Creating a process dump

If you are encountering issues with Metalama, our support team might request a process dump of the compiler or IDE process.

Step 1. Install the PostSharp Command-Line Tool

Install the metalama command-line tool following the instructions in Installing the Metalama Command Line Tool.

Step 2. Install the dotnet dump tool

Run the command below:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-dump

Step 3. Edit diagnostics.json

Run the command:

metalama config edit diagnostics

This command should open a diagnostics.json file in your default editor.

The miniDump/processes section lists processes for which process dumps need to be collected. The values are false by default. Set the values to true if you wish to collect the process dumps of the following processes if they crash:

• Compiler: the compile-time process.
• Rider: the design-time Roslyn process running under Rider.
• DevEnv: the UI process of Visual Studio (note that there is no aspect code running in this process).
• RoslynCodeAnalysisService: the design-time Roslyn process running under Visual Studio (this is where the aspect code runs).

In the example below, Metalama is set up to capture a process dump for the compiler process.

{
 // ...
"crashDumps": {
    "processes": {
     "DotNetTool": false,
      "BackstageWorker": false,
      "OmniSharp": false,
      "Compiler": true,
      "TestHost": false,
      "CodeLensService": false,
      "Other": false,
      "ResharperTestRunner": false,
      "DevEnv": false,
      "Rider": false,
      "RoslynCodeAnalysisService": false
    }
//...
}

Step 4. Execute Metalama

Restart the logged processes:

• If you enabled dumps for the Compiler process, restart the Roslyn compiler processes using metalama kill.
• If you enabled dumps for any design-time processes, restart your IDE.

Perform the actions that cause the issue.

Step 5. Upload the process dump to an online drive

You will find process dumps in the %TEMP%\Metalama\CrashReports directory with the extension *.dmp.gz. Upload this file to an online storage service like OneDrive.

Step 6. Send us the URL through a private channel

Instead, kindly send us the link via email or private message on Slack.