Norbert 0.1.0

Norbert

Lightweight .NET library for bridging applications with AI agents through pluggable connectors.

What is Norbert?

Norbert provides a clean abstraction layer between your .NET application and AI agents like Claude, Codex, or any future provider. Instead of coupling your code to a specific AI service, you program against Norbert's interfaces and swap connectors as needed.

Your App  →  Norbert  →  Claude CLI
                      →  Claude API (future)
                      →  OpenAI (future)
                      →  Your own connector

Quick Start

Install

dotnet add package Norbert
dotnet add package Norbert.Claude.Cli
dotnet add package Norbert.Codex.Cli

Configure

builder.Services.AddNorbert(norbert =>
{
    norbert.UseClaudeCli(cli =>
    {
        cli.DefaultModel = "claude-sonnet-4-20250514";
    });
});

Use

public class ChatService
{
    private readonly IAgentConnector _connector;

    public ChatService(IAgentConnector connector)
    {
        _connector = connector;
    }

    public async Task<string> AskAsync(string question)
    {
        var request = new AgentRequest { Prompt = question };
        var response = await _connector.SendAsync(request);
        return response.Content;
    }
}

Stream

var request = new AgentRequest { Prompt = "Write a poem about .NET" };

await foreach (var chunk in connector.StreamAsync(request))
{
    if (chunk.Type == ChunkType.Text)
    {
        Console.Write(chunk.Content);
    }
}

Sessions (conversation with history)

await session.SendAsync("What is CQRS?");
await session.SendAsync("How does it relate to Event Sourcing?");
// The agent remembers the first question

// Export for persistence
SessionSnapshot snapshot = session.Export();
string json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(snapshot);

Packages

Key Features

• Pluggable connectors — swap AI providers without changing application code
• Streaming — IAsyncEnumerable<StreamingChunk> with typed chunks (Text, Thinking, Command, Error, etc.)
• Session management — in-memory conversation history with export/restore for persistence
• Dependency injection — standard IServiceCollection integration with fluent builder
• Thread-safe — concurrent session management via ConcurrentDictionary

Documentation

Full documentation with examples, usage patterns, and API reference:

Project Structure

src/
├── Norbert/                     # Core library
│   ├── Abstractions/            # IAgentConnector, IAgentSession
│   ├── Constants/               # Internal constants
│   ├── Exceptions/              # NorbertException, ConnectorException
│   ├── Extensions/              # NorbertBuilder, DI extensions
│   ├── Internal/                # AgentSession, SessionManager
│   ├── Models/                  # Request, Response, Chunk, Message, etc.
│   └── Options/                 # ConnectorOptions
├── Norbert.Claude.Cli/          # Claude CLI connector
│   ├── Constants/               # ClaudeCliConstants
│   ├── Extensions/              # UseClaudeCli() builder extension
│   ├── Internal/                # ProcessManager, Executor, JsonParser
│   └── Options/                 # ClaudeCliOptions
├── Norbert.Codex.Cli/           # Codex CLI connector
│   ├── Constants/               # CodexCliConstants
│   ├── Extensions/              # UseCodexCli() builder extension
│   ├── Internal/                # ProcessManager, Executor, JsonParser
│   └── Options/                 # CodexCliOptions
tests/
├── Norbert.Tests/
├── Norbert.Claude.Cli.Tests/
├── Norbert.Codex.Cli.Tests/
samples/
├── Norbert.Sample.Api/          # ASP.NET example with SSE streaming

Requirements

• .NET 9.0+
• Claude CLI installed and in PATH (for Norbert.Claude.Cli)
• Codex CLI installed and in PATH (for Norbert.Codex.Cli)

License

MIT