powered by GitHub Copilot and Agent Mode, the tool analyzes solutions, creates dependency-aware upgrade plans, and applies code changes step-by-step. It includes automated code transformations, customizable workflows, automatic test validation, and automatic Git commits. Note that the extension is deprecated and replaced by GitHub Copilot upgrade.

Copilot .NET Modernization at a glance

Best for: Software engineer
Runs on: VS Code
Pricing: Freemium
Released: November 2025
Category: AI coding tool
Website: marketplace.visualstudio.com/ms-dotnettools.vscode-dotnet-modernize

Key features

Intelligent upgrade plan generation
Automated code transformations
Customizable workflows for projects
Learning from manual interventions
Automatic Git commit creation
Automatic test validation
Agent Mode functionality

Use it for

Upgrade .NET Core 3.x or 5, 6, 7 applications to newer versions
Address packages with security vulnerabilities during upgrades
Run unit tests automatically to ensure correct behavior post-upgrade

Companions

Tools that articles about Copilot .NET Modernization recommend using with it, each with its job.

GitHub Copilot — Built to work with GitHub Copilot.
GitHub MCP Server — Issues, pull requests and CI runs inside Copilot chat.
Context7 — Current, version-specific docs for accurate suggestions.
Playwright MCP — End-to-end testing from Copilot agent mode.
Firecrawl — Turns reference pages into clean Markdown for the agent.
MCP Toolbox for Databases — Connects Copilot to Postgres for schema and SQL work.

Alternatives to Copilot .NET Modernization

GitHub Copilot App Modernization — Automates code transformations, framework upgrades, and Azure migrations.
CopilotKit — Connects your application to AI agents with generative UI and human approvals.
GitHub Copilot CLI — Integrates directly into your terminal for local, natural language AI coding assistance.
Copilot for Xcode — Integrates directly into Xcode to provide intelligent completions, chat, and agent mode.
copilot.lua — It runs efficiently in Lua to prevent performance issues and overheating.
CopilotChat.nvim — Integrates GitHub Copilot chat into Neovim with tool calling and custom providers.
OpenCode — Works with 75+ model providers, local models, and existing subscriptions
Squad — Coordinate parallel execution and repetitive coding tasks while keeping human oversight.
CodeGraph — It eliminates file crawling, reducing AI agent tool calls by 88% and cutting costs.
pstack — Improves AI coding agent outcomes with rigorous workflows.
.NET Skills — Curated .NET skills and custom agents for AI coding assistants.
CodeAutopilot — It automates issue resolution and pull request reviews directly inside GitHub.

All Copilot .NET Modernization alternatives