How to work with the .NET agent
Experiences
AWS Transform .NET modernization is available in several experiences:
Web console: For large-scale transformation of repositories.
Visual Studio IDE: Developer-led transformation of a solution or project working alongside agent interactively and iteratively. Requires a Windows development machine.
Command line: Transform .NET solutions with the ATX CLI using an AWS-managed transformation.
You can also invoke AWS Transform from AI code companions:
Kiro: transform from Kiro using the AWS Transform for Kiro power
. Other AI code companions: transform from your preferred AI coding assistants using AWS Transform MCP agents
.
A common pattern is to first modernize with AWS Transform for .NET, then hand off to an AI code companion for last mile work.
| Area | Web application | Visual Studio IDE | ATX CLI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target role | IT professional | Developer | Developer |
| Operating system | Any | Windows | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Source control access |
|
Local file system | Local Git repository |
| Job scope | Up to 5,000 repositories per job | One solution at a time | One solution at a time |
| Transformed code location | Written to a new writeable repository branch | Replaces original code on your file system | Replaces original code on your file system |
| Unit of work | Repository | Project | Project |
| Assessment |
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| Customize modernization plan |
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| Transformation modes | Autonomous or Interactive | Autonomous or Interactive | Autonomous or Interactive |
| Checkpoint reviews | Review each repository after transformation | Review each project after transformation | Review each project after transformation |
| Iterative modernization |
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| Downloadable artifacts |
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| Unit test validation | Ports and runs existing unit tests |
| Ports and runs existing unit tests |
Recommended experiences
Use the experience that best fits your scenario.
| Scenario | Recommended experience |
|---|---|
| Work at repository level when transforming | Web application |
| Perform large-scale transformations | Web application |
| Transform from a Mac | Web application |
| Transform unattended | Web or IDE, autonomous mode |
| Work at project level when transforming | Visual Studio IDE |
| Local build to confirm transformed code builds on local environment | Visual Studio IDE |
| Agent leads the modernization, I review | Web or IDE, autonomous mode |
| I lead the modernization, agent assists | Web or IDE, interactive mode, customize plan |
| Complex modernization | IDE, interactive mode |
| Portfolio owner starts transformation, hands off to developers for review | Web application; use beaming to hand off repositories to developers, who review in the IDE |
| Script modernization in an existing pipeline or workflow | ATX CLI |
Transform .NET solutions with the ATX CLI
You can modernize a .NET solution from the command line using the ATX CLI (AWS Transform custom) and the AWS-managed transformation AWS/dotnet-modernization.
Use the following command form:
atx custom def exec -n AWS/dotnet-modernization -p <path-to-solution> [-q] [-x] [-t]
The following command-line options are available:
-q (quiet): show agent conversation only, hide tool execution details
-x (autonomous): run in autonomous mode without user interaction
-t (trust): trust all tools without prompts
The following table shows example commands.
| Command line example | Description |
|---|---|
atx custom def exec -n AWS/dotnet-modernization -p C:\dev\InventoryService -t -q |
Transform the solution in interactive mode, showing agent conversation only, and trust tool updates. |
atx custom def exec -n AWS/dotnet-modernization -p C:\dev\InventoryService -t |
Transform the solution in interactive mode, showing all tool activity, and trust tool updates. |
atx custom def exec -n AWS/dotnet-modernization -p C:\dev\InventoryService -t -x |
Transform the solution in autonomous mode and trust tool updates. |
