How does Atlas handle variable name differences in duplicated C# code?

Atlas uses hybrid semantic and keyword retrieval, powered by AST declarations and local Ollama embeddings, to identify logically similar C# code blocks even when variable names differ, a capability beyond simple text matching.

Can Atlas update .csproj files when creating new C# helper modules?

While the context doesn't explicitly state .csproj updates, Atlas's `write` tool creates new files and its `apply_patch` tool modifies existing ones. For a new helper within an existing project, a new .cs file is typically sufficient. Atlas reads project references and can interact with the .NET SDK.

How does Atlas ensure my .NET code stays private during semantic search?

Atlas can build its code index with local Ollama embeddings, ensuring your .NET codebase remains entirely on your machine and off third-party servers, maintaining privacy during semantic searches.

What .NET testing framework does Atlas integrate with for refactoring?

Atlas integrates directly with `xUnit via dotnet test` for verifying changes during refactoring. It allows you to run your test suite with `atlas bash "dotnet test"` after each modification to ensure correctness.

How does Atlas manage code formatting after refactoring C# files?

Atlas allows you to run `dotnet format` via its `bash` tool. After refactoring C# files, you can execute `atlas bash "dotnet format"` to ensure your codebase adheres to your team's formatting standards.

Can I review Atlas's proposed changes before they are applied to my .NET project?

Yes, Atlas computes a unified diff for every file edit and surfaces it for your approval before writing. Additionally, every Atlas tool call is permission-gated, and it drafts a plan in a read-only agent for review.

What if I need to roll back a refactoring change made by Atlas in my .NET solution?

Atlas snapshots file changes as git patches, allowing edits to be easily diffed and rolled back. Each replacement of duplicated C# code is applied as an independent patch, simplifying reverts.

Extract a Shared Helper from Duplicated .NET Code with Atlas in 2026

In 2026, .NET developers can efficiently extract shared helpers from duplicated code using Atlas, a terminal-native AI coding agent. Atlas leverages semantic search to identify near-duplicate logic that traditional grep might miss, then automates the creation of new C# files and applies precise, reviewable patches to replace the original copies with calls to the new helper, all while integrating with xUnit via dotnet test and dotnet format.

How does Atlas find duplicated C# code in .NET projects?

Atlas identifies duplicated C# code in .NET projects by employing a hybrid semantic and keyword retrieval system, fused by reciprocal rank fusion. This advanced search capability, available in 2026, allows Atlas to pinpoint logically similar code blocks even when variable names or minor syntax differ, a task challenging for traditional text-based tools.

Traditional text-based search tools like grep often fail to identify duplicated code when variable names or minor structural differences obscure the underlying logic. Atlas overcomes this limitation by indexing C# code using AST declarations via tree-sitter, enabling a semantic understanding of the codebase. When a .NET developer uses the `atlas codebase_search` tool, Atlas queries this index, combining semantic understanding with keyword retrieval to surface near-duplicate implementations. For instance, if the same order calculation logic is present in `src/Services/OrderService.cs` and `src/Controllers/InvoiceController.cs` but uses different local variable names, Atlas can still identify these as semantically equivalent. Furthermore, Atlas can build its code index with local Ollama embeddings, ensuring that sensitive .NET code remains entirely on your machine, off third-party servers, maintaining privacy during the search process.

How does Atlas create new C# helper files and refactor .NET code?

Atlas creates new C# helper files and refactors .NET code by using its `write` tool, which drafts the new module and presents a full unified diff for approval before any file is created on disk. This process ensures developers maintain control over every change, from the new `.cs` file to the updated project references, in 2026.

Once duplicated C# logic is identified, Atlas facilitates the creation of a new shared helper module. Using the `atlas write` tool, a .NET developer can instruct Atlas to generate a new C# file, for example, `src/Helpers/OrderCalculationHelper.cs`, containing the extracted logic. Before this file is written, Atlas presents a comprehensive unified diff, allowing the developer to review the proposed code for the new helper. After the helper is created, Atlas uses the `apply_patch` tool to replace each instance of the duplicated code with a call to the new shared helper. For example, the original logic in `src/Services/OrderService.cs` would be replaced with a call like `OrderCalculationHelper.CalculateOrderTotal(...)`. Each replacement is handled as an independent patch, ensuring that every modification is granular, reviewable, and can be reverted if necessary. This systematic approach ensures that the refactoring process is precise and transparent for .NET projects.

How does Atlas ensure safety and reviewability during .NET refactoring?

Atlas ensures safety and reviewability during .NET refactoring by presenting a unified diff for every file edit and requiring explicit approval before writing changes, a core feature in 2026. Each replacement of duplicated code with a helper call is applied as an independent patch, allowing granular review and easy rollback.

Safety and reviewability are paramount when refactoring .NET code. Atlas implements several mechanisms to ensure developers maintain full control. Before any file is modified or created, Atlas computes a unified diff for every proposed edit and surfaces it for explicit approval. This applies to creating new C# helper files with `atlas write` and replacing duplicated code with `atlas apply_patch`. Every Atlas tool call is permission-gated, operating under allow, ask, or deny rules. Furthermore, Atlas drafts a plan in a read-only plan agent, allowing developers to review the entire refactoring strategy before any changes are committed. After each `apply_patch` operation, .NET developers can immediately verify the integrity of their codebase by running their test suite using `atlas bash "dotnet test"`, which executes `xUnit via dotnet test`. Atlas also snapshots file changes as git patches, meaning any edit can be easily diffed and rolled back. This robust system, combined with Atlas's ability to read git branches, status, and diffs, provides a secure and transparent refactoring experience for .NET developers.

