Fix Aspire AppHost crash on file upload from Visual Studio

src/Primitives/CrestApps.Core.AI.Documents/DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptionsConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
 
@@ -8,15 +9,22 @@ namespace CrestApps.Core.AI.Documents;
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptionsConfiguration : IConfigureOptions<DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptions>
 {
+    private const string ConfigurationKey = "CrestApps:AI:Documents:BasePath";
+
     private readonly IHostEnvironment _env;
+    private readonly IConfiguration _configuration;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptionsConfiguration"/> class.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="env">The env.</param>
-    public DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptionsConfiguration(IHostEnvironment env)
+    /// <param name="env">The host environment.</param>
+    /// <param name="configuration">The application configuration.</param>
+    public DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptionsConfiguration(
+        IHostEnvironment env,
+        IConfiguration configuration)
     {
         _env = env;
+        _configuration = configuration;
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -29,6 +37,11 @@ public void Configure(DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptions options)
 
         var configuredBasePath = options.BasePath;
 
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(configuredBasePath))
+        {
+            configuredBasePath = _configuration[ConfigurationKey];
+        }
+
         if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(configuredBasePath))
         {
             options.BasePath = Path.Combine(_env.ContentRootPath, "App_Data", "Documents");

src/Startup/CrestApps.Core.Aspire.AppHost/Program.cs

@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ void WriteCrashEntry(string label, object data)
     WriteCrashEntry("Process exit signaled", $"Exit code: {Environment.ExitCode}");
 };
 
+// When running under Visual Studio, all mutable data (database, logs, documents,
+// site settings) must be stored outside the project source tree. VS monitors the
+// source directory for file changes, and any new file triggers VS to stop the debug
+// session. Redirecting App_Data and document storage to a temp location avoids this.
+var appDataBasePath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "CrestApps", "AppData");
+var documentsBasePath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "CrestApps", "Documents");
+
 var builder = DistributedApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
 
 builder.Services.Configure<HostOptions>(options =>
@@ -63,12 +70,22 @@ void WriteCrashEntry(string label, object data)
     .WithHttpsEndpoint(5001, name: "HttpsMvcWeb")
     .WithEnvironment((options) =>
     {
+        var mvcAppData = Path.Combine(appDataBasePath, "MvcWeb");
+        options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AppDataPath", mvcAppData);
+        options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CRESTAPPS_LOG_DIR", Path.Combine(mvcAppData, "logs"));
+        options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Documents__BasePath", documentsBasePath);
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Providers__Ollama__DefaultDeploymentName", ollamaModelName);
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Providers__Ollama__Connections__Default__Endpoint", "http://localhost:11434");
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Providers__Ollama__Connections__Default__ChatDeploymentName", ollamaModelName);
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__MvcApp__MCP__Server__AuthenticationType", "None");
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__MvcApp__A2A__Host__AuthenticationType", "None");
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__MvcApp__A2A__Host__ExposeAgentsAsSkill", "true");
+
+        // Prevent VS-injected startup hooks (BrowserRefresh, DeltaApplier, BrowserLink)
+        // from loading into child processes. These middlewares can interfere with
+        // multipart file uploads when running under VS + Aspire.
+        options.EnvironmentVariables["DOTNET_STARTUP_HOOKS"] = "";
+        options.EnvironmentVariables["__ASPNETCORE_BROWSER_TOOLS"] = "";
     });
 
 var blazorWeb = builder.AddProject<Projects.CrestApps_Core_Blazor_Web>("BlazorWeb")
@@ -78,12 +95,22 @@ void WriteCrashEntry(string label, object data)
     .WithHttpsEndpoint(5201, name: "HttpsBlazorWeb")
     .WithEnvironment((options) =>
     {
+        var blazorAppData = Path.Combine(appDataBasePath, "BlazorWeb");
+        options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AppDataPath", blazorAppData);
+        options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CRESTAPPS_LOG_DIR", Path.Combine(blazorAppData, "logs"));
+        options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Documents__BasePath", documentsBasePath);
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Providers__Ollama__DefaultDeploymentName", ollamaModelName);
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Providers__Ollama__Connections__Default__Endpoint", "http://localhost:11434");
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__AI__Providers__Ollama__Connections__Default__ChatDeploymentName", ollamaModelName);
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__BlazorApp__MCP__Server__AuthenticationType", "None");
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__BlazorApp__A2A__Host__AuthenticationType", "None");
         options.EnvironmentVariables.Add("CrestApps__BlazorApp__A2A__Host__ExposeAgentsAsSkill", "true");
+
+        // Prevent VS-injected startup hooks (BrowserRefresh, DeltaApplier, BrowserLink)
+        // from loading into child processes. These middlewares can interfere with
+        // multipart file uploads when running under VS + Aspire.
+        options.EnvironmentVariables["DOTNET_STARTUP_HOOKS"] = "";
+        options.EnvironmentVariables["__ASPNETCORE_BROWSER_TOOLS"] = "";
     });
 
