[Xcode 11] Broken sync between Visual Studio Mac

[projectgoav]

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Xamarin.iOS project in Visual Studio Mac
2. Open .xib file using Xcode 11 Beta
3. Change focus back to Visual Studio for Mac

Xib files

Edit: Xib files appear to open correctly after a complete reinstall of Xcode

Managing Outlets

Expected
I should be able to open a .h file which allows me to modify the .xib outlets

Actual
Xcode throws up a warning

Sync between Xcode and Visual Studio

Expected
When a switch back to Visual Studio my changes will be synced and project will remain open in Xcode

Actual
As soon as Visual Studio gains focus Xcode will throw up an error saying the workspace has disappeared.

=== Visual Studio Community 2019 for Mac ===

Version 8.2.2 (build 44)
Installation UUID: 15d318c1-0022-470b-8742-ac625e930509
	GTK+ 2.24.23 (Raleigh theme)
	Xamarin.Mac 5.14.0.85 (d16-2-fix-mac-updates / 86973979)

	Package version: 600000319

=== Mono Framework MDK ===

Runtime:
	Mono 6.0.0.319 (2019-02/52203786470) (64-bit)
	Package version: 600000319

=== NuGet ===

Version: 5.1.0.6013

=== .NET Core ===

Runtime: /usr/local/share/dotnet/dotnet
Runtime Versions:
	2.1.12
	2.1.11
	2.1.9
	2.1.8
	2.1.7
	2.1.2
	2.1.1
	2.0.5
	2.0.0
SDK: /usr/local/share/dotnet/sdk/2.1.701/Sdks
SDK Versions:
	2.1.701
	2.1.700
	2.1.505
	2.1.504
	2.1.503
	2.1.302
	2.1.301
	2.1.4
	2.0.0
MSBuild SDKs: /Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/6.0.0/lib/mono/msbuild/Current/bin/Sdks

=== Xamarin.Profiler ===

Version: 1.6.11
Location: /Applications/Xamarin Profiler.app/Contents/MacOS/Xamarin Profiler

=== Updater ===

Version: 11

=== Apple Developer Tools ===

Xcode 11.0 (14908.4)
Build 11M382q

=== Xamarin.Mac ===

Version: 5.99.2.40 (Visual Studio Community)
Hash: d883febf
Branch: xcode11
Build date: 2019-08-06 08:33:41-0400

=== Xamarin.iOS ===

Version: 12.99.2.40 (Visual Studio Community)
Hash: d883febf
Branch: xcode11
Build date: 2019-08-06 08:33:40-0400

=== Xamarin Designer ===

Version: 16.2.0.401
Hash: a8111869d
Branch: remotes/origin/d16-2-xcode11
Build date: 2019-08-05 20:44:10 UTC

=== Xamarin.Android ===

Version: 9.4.1.0 (Visual Studio Community)
Commit: xamarin-android/d16-2/ebd65c9
Android SDK: /<......>/Library/Developer/Xamarin/android-sdk-macosx
	Supported Android versions:
		None installed

SDK Tools Version: 26.1.1
SDK Platform Tools Version: 29.0.2
SDK Build Tools Version: 29.0.1

Build Information: 
Mono: mono/mono/2019-02@e6f5369c2d2
Java.Interop: xamarin/java.interop/d16-2@d64ada5
LibZipSharp: grendello/LibZipSharp/d16-2@caa0c74
LibZip: nih-at/libzip/rel-1-5-1@b95cf3f
ProGuard: xamarin/proguard/master@905836d
SQLite: xamarin/sqlite/3.27.1@8212a2d
Xamarin.Android Tools: xamarin/xamarin-android-tools/d16-2@6f6c969

=== Microsoft Mobile OpenJDK ===

Java SDK: /<....>/Library/Developer/Xamarin/jdk/microsoft_dist_openjdk_1.8.0.25
1.8.0-25
Android Designer EPL code available here:
https://github.com/xamarin/AndroidDesigner.EPL

=== Android Device Manager ===

Version: 1.2.0.58
Hash: d03e3ea
Branch: remotes/origin/d16-2~1
Build date: 2019-08-05 20:08:02 UTC

=== Xamarin Inspector ===

Version: 1.4.3
Hash: db27525
Branch: 1.4-release
Build date: Mon, 09 Jul 2018 21:20:18 GMT
Client compatibility: 1

=== Build Information ===

Release ID: 802020044
Git revision: 2be0fd83c12d2bf1d60b2e5413d8517b8779bb74
Build date: 2019-08-07 07:47:32+00
Build branch: release-8.2-xcode11
Xamarin extensions: 559d23bf0f48ccb83b732417a122fc66e0a2640a

=== Operating System ===

Mac OS X 10.15.0
Darwin 19.0.0 Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0
    Tue Jul 23 01:19:36 PDT 2019
    root:xnu-6153.0.103.151.1~4/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64

Build Logs

Example Project (If Possible)

[projectgoav]

Edit: Build issues are no longer occurring every time!

[chamons]

Can you please attach the IDE.log?

[projectgoav]

Xamarin IDE Logs.zip

Started VS, opened my solution. Performed a rebuild and got the error. Opened Xcode, switched back to VS and did build and same error appears.

I've added all the logs from that directory that were modified this morning in case they are helpful.

[projectgoav]

Any more word on this? Possible work-arounds?

