[Templates] Align framework selection with Android and MAUI by jonathanpeppers · Pull Request #26849 · dotnet/macios

jonathanpeppers · 2026-10-13T14:27:25Z

Summary

Align Apple project-template framework selection with dotnet/android#13119 and the corresponding MAUI template CLI behavior.

Map the existing capitalized Framework symbol to --framework and -f in all 28 project-template variants, including C#, F#, and Visual Basic where available, notification extensions, and the tabbed application.
Add the missing .NET 11/.NET 10 framework choice and target-framework replacement to iostest, tvostest, macostest, and maccatalysttest.
Add generation regression coverage for the default and every supported framework through both CLI spellings. Preserve existing choices/defaults and unrelated parameters; update only English template string catalogs. Item templates and translated catalogs are unchanged.

What was not aligned

Apple templates: None of the project templates had a CLI host mapping for Framework, so lowercase --framework was rejected. The four test templates also lacked framework selection entirely, despite their sibling application/library/binding templates already supporting .NET 11 and .NET 10. This PR fixes both gaps.

MAUI comparison: Five MAUI project templates already expose --framework and -f; the engine derives -f from the lowercase longName even without an explicit shortName. MAUI's version-specific packaging and bare framework values are intentional differences, not something to copy into Apple templates.

One additional upstream inconsistency was found in MAUI's Aspire service-defaults template: its host file is named dotnetcli.json rather than dotnetcli.host.json. Runtime verification showed --framework and -f fail with exit code 127, while --Framework and -F succeed. Renaming that file is a separate fix needed in dotnet/maui; it is not included here.

Validation

Reproduced the original ios and iostest lowercase-option failures before the change (exit code 127).
Compiled the NUnit test project and passed all 140 new generation cases with zero failures/skips: 28 template variants × default plus two frameworks through two option spellings.
Separately passed 28 invalid-framework rejection checks and four test-template bundleId/minOSVersion preservation checks.
Checked JSON validity, unchanged existing parameters, English-only catalog changes, and git diff --check.

The normal SDK invocation is blocked on this Windows host by the unavailable pinned SDK 12.0.100-alpha.1.26480.102. Validation used installed SDK 11.0.100-rc.1.26425.128 with isolated template installations, after restoring the missing Xamarin.MacDev submodule. Native Apple build/run testing was not performed: it requires macOS, Xcode, and Apple workloads.

Note

This PR description and implementation were generated with GitHub Copilot.

Match dotnet/android#13119 by mapping Framework to --framework and -f. Add framework choices to the four Apple test templates and cover generation for all project-template variants. Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com> Copilot-Session: 284c6980-1fc2-4171-8d57-7ea26e0b7330

Copilot

🟡 Changes recommended

The regression tests derive expected frameworks from the configuration under test and therefore cannot detect removed choices or changed defaults.

1 open finding

Test expected frameworks independently from template.json · New

What changed in this PR

Aligns Apple project templates with Android/MAUI framework-selection behavior.

Changes:

Adds --framework/-f mappings to all 28 project-template variants.
Adds .NET 11/.NET 10 selection to four test templates.
Adds framework generation regression tests and CLI argument support.

File	Description
`tests/dotnet/UnitTests/TemplateTest.cs`	Adds framework-generation tests.
`tests/common/DotNet.cs`	Supports extra `dotnet new` arguments.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvostest/csharp/.template.config/template.json`	Adds test-template framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvostest/csharp/.template.config/localize/templatestrings.en.json`	Localizes framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvostest/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvoslib/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvoslib/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvosbinding/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvos/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.tvOS.Templates/tvos/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macostest/csharp/.template.config/template.json`	Adds test-template framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macostest/csharp/.template.config/localize/templatestrings.en.json`	Localizes framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macostest/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macoslib/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macoslib/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macosbinding/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macos/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.macOS.Templates/macos/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalysttest/csharp/.template.config/template.json`	Adds test-template framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalysttest/csharp/.template.config/localize/templatestrings.en.json`	Localizes framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalysttest/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalystlib/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalystlib/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalystbinding/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalyst/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.MacCatalyst.Templates/maccatalyst/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/iostest/csharp/.template.config/template.json`	Adds test-template framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/iostest/csharp/.template.config/localize/templatestrings.en.json`	Localizes framework choices.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/iostest/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ioslib/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ioslib/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/iosbinding/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ios/visualbasic/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ios/fsharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ios/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ios-tabbed/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ios-notification-service-extension/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.
`dotnet/Templates/Microsoft.iOS.Templates/ios-notification-content-extension/csharp/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json`	Maps framework CLI options.