 builder.AddProject<Projects.CrestApps_Core_Mvc_Samples_McpClient>("McpClientSample")
@@ -112,6 +139,35 @@ void WriteCrashEntry(string label, object data)
 
 var app = builder.Build();
 
+// Open the Aspire Dashboard in the default browser after the app starts.
+// We do this from code instead of using launchBrowser:true in launchSettings because
+// VS attaches a browser management connection to browsers it launches, and that
+// connection crashes when a native file dialog (e.g. file upload picker) opens.
+// Opening the browser from code means VS has no management link to it.
+var dashboardUrl = builder.Configuration["ASPNETCORE_URLS"]?.Split(';')
+    .FirstOrDefault(u => u.StartsWith("https://", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+    ?? builder.Configuration["ASPNETCORE_URLS"]?.Split(';').FirstOrDefault();
+
+var lifetime = app.Services.GetRequiredService<IHostApplicationLifetime>();
+lifetime.ApplicationStarted.Register(() =>
+{
+    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(dashboardUrl))
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
+            {
+                FileName = dashboardUrl,
+                UseShellExecute = true,
+            });
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // Non-critical: browser open is best-effort.
+        }
+    }
+});
+
 try
 {
     await app.RunAsync();

src/Startup/CrestApps.Core.Aspire.AppHost/Properties/launchSettings.json

@@ -4,33 +4,29 @@
     "https": {
       "commandName": "Project",
       "dotnetRunMessages": true,
-      "launchBrowser": true,
+      "launchBrowser": false,
+      "hotReloadEnabled": false,
       "applicationUrl": "https://localhost:17260;http://localhost:15207",
       "environmentVariables": {
         "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development",
         "ASPNETCORE_URLS": "https://localhost:17260;http://localhost:15207",
         "DOTNET_ENVIRONMENT": "Development",
         "DOTNET_DASHBOARD_OTLP_ENDPOINT_URL": "https://localhost:21194",
-        "DOTNET_RESOURCE_SERVICE_ENDPOINT_URL": "https://localhost:22004",
-        "DOTNET_DbgEnableMiniDump": "1",
-        "DOTNET_DbgMiniDumpType": "4",
-        "DOTNET_CreateDumpDiagnostics": "1"
+        "DOTNET_RESOURCE_SERVICE_ENDPOINT_URL": "https://localhost:22004"
       }
     },
     "http": {
       "commandName": "Project",
       "dotnetRunMessages": true,
-      "launchBrowser": true,
+      "launchBrowser": false,
+      "hotReloadEnabled": false,
       "applicationUrl": "http://localhost:15207",
       "environmentVariables": {
         "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development",
         "ASPNETCORE_URLS": "http://localhost:15207",
         "DOTNET_ENVIRONMENT": "Development",
         "DOTNET_DASHBOARD_OTLP_ENDPOINT_URL": "http://localhost:19030",
-        "DOTNET_RESOURCE_SERVICE_ENDPOINT_URL": "http://localhost:20028",
-        "DOTNET_DbgEnableMiniDump": "1",
-        "DOTNET_DbgMiniDumpType": "4",
-        "DOTNET_CreateDumpDiagnostics": "1"
+        "DOTNET_RESOURCE_SERVICE_ENDPOINT_URL": "http://localhost:20028"
       }
     }
   }

src/Startup/CrestApps.Core.Blazor.Web/nlog.config

@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
       autoReload="true"
       throwConfigExceptions="true"
       internalLogLevel="Warn"
-      internalLogFile="App_Data/logs/nlog-internal.log">
+      internalLogFile="${environment:variable=CRESTAPPS_LOG_DIR:whenEmpty=${aspnet-appbasepath}/App_Data/logs}/nlog-internal.log">
 
   <extensions>
     <add assembly="NLog.Web.AspNetCore"/>
   </extensions>
 
-  <variable name="logDir" value="${aspnet-appbasepath}/App_Data/logs" />
+  <variable name="logDir" value="${environment:variable=CRESTAPPS_LOG_DIR:whenEmpty=${aspnet-appbasepath}/App_Data/logs}" />
 
