DynamoMapper

Use this skill when generating or explaining DynamoMapper code.

Core truths

• DynamoMapper is a C# incremental source generator for T <-> Dictionary<string, AttributeValue>.
• Configure mapping on a static partial mapper class marked with [DynamoMapper].
• The generator recognizes unimplemented partial methods whose names start with To or From and use the expected model/dictionary signatures.
• One-way mappers are valid: To* only or From* only.
• Domain models usually stay clean except for optional [DynamoMapperConstructor] on a constructor.
• Nested object mapping is implemented and tested.
• Some public docs are stale; use references/gotchas.md when behavior seems surprising.

Choose a path

• Read references/core-usage.md for mapper shape, attribute behavior, defaults, constructor rules, and common implementation patterns.
• Read references/type-matrix.md for supported types, collection rules, nested shapes, and hard limits.
• Read references/diagnostics.md for generator diagnostics and the most likely fixes.
• Read references/gotchas.md for stale-doc traps and the non-obvious rules most likely to cause bad guidance.

Default workflow

1. Identify whether the task is mapper authoring, supported-type lookup, or diagnostics.
2. Read the matching reference file before making assumptions.
3. If the task touches nested mapping, converters, or hooks, check references/gotchas.md before answering.
4. Keep answers concrete and code-oriented.

High-risk misunderstandings

• Do not tell the user to decorate every POCO property; configuration belongs on the mapper class.
• Do not assume methods must be named exactly ToItem and FromItem; the To/From prefix matters, but the generator also expects the recognized model/dictionary signatures.
• Check references/gotchas.md before teaching hooks or custom converter signatures.
• Do not assume every unsupported converter setup becomes a DynamoMapper diagnostic; some become normal C# compile errors.

Reference map

• references/core-usage.md
• references/type-matrix.md
• references/diagnostics.md
• references/gotchas.md