Step by step

01Ask Atlas to find duplicated C# logic by describing its behavior, not exact code, using `codebase_search`. For example: `atlas codebase_search "C# logic for calculating order total with tax"`
02Review each search result using `atlas read` to confirm the C# code copies are genuinely equivalent and suitable for extraction. For example: `atlas read src/Services/OrderService.cs`
03Create the new shared C# helper module with `atlas write`, providing the full C# code for the helper. For example: `atlas write src/Helpers/OrderCalculationHelper.cs "public static class OrderCalculationHelper { public static decimal CalculateOrderTotal(decimal subtotal, decimal taxRate) { return subtotal * (1 + taxRate); } }"`
04Replace the first duplicate C# code block with a call to the new helper using `atlas apply_patch`. For example: `atlas apply_patch src/Services/OrderService.cs "replace duplicated order total calculation with OrderCalculationHelper.CalculateOrderTotal(subtotal, taxRate)"`
05Run the `xUnit via dotnet test` suite immediately after the patch to verify functionality. For example: `atlas bash "dotnet test"`
06Repeat the `apply_patch` and `dotnet test` steps for each remaining duplicate C# code block. For example: `atlas apply_patch src/Controllers/InvoiceController.cs "replace duplicated order total calculation with OrderCalculationHelper.CalculateOrderTotal(subtotal, taxRate)"` followed by `atlas bash "dotnet test"`
07Format the entire .NET codebase using `dotnet format` to maintain consistency. For example: `atlas bash "dotnet format"`
08Perform a final `grep` to ensure no surviving copies of the original C# logic remain. For example: `atlas grep -r "subtotal \* \(1 \+ taxRate\)" src/`

Frequently asked questions

How does Atlas handle variable name differences in duplicated C# code?: Atlas uses hybrid semantic and keyword retrieval, powered by AST declarations and local Ollama embeddings, to identify logically similar C# code blocks even when variable names differ, a capability beyond simple text matching.
Can Atlas update .csproj files when creating new C# helper modules?: While the context doesn't explicitly state .csproj updates, Atlas's `write` tool creates new files and its `apply_patch` tool modifies existing ones. For a new helper within an existing project, a new .cs file is typically sufficient. Atlas reads project references and can interact with the .NET SDK.
How does Atlas ensure my .NET code stays private during semantic search?: Atlas can build its code index with local Ollama embeddings, ensuring your .NET codebase remains entirely on your machine and off third-party servers, maintaining privacy during semantic searches.
What .NET testing framework does Atlas integrate with for refactoring?: Atlas integrates directly with `xUnit via dotnet test` for verifying changes during refactoring. It allows you to run your test suite with `atlas bash "dotnet test"` after each modification to ensure correctness.
How does Atlas manage code formatting after refactoring C# files?: Atlas allows you to run `dotnet format` via its `bash` tool. After refactoring C# files, you can execute `atlas bash "dotnet format"` to ensure your codebase adheres to your team's formatting standards.
Can I review Atlas's proposed changes before they are applied to my .NET project?: Yes, Atlas computes a unified diff for every file edit and surfaces it for your approval before writing. Additionally, every Atlas tool call is permission-gated, and it drafts a plan in a read-only agent for review.
What if I need to roll back a refactoring change made by Atlas in my .NET solution?: Atlas snapshots file changes as git patches, allowing edits to be easily diffed and rolled back. Each replacement of duplicated C# code is applied as an independent patch, simplifying reverts.

Try Atlas in your terminal

The terminal-native AI coding agent. Free core, single binary.

Install Atlas

Related guides

Extract a Shared Helper from Duplicated Code with Atlas (2026 Workflow)

How to extract a shared helper from duplicated code with Atlas in 2026: codebase_search finds the copies by meaning, write creates the module, apply_patch swaps each call.

Atlas for .NET: Your AI Coding Agent in 2026

Atlas empowers .NET developers in 2026 with a terminal-native AI coding agent. Securely integrate Atlas with ASP.NET Core for web APIs and services, leveraging local embeddings and robust safety features for efficient

Run the Test Suite and Triage Failures in .NET with Atlas in 2026

In 2026, Atlas helps .NET developers efficiently triage xUnit test failures. Turn a wall of red output from `dotnet test` into a prioritized list of distinct root causes.

Onboard to an Unfamiliar .NET Codebase with Atlas in 2026

Rapidly build a working mental model of any .NET repository in 2026 using Atlas. Leverage semantic search, NuGet package analysis, and xUnit test exploration to understand code without reading every file.

Add a Regression Test for a Bug Fix in .NET with Atlas in 2026

Lock in .NET bug fixes with robust regression tests using Atlas. Learn how to write failing xUnit tests, apply fixes, and verify with `dotnet test` for ASP.NET Core projects in 2026.

Research a Third-Party API Before Integrating it in .NET with Atlas in 2026

Streamline third-party API research for .NET integrations in 2026 with Atlas. Discover how Atlas uses websearch and webfetch to get current API shapes, ensuring your ASP.NET Core services are built on accurate

Document a .NET Module with a README using Atlas in 2026

Atlas helps .NET developers in 2026 create accurate README documentation directly from source code. It uses the .NET SDK and LSP to describe module APIs, ensuring docs reflect current implementation.

Automate GitHub Issue and Pull Request Triage in .NET with Atlas in 2026

Streamline GitHub issue and pull request triage for your .NET projects using Atlas in 2026. Integrate with GitHub Actions, leverage real .NET tools like NuGet and dotnet test, and ensure secure, permission-gated

Browse this resource hub