SaveChangesAsync throws MissingManifestResourceException when run in Release mode

[drasticactions]

When using EF7 in a Windows Phone 8.1 project, with the debug solution configuration set, calling SaveChangesAsync to save the entity changes runs as expected and saves the changes.

When it's switched to release mode, it throws the following in StateManager.SaveChangesAsync:

System.Resources.MissingManifestResourceException occurred
  HResult=-2146233038
  Message=Exception of type 'System.Resources.MissingManifestResourceException' was thrown.
  Source=mscorlib
  StackTrace:

  {System.Resources.MissingManifestResourceException: Exception of type 'System.Resources.MissingManifestResourceException' was thrown.
   at System.Resources.ResourceManager.GetString(String name, CultureInfo culture)
   at System.Resources.ResourceManager.GetString(String name)
   at Microsoft.Data.Entity.Relational.Strings.GetString(String name, String[] formatterNames)
   at Microsoft.Data.Entity.Relational.Strings.get_RelationalLoggerCommittingTransaction()
   at Microsoft.Framework.Logging.RelationalLoggerExtensions.CommittingTransaction(ILogger logger)
   at Microsoft.Data.Entity.Relational.RelationalTransaction.Commit()
   at Microsoft.Data.Entity.Relational.Update.BatchExecutor.<ExecuteAsync>d__1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter`1.GetResult()
   at System.Threading.Tasks.TaskExtensions.CultureAwaiter`1.GetResult()}

Again, this only happens when I set the solution to release. In debug mode, it saves fine. This also only seems to occur in my Windows Phone 8.1 solution. Running the same functions under Windows 8.1, in either configuration, works as expected.

[ArturAlekseev]

I have the same problem. It only exist in release mode deployed to device. In emulator debug & release work fine. Also it looks like it happens mostly for the first SaveChanges (when first record is inserted).
I have this problem with SaveChangesAsync and with SaveChanges calls.

[bricelam]

This looks like a general issue with resources in portable class libraries. See this StackOverflow question. I can easily repro outside of EF:

1. Create a PCL with resources
2. Create a Phone App that references the PCL
3. Call into the PCL down a codepath that accesses resources

[bricelam]

I've got to the bottom of this. While bundling the app, all resources in dependencies that are not for a language used by the main app are stripped out. To prevent EF's resources from being stripped out, add the following assembly-level attribute to your app.

using System.Resources;

[assembly: NeutralResourcesLanguage("en-US")]

Or, if you are using resources in your app, make sure at least one is for the en-US culture.

[bricelam]

I'll follow up to see if we can get this behavior changed to not strip out the neutral resources in dependencies.

[bricelam]

Closing as external. Please see Visual Studio and .NET Framework Feedback #991028 on Microsoft Connect.