[System.Version]::Parse('') error during rebuild with .NET 9 iOS SDK

[arivoir]

When building a .NET 9 iOS project using Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_18.5, the build succeeds once, but subsequent rebuilds fail with the error:

The expression "[System.Version]::Parse('')" cannot be evaluated. Version string portion was too short or too long.

Reproduction Steps:

1. Create a new iOS project targeting net9.0-ios.
2. Set explicit version properties in .csproj:

<ApplicationVersion>1.0</ApplicationVersion>
<ApplicationDisplayVersion>1.0</ApplicationDisplayVersion>

3. Build the project (succeeds).
4. Rebuild the project (fails with the error above).

Environment:
• .NET SDK: 9.0
• iOS SDK: Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_18.5 (C:\Program Files\dotnet\packs\Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_18.5\18.5.9214\targets\Xamarin.Shared.Sdk.targets)
• Visual Studio 2022
• TargetFramework: net9.0-ios
• OS: Windows
Additional Info:
• The error appears to originate from line 2344 in Xamarin.Shared.Sdk.targets.
• Info.plist contains valid version strings.
• No direct usage of Version.Parse in user code.
• Cleaning and rebuilding sometimes resolves the issue temporarily.
Expected Behavior:
Rebuilds should succeed consistently when version properties are set.
Actual Behavior:
Rebuild fails with a version parsing error.

[arivoir]

the only working workaround cycle I got is

• Unload project
• Load project
• Set as startup project
• Run

Extremely annoying having to make this every change in the code

[rolfbjarne]

As a workaround, try adding this to the csproj:

<PropertyGroup>
    <ValidateXcodeVersion>false</ValidateXcodeVersion>
</PropertyGroup>

I'm not able to reproduce, so could you try getting an MSBuild binlog as described here: https://github.com/xamarin/xamarin-macios/wiki/Diagnosis#binary-build-logs? That will hopeful provide enough information to diagnose this.

[arivoir]

MSBuildReproLogs (2).zip

@rolfbjarne here are the logs

[arivoir]

I tried adding

<ValidateXcodeVersion>false</ValidateXcodeVersion>

And now I have another error

A bundle identifier is required. Either add an 'ApplicationId' property in the project file, or add a 'CFBundleIdentifier' entry in the project's Info.plist file.

I have both the ApplicationId in the properties of the project and in the Info.plist

[rolfbjarne]

The problem is that there's no connection to the remote Mac, this is printed from earlier in the build:

The Build Connection 'Xamarin.Messaging.Build.Client.BuildConnection.2400' is not active and needs to be connected with the proper host and user information

[rolfbjarne]

We'll improve error reporting to show a better error here.