🧠 Review effort: Balanced

Copilot

🟡 Changes recommended

The 52 non-English catalog edits contradict the stated English-only localization scope and should be removed.

53 open findings

And 33 more that still need to be addressed.

🧠 Review effort: Balanced

vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 · 2026-10-13T19:32:57Z

🔥 [CI Build #422e6f7] Test results 🔥

Test results

❌ Tests failed on VSTS: test results

0 tests crashed, 3 tests failed, 218 tests passed.

Failures

❌ dotnettests tests (iOS)

1 tests failed, 0 tests passed.

Failed tests

DotNet tests: Failed (Execution failed with exit code 1)
- Xamarin.Tests.DotNetWatchTest.DotNetWatch(iOS,False): Timed out waiting for the app to start. Output:
  dotnet watch 🔥 Hot reload enabled. For a list of supported edits, see https://a...

Html Report (VSDrops) Download

❌ dotnettests tests (macOS)

1 tests failed, 0 tests passed.

Failed tests

DotNet tests: Failed (Execution failed with exit code 1)
- Xamarin.Tests.AppSizeTest.CoreCLR_R2R(MacOSX,"osx-arm64;osx-x64"...: App size changed significantly (+11,959 bytes (11.7 KB = 0.0 MB) different > tolerance of +-10,240 bytes (10.0 KB = 0.0 MB)). Ex...

Html Report (VSDrops) Download

❌ monotouch tests (iOS)

1 tests failed, 19 tests passed.

Failed tests

monotouch-test/iOS - simulator/Debug (PrepareAssemblies): LaunchTimedOut

Html Report (VSDrops) Download

Successes

✅ assembly-processing: All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ cecil: All 1 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ dotnettests (MacCatalyst): 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 4 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ linker (iOS): All 21 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ linker (MacCatalyst): All 21 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ linker (macOS): All 21 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ linker (tvOS): All 21 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (MacCatalyst): All 20 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (macOS): All 20 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download
✅ monotouch (tvOS): All 20 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 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
✅ Tests on macOS Golden Gate (27): All 5 tests passed. Html Report (VSDrops) Download

Linux Build Verification

✅ Linux build succeeded

Pipeline on Agent
Hash: 422e6f70d66036b111124d8542e146407836708f [PR build]

vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 · 2026-10-13T19:33:21Z

⚠️ AppSizeTest expected files changed ⚠️

The AppSizeTest detected changes in the expected app size files.

To update the expected files, add a comment with the following command:

/apply-gist https://gist.github.com/vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2/169bcd9efb57f2abd71d53e2821a9a0e

Updated files

MacOSX-CoreCLR-R2R-size.txt

Pipeline on Agent
Hash: 422e6f70d66036b111124d8542e146407836708f [PR build]

Copilot

🟢 Approval recommended

The framework mappings, test-template choices, and regression coverage are consistent across all 28 variants.

0 open findings

53 resolved since last review

And 33 more resolved.

🧠 Review effort: Balanced

vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 · 2026-10-14T16:33:42Z

✅ API diff for current PR / commit

NET (empty diffs)

iOS: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )
tvOS: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )
MacCatalyst: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )
macOS: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )

✅ API diff vs stable

NET (empty diffs)

iOS: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )
tvOS: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )
MacCatalyst: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )
macOS: vsdrops gist ( No breaking changes )

ℹ️ Generator diff

Generator Diff: vsdrops (html) vsdrops (raw diff) gist (raw diff) - Please review changes)

Pipeline on Agent
Hash: 2e3b4b02dcb87fdb7b8532b79b1bece1bc8f06c6 [PR build]

Copilot AI balanced review requested due to automatic review settings October 13, 2026 14:27

jonathanpeppers requested review from dalexsoto and rolfbjarne as code owners October 13, 2026 14:27

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rolfbjarne enabled auto-merge (squash) October 13, 2026 16:16

Update generated files.

422e6f7

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dalexsoto approved these changes Oct 14, 2026

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rolfbjarne self-assigned this Oct 14, 2026

Merge branch 'main' into jonathanpeppers-template-framework-alignment

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jonathanpeppers commented Oct 13, 2026

Summary

What was not aligned

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vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 commented Oct 13, 2026

🔥 [CI Build #422e6f7] Test results 🔥

Test results

Failures

❌ dotnettests tests (iOS)

Failed tests

❌ dotnettests tests (macOS)

Failed tests

❌ monotouch tests (iOS)

Failed tests

Successes

macOS tests

Linux Build Verification

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vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 commented Oct 13, 2026

⚠️ AppSizeTest expected files changed ⚠️

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🟢 Approval recommended

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vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 commented Oct 14, 2026

✅ API diff for current PR / commit

✅ API diff vs stable

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