Creating a process dump

If you are experiencing issues with Metalama, our support team may ask you to provide a process dump of the compiler or IDE process.

Step 1. Install the PostSharp Command-Line Tool

Install the metalama command-line tool as described in Installing the Metalama Command Line Tool.

Step 2. Install the dotnet dump tool

Execute the following command:

dotnet tool install --global dotnet-dump

Step 3. Edit diagnostics.json

Execute the command:

metalama config edit diagnostics

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

The miniDump/processes section lists processes for which process dumps must be collected. The values are false by default. Set the values to true if you want 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 following example, Metalama is configured 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.

Execute the actions that trigger the issue.

Step 5. Upload the process dump to an online drive

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

Step 6. Send us the URL through a private channel

Instead, please send us the hyperlink by email or by private message on Slack.