NGql | A zero-dependency, schema-less GraphQL query builder for .NET — fluent composition, runtime fragment merging, field preservation, no SDL or codegen.

A zero-dependency, schema-less GraphQL query builder for .NET. Compose queries and mutations from C# with a fluent API, merge fragments at runtime, and extract subsets via field-path or LINQ expression — without an SDL or codegen step.

dotnet add package NGql.Core

What you get

Schemaless. No SDL, no codegen, no build-time schema validation. The consumer supplies the schema knowledge; NGql just composes.
Zero runtime dependencies. Single assembly, multi-targets net8.0 / net9.0 / net10.0.
Fluent composition. QueryBuilder / FieldBuilder keeps query construction inline with C# control flow — no template strings, no string concat.
Runtime fragment merging. Include(otherBuilder) joins disjoint fragments; MergingStrategy picks how duplicates resolve (merge, never merge, or merge-by-field-path with auto-aliasing on conflict).
Field preservation. Extract a subset of a built query by string path or by typed C# expression — useful for role-based filtering or producing a public view of a private query.
Inline fragments + unions. OnType("Repository", b => …) renders ... on Repository { … } for narrowing union/interface return types.
Hot-path optimized. Span-based path parsing, lock-free reads on FieldChildren, in-place merge in Include(). Reflection is confined to the LINQ-expression preservation path; query rendering itself is reflection-free.

Quick taste

using NGql.Core;
using NGql.Core.Builders;

var idVar = new Variable("$id", "ID!");

var query = QueryBuilder.CreateDefaultBuilder("GetUser")
    .AddField("user",
        new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["id"] = idVar },
        new[] { "id", "name", "email" });

Console.WriteLine(query);

query GetUser($id:ID!){
    user(id:$id){
        email
        id
        name
    }
}

Mutations use CreateMutationBuilder("Op") with the same fluent surface. Inline fragments use b.OnType("Repository", r => …) for union narrowing. Field preservation uses PreservationBuilder.Create(src).Preserve("user.name").Build().

Where to next


Install	NuGet package, optional CLI tool, optional Claude Code skill — pick what you need.
Skill	The companion Claude Code skill that translates “build me a query for X” → working NGql code. Two channels in the `dolifer` plugin marketplace: stable (`ngql`) (coming soon) · preview (`ngql-preview`) (live).
Coverage	Full coverage report for the Core namespace. Currently ~99.9% line / 99% branch.
CHANGELOG	What’s in 2.1, what changed from 2.0.
README on GitHub	Long-form docs with runnable examples for every API.
Source	Issues, PRs, the codebase itself.

Status


Latest stable	See the NuGet badge above. The library uses GitVersion-driven SemVer; previews ship as `<X.Y.Z>-preview.N`.
Companion tool	`dotnet-ngql` — compiles a snippet, renders the GraphQL, optionally executes against a live endpoint.
Companion skill	`ngql` (stable, coming soon) and `ngql-preview` (preview, live) — Claude Code skills in the `dolifer` plugin marketplace. Both can coexist in one session.
Min runtime	.NET 8.0

License: MIT.