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[dotnet-linker] Create an xml descriptor instead of manual marking when applying the [Preserve] attribute.#25109

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rolfbjarne merged 2 commits intomainfrom
dev/rolf/use-xml-descriptor-applypreserveattribute
Apr 14, 2026
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[dotnet-linker] Create an xml descriptor instead of manual marking when applying the [Preserve] attribute.#25109
rolfbjarne merged 2 commits intomainfrom
dev/rolf/use-xml-descriptor-applypreserveattribute

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@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne commented Apr 7, 2026

Create an xml descriptor file instead of manually marking when applying the [Preserve] attribute.

I first tried using [DynamicDependency] attributes, but it turns out [DynamicDependency] attributes can't accurately express/replace [Preserve] semantics, so I went with an xml descriptor file instead.

The [DynamicDependency] attribute code is still present, as an opt-in, because it was already there used for NativeAOT (even though we're always using the xml descriptor logic now, even for NativeAOT).

This makes it easier to move this code out of a custom linker step in the future.

Also move the removal of any [Preserve] attributes to the RemoveAttributes step.

Contributes towards #17693.

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Copilot reviewed 10 out of 10 changed files in this pull request and generated 3 comments.

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…en applying the [Preserve] attribute.

Create an xml descriptor file instead of manually marking when applying the [Preserve]
attribute.

I first tried using [DynamicDependency] attributes, but it turns out [DynamicDependency]
attributes can't accurately express/replace [Preserve] semantics, so I went with
an xml descriptor file instead.

The [DynamicDependency] attribute code is still present, as an opt-in, because it
was already there used for NativeAOT (even though we're always using the xml descriptor
logic now, even for NativeAOT).

This makes it easier to move this code out of a custom linker step in the future.

Also move the removal of any [Preserve] attributes to the RemoveAttributes step.

Contributes towards #17693.
@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne force-pushed the dev/rolf/use-xml-descriptor-applypreserveattribute branch from 1dcbffe to a573a2e Compare April 14, 2026 08:15
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✅ [CI Build #a573a2e] Build passed (Build packages) ✅

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Hash: a573a2e3882af03157ad600461e65baea9ba802a [PR build]

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✅ [PR Build #a573a2e] Build passed (Detect API changes) ✅

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✅ API diff for current PR / commit

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✅ [CI Build #a573a2e] Build passed (Build macOS tests) ✅

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🚀 [CI Build #a573a2e] Test results 🚀

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✅ All tests passed on VSTS: test results.

🎉 All 156 tests passed 🎉

Tests counts

✅ cecil: All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ dotnettests (iOS): All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ dotnettests (MacCatalyst): All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ dotnettests (macOS): All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ dotnettests (Multiple platforms): All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ dotnettests (tvOS): All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ framework: All 2 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ fsharp: All 4 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ generator: All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ interdependent-binding-projects: All 4 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ introspection: All 6 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ linker: All 44 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (iOS): All 11 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (MacCatalyst): All 15 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (macOS): All 12 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (tvOS): All 11 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ msbuild: All 2 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ sharpie: All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ windows: All 3 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ xcframework: All 4 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ xtro: All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download

macOS tests

✅ Tests on macOS Monterey (12): All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ Tests on macOS Ventura (13): All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ Tests on macOS Sonoma (14): All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ Tests on macOS Sequoia (15): All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ Tests on macOS Tahoe (26): All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download

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Hash: a573a2e3882af03157ad600461e65baea9ba802a [PR build]

@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne merged commit 9639042 into main Apr 14, 2026
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