Category: Configuration

Fixing Visual Studio 2015 after update 3

In case you did not notice, Microsoft released Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 a couple of days ago. I immediately jumped in because I have high hope for better stability – VS2015 update 2 has been crashing more open than I would like.

When I updated my VS on my work computer, all went well and it worked right after that without any problem. However when I finally updated my VS on my home computer, problem appears. Everytime I try to open a solution, it crashes! Rendering my VS2015 totally useless. It’s not a problem I can ignore, and I would avoid reinstall it, unless it’s the last resort.

Digging in the event viewers shed a light on what is wrong:

Application: devenv.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The application requested process termination through System.Environment.FailFast(string message).
Message: Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.CompositionFailedException: An exception was thrown while initializing part "Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Diagnostics.DiagnosticAnalyzerService". ---> System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'System.Reflection.Metadata, Version=1.2.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Diagnostics.AnalyzerFileReference.InitializeDisplayAndId()
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Diagnostics.AnalyzerFileReference.get_Id()
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Diagnostics.HostAnalyzerManager.CreateAnalyzerReferencesMap(IEnumerable`1 analyzerReferences)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Diagnostics.HostAnalyzerManager..ctor(ImmutableArray`1 hostAnalyzerReferences, ImmutableArray`1 hostAnalyzerPackages, AbstractHostDiagnosticUpdateSource hostDiagnosticUpdateSource)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Diagnostics.DiagnosticAnalyzerService..ctor(IDiagnosticUpdateSourceRegistrationService registrationService, IEnumerable`1 asyncListeners, IWorkspaceDiagnosticAnalyzerProviderService diagnosticAnalyzerProviderService, AbstractHostDiagnosticUpdateSource hostDiagnosticUpdateSource)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.RuntimeExportProviderFactory.RuntimeExportProvider.RuntimePartLifecycleTracker.CreateValue()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.ExportProvider.PartLifecycleTracker.Create()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.ExportProvider.PartLifecycleTracker.MoveNext(PartLifecycleState nextState)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.ExportProvider.PartLifecycleTracker.MoveToState(PartLifecycleState requiredState)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.ExportProvider.PartLifecycleTracker.GetValueReadyToExpose()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.RuntimeExportProviderFactory.RuntimeExportProvider.<>c__DisplayClass15_0.<GetExportedValueHelper>b__0()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Composition.DelegateServices.<>c__DisplayClass2_0`1.<As>b__0()
   at System.Lazy`1.CreateValue()
   at System.Lazy`1.LazyInitValue()
   at System.Lazy`1.get_Value()
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.WorkCoordinator.IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor.<>c__DisplayClass15_0.<GetOrderedAnalyzers>b__0(Lazy`2 p)
   at System.Linq.Enumerable.WhereSelectEnumerableIterator`2.MoveNext()
   at System.Linq.Buffer`1..ctor(IEnumerable`1 source)
   at System.Linq.OrderedEnumerable`1.<GetEnumerator>d__1.MoveNext()
   at System.Linq.Buffer`1..ctor(IEnumerable`1 source)
   at System.Linq.Enumerable.ToArray[TSource](IEnumerable`1 source)
   at System.Collections.Immutable.ImmutableArray.CreateRange[T](IEnumerable`1 items)
   at System.Collections.Immutable.ImmutableArray.ToImmutableArray[TSource](IEnumerable`1 items)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.WorkCoordinator.IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor.GetOrderedAnalyzers(Registration registration, IEnumerable`1 providers)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.WorkCoordinator.IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor.GetActiveFileIncrementalAnalyzers(Registration registration, IEnumerable`1 providers)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.WorkCoordinator.IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor..ctor(IAsynchronousOperationListener listener, IEnumerable`1 analyzerProviders, Registration registration, Int32 highBackOffTimeSpanInMs, Int32 normalBackOffTimeSpanInMs, Int32 lowBackOffTimeSpanInMs, CancellationToken shutdownToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.WorkCoordinator..ctor(IAsynchronousOperationListener listener, IEnumerable`1 analyzerProviders, Registration registration)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.Register(Workspace workspace)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.Implementation.ProjectSystem.VisualStudioWorkspaceImpl.StartSolutionCrawler()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.Implementation.LanguageService.AbstractPackage`2.Initialize()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.CSharp.LanguageService.CSharpPackage.Initialize()
Stack:
   at System.Environment.FailFast(System.String, System.Exception)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.FailFast.OnFatalException(System.Exception)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.ErrorReporting.FatalError.Report(System.Exception, System.Action`1<System.Exception>)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.CSharp.LanguageService.CSharpPackage.Initialize()
   at System.Lazy`1[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]].CreateValue()
   at System.Lazy`1[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]].LazyInitValue()
   at System.Lazy`1[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]].get_Value()
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService+WorkCoordinator+IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor+<>c__DisplayClass15_0.<GetOrderedAnalyzers>b__0(System.Lazy`2<Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IIncrementalAnalyzerProvider,Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IncrementalAnalyzerProviderMetadata>)
   at System.Linq.Enumerable+WhereSelectEnumerableIterator`2[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089],[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]].MoveNext()
   at System.Linq.Buffer`1[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]..ctor(System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.__Canon>)
   at System.Linq.OrderedEnumerable`1+<GetEnumerator>d__1[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]].MoveNext()
   at System.Linq.Buffer`1[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]..ctor(System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.__Canon>)
   at System.Linq.Enumerable.ToArray[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]](System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.__Canon>)
   at System.Collections.Immutable.ImmutableArray.CreateRange[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]](System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.__Canon>)
   at System.Collections.Immutable.ImmutableArray.ToImmutableArray[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]](System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.__Canon>)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService+WorkCoordinator+IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor.GetOrderedAnalyzers(Registration, System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.Lazy`2<Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IIncrementalAnalyzerProvider,Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IncrementalAnalyzerProviderMetadata>>)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService+WorkCoordinator+IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor.GetActiveFileIncrementalAnalyzers(Registration, System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.Lazy`2<Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IIncrementalAnalyzerProvider,Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IncrementalAnalyzerProviderMetadata>>)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService+WorkCoordinator+IncrementalAnalyzerProcessor..ctor(Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Shared.TestHooks.IAsynchronousOperationListener, System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.Lazy`2<Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IIncrementalAnalyzerProvider,Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IncrementalAnalyzerProviderMetadata>>, Registration, Int32, Int32, Int32, System.Threading.CancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService+WorkCoordinator..ctor(Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Shared.TestHooks.IAsynchronousOperationListener, System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1<System.Lazy`2<Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IIncrementalAnalyzerProvider,Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.IncrementalAnalyzerProviderMetadata>>, Registration)
   at Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.SolutionCrawler.SolutionCrawlerRegistrationService.Register(Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Workspace)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.Implementation.ProjectSystem.VisualStudioWorkspaceImpl.StartSolutionCrawler()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.Implementation.LanguageService.AbstractPackage`2[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089],[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]].Initialize()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.LanguageServices.CSharp.LanguageService.CSharpPackage.Initialize()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Package.Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop.IVsPackage.SetSite(Microsoft.VisualStudio.OLE.Interop.IServiceProvider)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop.IVsUIDataSource.Invoke(System.String, System.Object, System.Object ByRef)
   at Microsoft.Internal.VisualStudio.PlatformUI.DataSource.Invoke(System.String, System.Object, System.Object ByRef)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.PlatformUI.VsCommand.Execute(System.Object)
   at MS.Internal.Commands.CommandHelpers.CriticalExecuteCommandSource(System.Windows.Input.ICommandSource, Boolean)
   at System.Windows.Controls.MenuItem.InvokeClickAfterRender(System.Object)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeInSecurityContext(System.Object)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
   at MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext.Run(MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
   at MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
   at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(System.Object)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.LegacyInvokeImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherPriority, System.TimeSpan, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
   at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr)