[projectgoav]

I completely removed both XCode 10 and XCode 11 beta form my Mac. I've since reinstalled XCode 11 beta and things have marginally improved.

• My builds will still often fail with the IBTool error. Opening the xib mentioned into XCode, waiting for it to index then returning to Visual Studio for a rebuild fixes this for a short time. This is the behavour I experienced prior to the 8th August update.

• Opening Xibs in XCode 11 no longer shows the 'Internal Error...' message and I'm able to edit them once more.

However, my 2 other issues remain.

• I can't edit the outlets on a xib file.
• Every time XCode and Visual Studio sync, XCode complains the workspace no longer exists. I have to close XCode then re-open it with the Xib I was working on.

[rolfbjarne]

I'm not able to reproduce any problems, but I'm not sure I'm doing it right.

Could you record a screencast of what you're doing? That way we'd be sure to do the same thing.

[projectgoav]

I have taken 2 video with the built-in Mac screen recorder. They are too big to upload via GitHub but should be available at here: https://we.tl/t-ylleKJutVh

The first video is after a restart. I open VS Mac and build my project. After the build I get a build error. Open the Xib mentioned in the error with Xcode and let it do its thing. From here, no outlets are editable.

I then switch back to VS Mac causing VS Mac to sync. Xcode will start to 'bounce' saying the project no longer exists.

In my second video I demonstrate that no matter the xib I open (View controller or cell) the sync to Visual Studio causes Xcode to complain. You can also witness the 'Internal Error' bug I frequently see opening xibs (Note that in the first video taken just before, this did not occur.)

[rolfbjarne]

Ok, let's separate this:

• I can reproduce the The source control operation failed because the file "obj" could not be found." dialog, but this is most likely just a nuisance and not a real problem.
• The build error you highlight in the largest video (at 02:10) are probably bugs in Xcode. There could still be workarounds though; can you attach the build output (the right part of the Errors pane you can see in the video at the same time)?
• I was not able to reproduce the dialog about the disappearing workspace, but this may be because my test project is small (and your project is quite big). Would it be possible to get access to your project so that we could test with the same data?

Out of curiosity: is there any reason you're not using the Visual Studio's designer instead?

[projectgoav]

I can reproduce the The source control operation failed because the file "obj" could not be found." dialog, but this is most likely just a nuisance and not a real problem.

Can you advise how outlets can be editted from XCode 11? Normally I would select the button I used in the video and the associated .m and .h files would appear on the right allowing me to modify outlets.

The build error you highlight in the largest video (at 02:10) are probably bugs in Xcode. There could still be workarounds though; can you attach the build output (the right part of the Errors pane you can see in the video at the same time)?

I get this everytime I open the project. After I have opened the xib in XCode and returned to VS Mac everything seems to work again for a while. Would my previously attached zip of logs contain the build output? I'll attach a copy of the build window just in case it doesn't.

I was not able to reproduce the dialog about the disappearing workspace, but this may be because my test project is small (and your project is quite big). Would it be possible to get access to your project so that we could test with the same data?

I'll need to get back to you on getting access to our project.

Our project has multiple Base.lproj directories, with each containing the xibs for a particular feature. A test project with a similiar structure might have the same issue?

feature A
|- Base.lproj
    |- ViewControllerA.xib
    |- ViewControllerB.xib
|- Cells
    | - Base.lproj
        |- TableCellA.xib
        |- TableCellB.xib
    |- TableCellA.cs
    |- TableCellB.cs
|- ViewControllerA.cs
|- ViewControllerB.cs

feature B
|- Base.lproj
    |- ViewControllerC.xib
|- Cells
    |- Base.lproj
        |- CollectionViewCellA.xib
        |- CollectionViewCellB.xib
    |- CollectionViewCellA.cs
    |- CollectionViewCellB.cs
|- ViewControllerC.cs

Out of curiosity: is there any reason you're not using the Visual Studio's designer instead?

There are a number of reasons:

• Many of our team come from an iOS development background so are used to XCode
• We find the editor quite slow and unreliable
• There's no documented way to access the localisation features of a xib
• There's no documented way to create an outlet collection which we rely on heavily
• The editor will often barf when you have multiple view controllers in a single xib file
• The editor can struggle to render views with transparent and blur effect backgrounds

[rolfbjarne]

Can you advise how outlets can be editted from XCode 11? Normally I would select the button I used in the video and the associated .m and .h files would appear on the right allowing me to modify outlets.

I see, it's a bit worse than I thought, I'd misunderstood what was supposed to happen. That said, I get the same problem with Xcode 10.2 or Xcode 10.3.

Would my previously attached zip of logs contain the build output?

No, it doesn't.

A test project with a similiar structure might have the same issue?

It might, but I might also spend a lot of time trying to recreating something without success. If we're both testing the same thing everything becomes much easier.

[projectgoav]

Sorry, I meant to get back to you with log files....

I re-tested with another solution that has all Xib files in a single directory. This project has the same issues I have been experiencing with VS Mac & Xcode 11.

I did a build of the end projects in both solutions and attached the build output. I turned the verbosity up to the highest, which I hope is more of a help than hinderance.

Xcode11_Xamarin_Build_Logs.zip

MultiFolderXib is the build output from the application you can see in the video.
SingleFolderXib is the other project I tested.