Missing Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions.dll in .Net Framework 4.8

[JPasterkampRotec]

Type: Bug
NLog version: 4.7.15
NLog.Extensions.Logging version: 1.4.7
NLog.Web.AspNetCore version: (not used)
Platform: .Net Framework 4.8
Current NLog config:

var config = new LoggingConfiguration();
var logconsole = new ConsoleTarget("logconsole")
{
    Layout = "${time} ${pad:padding=-5:inner=${level:uppercase=true}}:  ${logger:shortName=true} - ${message} ${onexception:${newline}${exception:format=tostring}}"
};
config.AddRule(LogLevel.Trace, LogLevel.Fatal, logconsole);
LogManager.Configuration = config;

• What is the current result?
  An exception when calling .AddNLog() for an ILoggingBuilder, because the Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions.dll is missing.

• What is the expected result?
  I expected the Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions.dll to be included when installing NLog.Extensions.Logging in a .Net Framework 4.8 project.

• Did you checked the Internal log?
  Not relevant I think.

• Please post full exception details (message, stacktrace, inner exceptions)

System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions, Version=2.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=adb9793829ddae60' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
File name: 'Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions, Version=2.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=adb9793829ddae60'
at NLog.Extensions.Logging.ConfigureExtensions.AddNLog(ILoggingBuilder factory, NLogProviderOptions options)
at MyLibrary.MyClass.<>c.b__13_1(ILoggingBuilder options)
at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.LoggingServiceCollectionExtensions.AddLogging(IServiceCollection services, Action`1 configure)
at MyLibrary.MyClass.d__13.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at MyLibrary.ContainerBuilderExtensions.<>c__DisplayClass5_0.<b__0>d.MoveNext()

• Are there any work arrounds? yes
  Manually installing the Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions.dll (5.0.0) package worked.
  However, I really don't like this workaround, because I'm shipping my code in question as a NuGet package; anyone installing the NuGet package would have to manually install this missing dll.

• Is there a version in which it did worked?
  Not that I know of.

• Can you help us by writing a unit test?
  No, but I can show you what I'm doing, which is attaching NLog to a SignalR client:

var connection = new HubConnectionBuilder()
    .WithUrl(HubEndpoint, options =>
    {
        options.AccessTokenProvider = GetAuthenticationToken;
    })
    .ConfigureLogging(options =>
    {
        options.AddNLog(); // The call that throws the exception
    })
    .WithAutomaticReconnect()
    .Build();

You can simply test it by:

1. Installing NLog.Extensions.Logging in a .Net framework 4.8 console application.
2. Build/run the project.
3. Check the build folder (bin/Debug) and you will see there is no Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions.dll

[snakefoot]

I'm guessing you have become used to .NET Core development, where transitive-nuget-dependencies just works, and no longer getting bitten by strong-version-assembly-issues.

For .NET Framework projects then transitive-nuget-dependencies can work automatically if changing to the new csproj-format where nuget-packages are included with <packagereference>. But if using the old csproj-format then you need to add this setting:

<RestoreProjectStyle>PackageReference</RestoreProjectStyle>

For any strong-version-assembly-issues, then your only friend is the binding-redirections. See also https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/configure-apps/redirect-assembly-versions and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/configure-apps/how-to-enable-and-disable-automatic-binding-redirection

[JPasterkampRotec]

My projects are already using the PackageReferences strategy, so that's not the problem.
I've been looking at the NLog.Extensions.Logging csproj and I might've found the issue.

The net461 should also have Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions as a PackageReference right?

  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'net461' ">
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging" Version="2.1.0" />
    <Reference Include="System" />
    <Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netstandard1.3' ">
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions" Version="1.0.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions" Version="1.0.0" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netstandard1.5' ">
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions" Version="1.0.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions" Version="1.0.0" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netstandard2.0' ">
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging" Version="2.1.0" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging" Version="3.1.0" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'net5.0' ">
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging" Version="5.0.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions" Version="5.0.0" />
  </ItemGroup>

[snakefoot]

Microsoft.Extensions.Logging-nuget-package depends on Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions

[JPasterkampRotec]

Microsoft.Extensions.Logging-nuget-package depends on Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions

Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions is not the same as Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions

[snakefoot]

Microsoft.Extensions.Logging-nuget-package depends on Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Binder that depends on Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions

But I guess Microsoft have changed it so newer versions of Microsoft.Extensions.Logging doesn't have that dependency.

[snakefoot]

Created #590 to reduce the pain from the change in Microsoft.Extensions.Logging-dependency-tree

[snakefoot]

NLog 5.0 has now been released