Debugging MSBuild Tasks

.vscode/launch.json

@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@
           "port": 10000,
           "preLaunchTask": "run-sample-under-dotnet",
         },
+        {
+          "name": "Debug MSBuild Task",
+          "type": "coreclr",
+          "request": "attach",
+          "processId": "${input:processid}"
+        }
     ],
     "inputs": [
       {
@@ -52,6 +58,12 @@
         "default": "Debug",
         "description": "The Build Configuration",
         "options": [ "Debug", "Release"]
+      },
+      {
+        "id": "processid",
+        "type": "promptString",
+        "default": "0",
+        "description": "Enter dotnet build process id reported when setting the env var MSBUILDDEBUGONSTART=2",
       }
     ]
 }

Documentation/guides/MSBuildBestPractices.md

@@ -5,6 +5,55 @@ This guide is a work-in-progress, but really has two main goals:
 - What are good MSBuild practice in relation to what we already have
   going on in Xamarin.Android MSBuild targets?
 
+## Debugging MSBuild Tasks
+
+One thing that is very useful is the ability to debug your Tasks while
+they are being run on a build process. This is possible thanks to the
+`MSBUILDDEBUGONSTART` environment variable. When set to `2` this will
+force MSBuild to wait for a debugger connection before continuing.
+You will see the following prompt.
+
+```dotnetcli
+Waiting for debugger to attach (dotnet PID 13001).  Press enter to continue...
+```
+
+You can then use VS or VSCode to attach to this process and debug you tasks.
+
+In the case of .NET Android we need to do a couple of thing first though. Firstly
+we need to disable the use of `ILRepacker` on the `Xamarin.Android.Build.Tasks`
+assembly. This is because `ILRepacker` does NOT handle debug symbols very well.
+Assemblies it generates seem to be JIT optimized so the debugger will not load
+the symbols. A new MSBuild property has been introduced to disable this feature
+while debugging. `_ILRepackEnabled` can be set as an environment variable which
+MSBuild will pickup. You will also need to build the `Debug` Configuration.
+
+```dotnetcli
+export CONFIGURATION=Debug
+make prepare && _ILRepackEnabled=false make jenkins
+```
+
+This will disable the `ILRepacker` for the build.
+
+You can then start your test app with the `dotnet-local` script (so it uses your build)
+
+```dotnetcli
+MSBUILDDEBUGONSTART=2 ~/<some xamarin.android checkout>/dotnet-local.sh build -m:1
+```
+
+Note: the `-m:1` is important as it restricts MSBuild to 1 node.
+
+Once MSBuild starts it will print the following
+
+```dotnetcli
+Waiting for debugger to attach (dotnet PID xxxx).  Press enter to continue...
+```
+
+You need to copy the PID value so we can use this in the IDE. For Visual Studio you can use the `Attach to Process` menu option, while you have the Xamarin.Android.sln solution open. For VSCode open the workspace then use the `Debug MSBuild Task` Run and Debug option. You will be prompted for the PID and it will then connect.
+
+Once connected go back to your command prompt and press ENTER so that the MSBuild process can continue.
+
+You will be able to set breakpoints in Tasks (but not Targets) and step through code from this point on.
+
 ## Naming
 
 MSBuild targets, properties, and item groups are prefixed with an

src/Xamarin.Android.Build.Tasks/Xamarin.Android.Build.Tasks.targets

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     <_MultiDexAarInAndroidSdk>extras\android\m2repository\com\android\support\multidex\1.0.1\multidex-1.0.1.aar</_MultiDexAarInAndroidSdk>
     <_SupportLicense Condition="Exists('$(_AndroidSdkLocation)\extras\android\m2repository\NOTICE.txt')">$(_AndroidSdkLocation)\extras\android\m2repository\NOTICE.txt</_SupportLicense>
     <_SupportLicense Condition="Exists('$(_AndroidSdkLocation)\extras\android\m2repository\m2repository\NOTICE.txt')">$(_AndroidSdkLocation)\extras\android\m2repository\m2repository\NOTICE.txt</_SupportLicense>
+    <_ILRepackEnabled Condition=" '$(_ILRepackEnabled)' == '' ">true</_ILRepackEnabled>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <None
@@ -271,6 +272,7 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <Target Name="ILRepacker"
+      Condition=" '$(_ILRepackEnabled)' == 'true' "
       BeforeTargets="CopyFilesToOutputDirectory"
       Inputs="$(MSBuildAllProjects);@(IntermediateAssembly);@(InputAssemblies)"
       Outputs="$(IntermediateOutputPath)ILRepacker.stamp" >