   <targets>
     <target xsi:type="File" name="allfile"

src/Startup/CrestApps.Core.Mvc.Web/nlog.config

@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
       autoReload="true"
       throwConfigExceptions="true"
       internalLogLevel="Warn"
-      internalLogFile="App_Data/logs/nlog-internal.log">
+      internalLogFile="${environment:variable=CRESTAPPS_LOG_DIR:whenEmpty=${aspnet-appbasepath}/App_Data/logs}/nlog-internal.log">
 
   <extensions>
     <add assembly="NLog.Web.AspNetCore"/>
   </extensions>
 
-  <variable name="logDir" value="${aspnet-appbasepath}/App_Data/logs" />
+  <variable name="logDir" value="${environment:variable=CRESTAPPS_LOG_DIR:whenEmpty=${aspnet-appbasepath}/App_Data/logs}" />
 
   <targets>
     <target xsi:type="File" name="allfile"

src/Startup/CrestApps.Core.Startup.Shared/Services/SharedWebApplicationBuilderExtensions.cs

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ namespace CrestApps.Core.Startup.Shared.Services;
 
 public static class SharedWebApplicationBuilderExtensions
 {
+    private const string AppDataPathConfigurationKey = "CrestApps:AppDataPath";
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Applies the shared sample-host infrastructure used by the MVC and Blazor
     /// sample applications and returns the resolved <c>App_Data</c> path.
@@ -29,10 +31,24 @@ public static string AddSharedSampleHostDefaults(this WebApplicationBuilder buil
         builder.Logging.ClearProviders();
         builder.WebHost.UseNLog();
 
-        var appDataPath = Path.Combine(builder.Environment.ContentRootPath, "App_Data");
+        // Allow the App_Data path to be overridden via configuration (e.g. an environment
+        // variable CrestApps__AppDataPath). When running under Aspire + Visual Studio the
+        // content root points to the project source directory, and any file writes there
+        // can trigger VS to stop the debug session. Redirecting App_Data outside the
+        // source tree avoids that problem.
+        var configuredAppDataPath = builder.Configuration[AppDataPathConfigurationKey];
+
+        var appDataPath = !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(configuredAppDataPath)
+            ? configuredAppDataPath
+            : Path.Combine(builder.Environment.ContentRootPath, "App_Data");
+
         Directory.CreateDirectory(appDataPath);
 
-        builder.Configuration.AddJsonFile("App_Data/appsettings.json", optional: true, reloadOnChange: false);
+        builder.Configuration.AddJsonFile(
+            Path.Combine(appDataPath, "appsettings.json"),
+            optional: true,
+            reloadOnChange: false);
+
         builder.Services.AddSharedSiteSettings(appDataPath);
 
         return appDataPath;

tests/CrestApps.Core.Tests/Core/Documents/DocumentFileStoreRegistrationTests.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System.Text;
 using CrestApps.Core.AI.Documents;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ public async Task AddCoreAIDocumentProcessing_RegistersDefaultFileSystemStore()
         {
             var services = new ServiceCollection()
                 .AddSingleton<IHostEnvironment>(new TestHostEnvironment(contentRoot))
+                .AddSingleton<IConfiguration>(new ConfigurationBuilder().Build())
                 .AddLogging()
                 .AddCoreAIDocumentProcessing();
             await using var provider = services.BuildServiceProvider();
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ public async Task AddCoreAIDocumentProcessing_UsesConfiguredFileSystemBasePath()
         {
             var services = new ServiceCollection()
                 .AddSingleton<IHostEnvironment>(new TestHostEnvironment(contentRoot))
+                .AddSingleton<IConfiguration>(new ConfigurationBuilder().Build())
                 .Configure<DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptions>(options => options.BasePath = "CustomDocuments")
                 .AddLogging()
                 .AddCoreAIDocumentProcessing();
@@ -75,6 +78,7 @@ public async Task AddCoreAIDocumentProcessing_PostConfigureOverridesDefaultBaseP
         {
             var services = new ServiceCollection()
                 .AddSingleton<IHostEnvironment>(new TestHostEnvironment(contentRoot))
+                .AddSingleton<IConfiguration>(new ConfigurationBuilder().Build())
                 .AddSingleton<IPostConfigureOptions<DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptions>>(
                     new PostConfigureOptions<DocumentFileSystemFileStoreOptions>(Options.DefaultName, options =>
                     {