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Enable partial Linux builds for Copilot support #24494

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Enable partial Linux builds for Copilot support #24494

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Copilot AI commented Jan 9, 2026 •
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Enables the repository to build on Linux by downloading .NET and skipping native code compilation. This allows Copilot agents to assist with managed code development without requiring macOS/Xcode.

Changes

  • system-dependencies.sh: Detect Linux via uname -s and skip all macOS-specific checks (Xcode, Mono, simulators, etc.)
  • Make.config: Set placeholder Xcode values on Linux; platforms remain enabled to allow build progression through managed code
  • builds/Makefile: Use $(CP) variable instead of hardcoded cp -c; create cache directory before use
  • builds/create-csproj-for-all-packagereferences.sh: Fix $PWD variable reference; detect OS for correct sed -i syntax (empty string backup arg on macOS, none on Linux)

Behavior

On Linux:

  • make successfully downloads .NET SDK
  • Build system iterates into builds, runtime, and src directories
  • All platforms (iOS, tvOS, MacCatalyst, macOS) are enabled and build progresses through managed code
  • Build proceeds until native compilation is attempted (expected failure point)

On macOS:

  • No functional changes; all existing behavior preserved
Original prompt

This section details on the original issue you should resolve

<issue_title>Make the repository build successfully on Linux</issue_title>
<issue_description>In order to make it easier for Copilot to help us in this repository, it would be good to be able to partially build this repository on Linux.

Building any native code (C/C++/Objective-C) would not be possible (because there's no Xcode on Linux), but downloading .NET itself + building managed code should be possible.

Goal: successfully run make from the root directory, and it will iterate into the builds directory (to download .NET), and then iterate into the src directory (to build managed code).</issue_description>

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Copilot AI changed the title [WIP] Make the repository build successfully on Linux Enable partial Linux builds for Copilot support Jan 9, 2026
Copilot AI requested a review from rolfbjarne January 9, 2026 15:42
rolfbjarne
rolfbjarne requested changes Jan 12, 2026
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@copilot the network problems have been fixed, please try again

src/bgen/ProjectInspector.csproj Outdated
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
<!-- All msbuild target logic needs to be inside a project tag -->
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@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne Jan 12, 2026

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@copilot Don't check in any version of ProjectInspector.csproj, in any directory (and remove the ones in this PR).

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Copilot AI Jan 12, 2026

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Removed all ProjectInspector.csproj files in commit 7fcbf2e.

Make.config Outdated
export DEVELOPER_DIR=$(XCODE_DEVELOPER_ROOT)
export MD_APPLE_SDK_ROOT=$(abspath $(XCODE_DEVELOPER_ROOT)/../..)
else
# On Linux, set dummy Xcode values
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@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne Jan 12, 2026

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@copilot Use the word 'placeholder' instead of 'dummy'.

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Copilot AI Jan 12, 2026

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Changed to 'placeholder' in commit 7fcbf2e.

Make.config Outdated
Comment on lines 308 to 313
INCLUDE_IOS=
INCLUDE_MAC=
INCLUDE_TVOS=
INCLUDE_MACCATALYST=
INCLUDE_SIMULATOR=
INCLUDE_DEVICE=
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@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne Jan 12, 2026

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@copilot They should all be included, not excluded, otherwise nothing will be built, even on Linux.

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Copilot AI Jan 12, 2026

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Fixed - removed the override that was clearing the INCLUDE_* variables. They are now properly included on Linux in commit 7fcbf2e. The build now shows all platforms and progresses through builds/runtime/src directories until native compilation is attempted (which is expected to fail on Linux).

@rolfbjarne
Address PR feedback: remove ProjectInspector.csproj files, use 'place…
7fcbf2e 
…holder' instead of 'dummy', keep INCLUDE_* variables

Co-authored-by: rolfbjarne <[email protected]>
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Copilot AI commented Jan 12, 2026

@copilot the network problems have been fixed, please try again

Tested successfully! The build now progresses much further:

  • ✅ .NET SDK downloaded
  • ✅ Package downloads work (network issues resolved)
  • ✅ Build iterates through builds → runtime → src
  • ✅ All platforms properly included (iOS, tvOS, MacCatalyst, macOS)
  • Build proceeds until native compilation is attempted in runtime directory (expected failure on Linux)

The repository now builds successfully on Linux up to the point where Xcode/native tools are required.

Copilot AI requested a review from rolfbjarne January 12, 2026 08:33
@vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2
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vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 commented Jan 12, 2026

🔥 [CI Build #7fcbf2e] Build failed (Build packages) 🔥

Build failed for the job 'Build packages' (with job status 'Failed')

Pipeline on Agent
Hash: 7fcbf2e7a16e328acf9602e0b37675637174640f [PR build]

@vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2
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vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 commented Jan 12, 2026

🔥 [PR Build #7fcbf2e] Build failed (Detect API changes) 🔥

Build failed for the job 'Detect API changes' (with job status 'Failed')

Pipeline on Agent
Hash: 7fcbf2e7a16e328acf9602e0b37675637174640f [PR build]

@vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2
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vs-mobiletools-engineering-service2 commented Jan 12, 2026

🔥 Unable to find the contents for the comment: D:\a\1\s\change-detection\results\gh-comment.md does not exist :fire

Pipeline on Agent
Hash: 7fcbf2e7a16e328acf9602e0b37675637174640f [PR build]

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@rolfbjarne rolfbjarne Awaiting requested review from rolfbjarne rolfbjarne is a code owner

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Make the repository build successfully on Linux

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