So System.Reflection.Metadata, Version=1.2.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a’ was missing.

But why? and missing from where? A quick search shows that it was used for Roslyn, and dnx uses version 1.1. Visual Studio 2015 also crashes if I try to open Tools => Text Editor => C# => Advanced, where the Roslyn options are. So the problem was Roslyn unable to load an assembly it needs, then the entire VS crashes. Lame!

It seems unable to just reinstall Roslyn alone, so my best bet is to put the correct System.Reflection.Metadata version … somewhere. It’s not clear that where should it be – so I should put it in the most common place – the GAC – Global Assemblies Cache.

This is an attempt to fix:

First, I need to have the assembly. This will require nuget 3.x to run, so you can download the latest version (3.4.4 at this time of writing) from here.

nuget install system.reflection.metadata -version 1.2.0

And then open your Developer command prompt for VS2015, and cd to the lib folder of downloaded package, for me it’s D:\Downloads\System.Reflection.Metadata.1.2.0\lib\netstandard1.1, and run the famous gacutil to install the assembly to GAC:

D:\Downloads\System.Reflection.Metadata.1.2.0\lib\netstandard1.1>gacutil -i System.Reflection.Metadata.dll
Microsoft (R) .NET Global Assembly Cache Utility.  Version 4.0.30319.0
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Assembly successfully added to the cache

Open my solution again and it works! It might be not the best solution, but it works and I don’t have to reinstall VS2015, so I won’t complain.

Configure Apache with Load-balancer / Proxy

If your Apache website is under a load-balancer or proxy, some features might not work very well. The proxy, for example, might “hide” the true IP from clients, the address your application sees in REMOTE_ADDR attribute (PHP, for example) will be the IP of the proxy renders IP-ban in .htaccess useless.

If such things happen, time to do some configuration. First, you need to enable the mod_remoteip module to handle requests through a proxy. It will allow you to “rewrite” some headers in the request to make your web application to know the true client IP.

Continue reading “Configure Apache with Load-balancer / Proxy” →

C# 6.0/Visual Studio 2015 on TeamCity

At first you will have to update to TeamCity 9.x (9.1.7 at the time of this post) to support Visual Studio 2015 compilation.

After upgrading (with some hassles, of course, but you’ll figure out), you’ll have TeamCity 9.x up and running. Now the time for some configuration. Change your compiler in build definition to Visual Studio 2015 and you are ready to go!

Change the Visual Studio to 2015

Change the Visual Studio to 2015

Not so fast. You will soon notice that most (if not all) of your build agents are not unusable.

MSBuildTools14.0_x86_Path does not exists
MSBuildTools14.0_x86_Path does not exists

Solution? Download and install Microsoft Build Tools 2015 from

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48159

Continue reading “C# 6.0/Visual Studio 2015 on TeamCity” →