Ensure .NET dev container resources work well with latest C# Dev Kit

[bamurtaugh]

With the release of the C# Dev Kit, let's review the .NET Template (https://github.com/devcontainers/templates/tree/main/src/dotnet), Feature (https://github.com/devcontainers/features/tree/main/src/dotnet), and image (https://github.com/devcontainers/images/tree/main/src/dotnet).

Notes:

• Install the C# Dev Kit extension
• Try using the Template, Feature, and image with the C# Dev Kit's commands and ensure everything works well
• Investigate including any other Features in the image or template, such as PowerShell and all the necessary .NET SDKs

[bamurtaugh]

Current template flow

Creating dev container

• Start with empty folder
• Run command "Dev Containers: New Dev Container"
• Choose .NET template, latest .NET image (7.0)
• Build container

Using dev container template

• Install C# Dev Kit
• In container, run: ".NET: New Project", choose Console App
  • Get 2 errors and 1 sign in toast:
  • 
  • 
• Select Upgrade to use C# pre-release extension, extension installs and dev container rebuilds
  • Change to make: Install pre-release version of C# extension in dev container: Use @prerelease
• Try ".NET: New Project" again, now I get quick pick of options
• Select Console App
• Not sure what to do next, so I open the Get Started with C# Dev Kit walkthrough
  • Issue, now resolved: Ran into All walkthroughs don't show immediately from "Welcome: Open Walkthrough" microsoft/vscode#184960
• Sign in
  • Issue, now resolved: [BUG] Stuck signing in microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#124
• Don't see new solution explorer
  • Issue filed: [BUG] Don't see solution explorer in dev container microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#129
• Can run app with F5; Run and Debug view works if I switch to Debug Console
  • Issue, now resolved: [BUG] Improve C# Dev Kit Debugging Walkthrough microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#130
• Wasn't sure how to run tests, eventually got there through command Test: Run All Tests
  • Issue filed: Unclear how to run tests microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#131

Takeaway

• Switch to pre-release version of C# extension in image
• Miscellaneous other issues, not necessarily dev container specific

Current Feature flow

Creating dev container

• Start with empty folder
• Run command "Dev Containers: New Dev Container"
• Choose Ubuntu template
• Add .NET CLI Feature, version latest
• Build container

Using dev container with .NET Feature

• Switch to pre-release of C# extension, reload
• Install C# Dev Kit extension
• In container, run: ".NET: New Project", choose Console App
• Get below error, and dotnet --version doesn't work
  • Seems to be this issue: dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560, with workaround in this comment

Takeaway

• Switch to pre-release version of C# extension in Feature
• Team is working on a fix for dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560 now since it seems this is more prevalent and not just a one-off

Next steps

• Open PRs for Feature and image to use pre-release version of C# extension (append @prerelease, as described in this issue)
• Work on fix for dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560
• Discuss with .NET team experts (like Tim) further to ensure changes look accurate to them too

[timheuer]

• Can we install pre-release version of C# extension in dev container?

If you can figure out a way for us to do this, it would be huge. We're trying to get out of pre-release state for v2 as fast as possible, but have some compat things to work through. But if there is a way in devcontainer or other means to declare that to install (without a custom container) that'd be amazing.

[bamurtaugh]

@timheuer thanks for the context. @chrmarti shared that we can append @prerelease after the extension name in devcontainer.json - I just tried it out, and it worked!

Based on the investigation I documented above, we have 2 main next steps to optimize our resources for the C# Dev Kit:

• I'm going to open PRs on our .NET image and Feature to use the pre-release version of the C# extension
• @samruddhikhandale is working on a fix for dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560, which causes issues with installing the .NET SDK in the .NET Feature

@timheuer I'm going to tag you in the 2 PRs I open, which will also be great spots where you can share if there are other issues you've experienced with any of these resources or other ideas for enhancements. Thanks for your help and insights!

[bamurtaugh]

PRs opened:

• Add prerelease extension tag features#571
• Add prerelease for C# extension and minor spacing images#619

Edit: Closing the above as this probably isn't ideal as it may introduce breakages.

