Previewer is not available. Build the project first. Not working

[dire64]

Describe the bug

I am trying to develop a project using Avalonia on macOS I am on macOS 14.2.1 and VSCode but when I try to open the previewer it says "Previewer is not available. Build the project first." I click build but it seems like nothing is happening. I can click it as many times as I want and nothing happens.

I read the readme on here and noticed it says 11.0.5 causes previewer issues, I am on version 11.0.6. I am not sure how to downgrade it until this matter is resolved.

To Reproduce

Create a new Avalonia project
Try to open the previewer
When prompted to build click build
Nothing happens

Avalonia for VS Code

0.0.26

Avalonia version

11.0.6

VS Code version

1.85.1

Relevant log output

AvaloniaTeam.vscode-avalonia requested to download the .NET Runtime.
AvaloniaTeam.vscode-avalonia wants to install .NET 8.0.1~arm64 but it already exists. No downloads or changes were made.

Additional context

No response

[ai25395]

Same bug for me.

[prashantvc]

Thanks for reporting the bug I am actively working on fixing this :)

[trampster]

This also occurs on linux, with the axaml code completion giving the same message.

[prashantvc]

Could you try using the v0.0.29 version? https://github.com/AvaloniaUI/AvaloniaVSCode/releases/tag/v0.0.29

[trampster]

v0.0.29 fixes it for me on linux

[prashantvc]

@dire64 could you confirm v0.0.29 fixes it for you too?

[michaeljon]

Not working here. Same symptom - need build, click build, prompted to build again.

[prashantvc]

@michaeljon Could you share the steps to reproduce?

[dire64]

Can confirm that it is fixed!

[prashantvc]

Closing this. Please comment if you want me to reopen it

[ScruffyDerHausmeister]

I still have the bug in v0.0.31 on linux.

[DirectorRen-TV]

I faced it too in v0.0.31 on windows 10

dotnet build .\GetStartedApp.csproj didn't fixed it, extension still wanting to build before previewing

[l0hn]

I have the same bug on macOS.

[trampster]

Please reopen, I still have this bug on Ubuntu 22.04 v0.0.31

[fgimian]

Same issue here on Windows with the latest .NET, VS Code and related extension.

[trampster]

I asked about this on x.

This is the answer I got from Mike James:

We prioritised shipping the core functionality and have since opened it to the community contributions.
We encourage users who want specific improvements or fixes to get involved and contribute.

It seems that Avalonia are not going to fix/maintain this extension going forward. And are looking for the community to do it.

I would be willing to try fixing this, but I can't find any instructions/guides about how to get setup for debugging/developing the extension.

I asked for help on X but I did not get a response.

[toolateralus]

yep same issue on linux mint (ubuntu 22.04 I think). Is this a configuration issue on my end, or is it confirmed a bug still?

[1ogix]

had the same issue on my macOS

[prashantvc]

I will take a look at this later this weekend, if you have steps to reproduce, please leave a comment

[trampster]

@prashantvc I don't know of a set of steps that makes it work.

1. Open axaml file
2. Try and add a property to a xml element to get the autocomplete, get the dreaded instruction to build the project.
3. Build the project -> doesn't help.

Same thing for the previewer

[JBrolin90]

Now I tried on Windows 11, Linux Mint Debian edition 6 (on 2 machines) All with the same result, does not load the previewer. Additionally I tried with several earlier versions 0.31 and down to 0.25. All with the same result. I would therefore assume that the problem lies in some change in VS Code itself, not the extension. I did not try to downgrade VS Code

[super-brian]

on Mac, using .net 8 sdk, vs code, Avalonia for VSCode 0.0.31, the first app did work (MyApp) the GetStartedApp doesn't work.

[Advanium]

I got it working for v0.0.31 on my Windows machine with latest .NET 8.0 SDK installed by swapping out the SolutionParser files:

See #40 (comment)

[marcin-przywoski]

This won't work if you have .NET 9 installed. Check the comment above if you do but compile the project with .NET 9 - then it will start working.