Can't reference a PCL project from an ASP.NET core project.

[gugavaro]

I have 3 projects:

• My Xamarin mobile app (my UI)
• My PCL (my Models)
• My ASP.NET core (my Web api)

I would like to share my model project between my Xamarin UI and my ASP.NET core, so I can have a single project that holds the Models.
I can reference my PCL project from my Xamarin project without any problem, but when I try to reference the PCL from the asp.net core, the reference window does not give me any warning when I select the PCL project, but the reference does not gets added after a select and click okay.

Any hints on how to solve this issue?

thanks,
Gustavo.

[davidfowl]

It's currently not supported but will be in RC2.

[jcapellman]

Similar situation on my end except with just a UWP app and several ASP.NET Core WebAPI services - wanted PCLs between them with RC1.

In case someone was curious in the latest RC1 (1.0.0-rc1-update2) it's still not functional.

[haslingerm]

Just wanted to point out that I'm on RC2 and didn't get it to work yet.
Hints on how to get those scenarios to work are appreciated.

[MihaMarkic]

Yep, can confirm, no go with RC2.

[rondefreitas]

@MihaMarkic I've actually gotten this working myself, in RC2... it was much-required for one of the projects I'm working on.

Are you getting any specific errors when trying to reference it? Can you elaborate on exactly what's happening with it?

[MihaMarkic]

Create a .net core libarary project A, a PCL (.net 4.5 + asp.net core 1.0) B.
When I try to reference B from A it says:

The following projects are not supported as references :

• B has target frameworks that are incompatible with targets in current project A.

A:

.NETStandard,Version=v1.5

B:

.NETPortable,Version=v4.5,Profile=Profile75

Perhaps PCLs can be referenced from only asp.net core projects, but not from .net core console/libraries?

[haslingerm]

Just a quick update: it doesn't work for me with 1.0 RTM either. @Rdefreitas if you could elaborate how you did it (or answer my SO question directly) I would be grateful.
@MihaMarkic doesn't seem to be a console app issue since I can't get it to work with asp.net either.

[netStandardCoreFramework]

Does not work with Update3 + 1.0.0 preview2 tooling on 1.0.0
What is the recommended way to use dll's friendly with NetStandard1.0 ASP sites and 4.6.x framework code? Just want to share the dll. It seems this has been broken for a release now and does not work as described here: https://github.com/dotnet/corefx/blob/master/Documentation/architecture/net-platform-standard.md

EDIT: Got it CLOSER with netstandard1.5 and 4.6.2 preview:
asp side:

 "frameworks": {
    "netcoreapp1.0": {
      "dependencies": {
      },
      "imports": [
        "netstandard1.5",
        "portable-net45+win8"
      ]
    }
  },

Core DLL side:

"dependencies": {
    "NETStandard.Library": "1.5.0-rc2-24027"
  },

  "frameworks": {
    "netstandard1.5": {
      "imports": [
        "dnxcore50",
        "netcoreapp1.0"
      ]

    }

And 4.6.2 project imported the core dll reference BUT I CANT SEE ANY CORE DLL OBJECTS?!?

[maxprilutskiy]

What's the current status? I'm experiencing the same issue trying to reference PCL from aspnet core application. Is there another way to share code between aspnet core and xamarin application?

[kewur]

@prilutskiy

I got around the problem until the issue is fixed by making the referenced project .netcore instead of PCL. But you need to reference the dll itself instead of the project. And you'll have to build the referenced project when you make changes.

[maxprilutskiy]

@kewur Thanks for the workaround. But what about Xamarin application? Won't there be troubles with referencing core assembly?

[kewur]

I was able to run it on the emulator, never tried on the device though.

[maxprilutskiy]

@kewur I have just created .NET Core .dll project and referenced it from both aspnet and Xamarin.Android applications. I haven't run them, but build succeeded. Maybe that's workaround I've been looking for. Anyway, thanks for your help.

[cspaniard]

I am sorry to say that I have been trying to get this to work and "no luck". I have projects I need to share between ASP.Net Core 1.0 RTM and Xamarin and it is trouble all the way.

Problem #1: I cannot reference the PCL project from the .net core project. I added the compat layer and the "imports" and the reference dialog box works, but the solution does not compile. It seems like the compiler does not "see" the PCL project. It cannot resolve using statements or classes that live in the PCL project.

Problem #2: If I convert the PCL project to Standard Library, then Xamarin Forms PCL has problems saying that the v4.5 (Xam PCL) is not compatible with the v5.0 (std lib). I am lost...

Problem #3: If I try to convert the entire Xamarin project to Standard Library then the problem is that many dependencies are not ported to .Net Core / Std Libs yet. For example, many of the Xamarin libs and even MvvmLight. I talked to both, James Montemagno and Laurent Buignion, and both have confirmed that there is clear a plan to port, but we are not there yet. As Montemagno said, "Standard Libraries are still new".

Anyhow, a real mess... I still wonder if it is a tech. problem, or a tooling problem... I don't know where to log issues or give input... ;)

Thanks...