[bamurtaugh]

@timheuer the main changes seem to be using the pre-release version of the C# extension and fixing the .NET SDK installation issue in the .NET Feature.

Considering we want to avoid potential breakage that could be caused by using the pre-release C# extension in the official spec-hosted resources, were there other changes your team identified that we should consider for our resources? Please just let me know, happy to discuss further!

One idea is for the .NET team to host a C# Dev Kit template somewhere in the .NET GitHub org, which would allow for further / more experimental customization (i.e. pre-release version of the C# extension, include the C# Dev Kit extension directly, other Features or settings you think are useful in this development flow). If this is something you'd be interested in, we have a guide here, and I'd be happy to chat through any questions through the process.

[timheuer]

One idea is for the .NET team to host a C# Dev Kit template somewhere in the .NET GitHub org

I thought about this and just enabling it also as a feature. However given I now know of this little @prerelease trick ;-) -- I think just sharing a snippet is actually the simplest way for now...example: https://gist.github.com/timheuer/694f8a3ef565b1cb5fbe616c9a1e18cc

[bamurtaugh]

Great, totally makes sense!

I'll leave this issue open for a bit until devcontainers/features#560 is complete and in case folks have further ideas in the coming days.

[Juancanico5]

Flujo de plantilla actual

Creando un contenedor de desarrollo

• Empezar con carpeta vacía
• Ejecute el comando "Dev Containers: New Dev Container"
• Elija la plantilla .NET, la última imagen .NET (7.0)
• Construir contenedor

Uso de la plantilla de contenedor de desarrollo

• Instale el kit de desarrollo de C#

• En el contenedor, ejecute: ".NET: Nuevo proyecto", elija Aplicación de consola

  • Obtenga 2 errores y 1 inicio de sesión brindis:
  • 
  • 

• Select Upgrade to use C# pre-release extension, extension installs and dev container rebuilds

  • Change to make: Install pre-release version of C# extension in dev container: Use @prerelease

• Try ".NET: New Project" again, now I get quick pick of options

• Select Console App

• Not sure what to do next, so I open the Get Started with C# Dev Kit walkthrough

  • Issue, now resolved: Ran into All walkthroughs don't show immediately from "Welcome: Open Walkthrough" microsoft/vscode#184960

• Sign in

  • Issue, now resolved: [BUG] Stuck signing in microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#124

• Don't see new solution explorer

  • Issue filed: [BUG] Don't see solution explorer in dev container microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#129

• Can run app with F5; Run and Debug view works if I switch to Debug Console

  • Issue, now resolved: [BUG] Improve C# Dev Kit Debugging Walkthrough microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#130

• Wasn't sure how to run tests, eventually got there through command Test: Run All Tests

  • Issue filed: Unclear how to run tests microsoft/vscode-dotnettools#131

Takeaway

• Switch to pre-release version of C# extension in image
• Miscellaneous other issues, not necessarily dev container specific

Current Feature flow

Creating dev container

• Start with empty folder
• Run command "Dev Containers: New Dev Container"
• Choose Ubuntu template
• Add .NET CLI Feature, version latest
• Build container

Using dev container with .NET Feature

• Switch to pre-release of C# extension, reload

• Install C# Dev Kit extension

• In container, run: ".NET: New Project", choose Console App

• Get below error, and dotnet --version doesn't work

  • Seems to be this issue: dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560, with workaround in this comment

Takeaway

• Switch to pre-release version of C# extension in Feature
• Team is working on a fix for dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560 now since it seems this is more prevalent and not just a one-off

Next steps

• Open PRs for Feature and image to use pre-release version of C# extension (append @prerelease, as described in this issue)
• Work on fix for dotnet feature fails to install on ubuntu:jammy features#560
• Discuss with .NET team experts (like Tim) further to ensure changes look accurate to them too

[bamurtaugh]

Thanks again for the discussion here! I'll close out this issue, but please let me know if folks find other ways our .NET resources could even better work with the C# Dev Kit.