Microsoft.Extensions Configuration Patterns

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Binding configuration from appsettings.json to strongly-typed classes
• Validating configuration at application startup (fail fast)
• Implementing complex validation logic for settings
• Designing configuration classes that are testable and maintainable
• Understanding IOptions<T>, IOptionsSnapshot<T>, and IOptionsMonitor<T>

Reference Files

• advanced-patterns.md: Validators with dependencies, named options, complete production example (AkkaSettings), and testing validators

Why Configuration Validation Matters

The Problem: Applications often fail at runtime due to misconfiguration - missing connection strings, invalid URLs, out-of-range values. These failures happen deep in business logic, far from where configuration is loaded.

The Solution: Validate configuration at startup. If invalid, fail immediately with a clear error message.

// BAD: Fails at runtime when someone tries to use the service
public class EmailService
{
    public EmailService(IOptions<SmtpSettings> options)
    {
        var settings = options.Value;
        // Throws NullReferenceException 10 minutes into production
        _client = new SmtpClient(settings.Host, settings.Port);
    }
}

// GOOD: Fails at startup with clear error
// "SmtpSettings validation failed: Host is required"

---

Pattern 1: Basic Options Binding

Define a Settings Class

public class SmtpSettings
{
    public const string SectionName = "Smtp";

    public string Host { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public int Port { get; set; } = 587;
    public string? Username { get; set; }
    public string? Password { get; set; }
    public bool UseSsl { get; set; } = true;
}

Bind from Configuration

builder.Services.AddOptions<SmtpSettings>()
    .BindConfiguration(SmtpSettings.SectionName);