Creating a custom MSBuild SDK to reduce boilerplate in .NET projects

MSBuild SDKs enable dynamic project configuration in .NET, going beyond static NuGet packages by automatically adding dependencies and settings based on project type. The article demonstrates creating a custom SDK (Meziantou.NET.Sdk) that wraps Microsoft SDKs to enforce coding standards, configure analyzers, add test loggers for test projects, and set up health checks and OpenTelemetry for web applications. The SDK reduces boilerplate by centralizing configuration through .props and .targets files that execute before the main build process, allowing intelligent defaults while maintaining override flexibility.