Convenience Computing

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Solved: Unknown build error Xamarin Studio on solution checked out from VSTS but created in VS

I recently came across an issue when setting up a demo for TechDays online. Part of the demo involved sharing a solution between Xamarin Studio on a Mac and VisualStudio on a SurfaceBook. The original solution was created in VS and uploaded to VSTS for source control.

The problem came when checking out to Xamarin.Studio on attempting to build I got an Unknown Build Error.

The Solution: After many attempts, Clint Francis form the Xamarin UK team spotted that the VSTS repository name had a space in it and the Git client in Xamarin.Studio had converted this to %20. Removing this allowed the app to build.

Solved (sort of): Xamarin.Studio 6 locks up/freezes/never-ends when building or cleaning

A number of people I know have been reporting issues where Xamarin Studio 6 on the Mac will appear to lock up when building or cleaning a Xamarin.Forms  solution. It doesn't seem to matter if it is an Android or iOS project the only common denominator appears to be that there are additional Nuget packages in the project (which of course there would be with Xamarin.Forms) 

The problem also appears if you open the solution and try to update the Nuget packages.

There are a number of posts about this in the forums and a few bugs raised. It appears that the support team are having trouble tracking down the issue but the theory seems to be it is something to do with the Nuget packager.

I've been investigating this and whilst I haven't found a definitive cause I have found a work-round which works consistently for me.

Step 1: Disable your network connection

Step 2: Start Xamarin Studio

Step 3: update one of the nuget packages in your project. I have found this works best and consistently if you use one of the Android Support packages but it will work with the Xamarin Forms package 

Step 4: wait for the package update to time out and fail

Step 5: Build and run your solution - it may take a little while but it should now run - it always does for me.

Step 6: Reconnect the network - you should now be able to build and clean until you next restart studio

 

Hope this helps someone

Garry

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