Produce warning when tech debt is fixed

Directory.Packages.props

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>true</ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>
     <CentralPackageTransitivePinningEnabled>true</CentralPackageTransitivePinningEnabled>
-    <DisableTransitiveProjectReferences>true</DisableTransitiveProjectReferences>
+    <DisableTransitiveProjectReferences Condition="'$(DisableTransitiveProjectReferences)' == ''">true</DisableTransitiveProjectReferences>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Build.Framework" Version="17.14.28" />

README.md

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ The following warnings are generated by this package:
 | RP0003 | No dependency rules matched the current project |
 | RP0004 | Project reference 'x' ==> 'y' violates dependency rule or one of its exceptions |
 | RP0005 | Package reference 'x' ==> 'y' violates dependency rule or one of its exceptions |
+| RP0006 | Tech debt exception 'x' ==> 'y' no longer matches any declared reference and can be removed |
 
 ## How to use
 Add a package reference to the [ReferenceProtector](https://www.nuget.org/packages/ReferenceProtector) package in your projects, or as a common package reference in the repo's [`Directory.Packages.props`](./Directory.Build.props).
@@ -72,6 +73,8 @@ Schema of the rules file is as follows:
 }
 ```
 
+Note: for stability - use the version in the schema url, instead of `main`. For example for version `v1.2.3` - use `"$schema": https://raw.githubusercontent.com/olstakh/ReferenceProtector/v1.2.3/src/Build/DependencyRules.schema.json`
+
 Top `ProjectDependencies` object will contain a list of rules to validate against. Each rule has the following schema:
 
 - `From` / `To` - Full path regex for source and target projects to be matched.
@@ -82,6 +85,8 @@ Top `ProjectDependencies` object will contain a list of rules to validate agains
 
 Top `PackageDependences` object will have the same format as `ProjectDependencies` with `LinkType` omitted, since only direct package references will be considered. Also, `Description` section will be part of `RP0005` warning (as opposed to `RP0004`)
 
+Adding `IsTechDebt: true` to an exception (if the `Policy: "Forbidden"`) will mark the exception to the rule as undesireable and analyzer will produce a warning when such an exception no longer holds and can be removed from the rules.
+
 ## Matching logic
 Each reference between the projects / packages during the build is evaluated against provided list of policies. First each pair of dependencies is evaluated against `From` and `To` patterns, based on their full path. For project dependencies - if the match is successful - their link type is evaluated: if current pair has a direct dependency on each other and `LinkType` value is `Direct` or `DirectOrTransient` - the match is successful, otherwise (the dependency is transient) - `LinkType` should be `Transient` or `DirectOrTransient` for the match to be successful. Package dependencies are only viewed as direct references. Then the exceptions are evaluated using the same pattern matching logic with `From` and `To` fields.
 The decision logic is as follows

samples/DependencyRules.json

@@ -12,13 +12,19 @@
                 "From": "*\\ClassA.csproj",
                 "To": "*\\ClassB.csproj",
                 "Justification": "This is an exception for testing purposes"
+            },
+            {
+                "From": "*\\ClassA.csproj",
+                "To": "*\\OldClass.csproj",
+                "IsTechDebt": true,
+                "Justification": "This is a tech debt exception for testing purposes. [Waning is expected]"
             }
         ]
     },
     {
         "From": "*\\ClassA.csproj",
         "To": "*\\ClassC.csproj",
-        "Description": "Can't reference this project transitively",
+        "Description": "Can't reference this project transitively [Warning is expected]",
         "Policy": "Forbidden",
         "LinkType": "Transitive",
         "Exceptions": [

samples/Directory.Build.props

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
     <DependencyRulesFile>$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)DependencyRules.json</DependencyRulesFile>
     <ErrorLog>buildResult.sarif,version=2.1</ErrorLog>
+    <DisableTransitiveProjectReferences>false</DisableTransitiveProjectReferences>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
 </Project>

src/Analyzers/ReferenceProtector.Analyzers.Tests/ReferenceProtectorAnalyzerTests.cs

@@ -231,4 +231,229 @@ private AnalyzerTest<DefaultVerifier> GetAnalyzer() =>
             },
             ReferenceAssemblies = ReferenceAssemblies.Net.Net90
         };
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Verifies that the analyzer reports RP0006 when a tech debt exception no longer matches any declared project reference.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task TechDebtException_NoLongerNeeded_ShouldReportDiagnostic_Async()
+    {
+        var test = GetAnalyzer();
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            ("DependencyRules.json", """
+            {
+                "ProjectDependencies": [
+                    {
+                        "From": "*",
+                        "To": "*",
+                        "Description": "No direct project references allowed",
+                        "Policy": "Forbidden",
+                        "LinkType": "Direct",
+                        "Exceptions": [
+                            {
+                                "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                                "To": "OldProject.csproj",
+                                "Justification": "Legacy dependency to be removed",
+                                "IsTechDebt": true
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+            """));
+
+        // OldProject.csproj is NOT in the declared references
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            (ReferenceProtectorAnalyzer.DeclaredReferencesFile, """
+            TestProject.csproj	ProjectReferenceDirect	SomeOtherProject.csproj
+            """));
+
+        test.ExpectedDiagnostics.Add(DiagnosticResult.CompilerWarning("RP0004")
+            .WithNoLocation()
+            .WithMessage("Project reference 'TestProject.csproj' ==> 'SomeOtherProject.csproj' violates dependency rule 'No direct project references allowed' or one of its exceptions. Please remove the dependency or update 'DependencyRules.json' file to allow it."));
+
+        test.ExpectedDiagnostics.Add(DiagnosticResult.CompilerWarning("RP0006")
+            .WithNoLocation()
+            .WithMessage("Tech debt exception 'TestProject.csproj' ==> 'OldProject.csproj' in rule 'No direct project references allowed' no longer matches any declared reference and can be removed from 'DependencyRules.json'"));
+
+        await test.RunAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Verifies that the analyzer does NOT report RP0006 when a tech debt exception still matches a declared project reference.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task TechDebtException_StillNeeded_ShouldNotReportDiagnostic_Async()
+    {
+        var test = GetAnalyzer();
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            ("DependencyRules.json", """
+            {
+                "ProjectDependencies": [
+                    {
+                        "From": "*",
+                        "To": "*",
+                        "Description": "No direct project references allowed",
+                        "Policy": "Forbidden",
+                        "LinkType": "Direct",
+                        "Exceptions": [
+                            {
+                                "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                                "To": "ReferencedProject.csproj",
+                                "Justification": "Legacy dependency to be removed",
+                                "IsTechDebt": true
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+            """));
+
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            (ReferenceProtectorAnalyzer.DeclaredReferencesFile, """
+            TestProject.csproj	ProjectReferenceDirect	ReferencedProject.csproj
+            """));
+
+        // No diagnostics expected - the tech debt exception is still needed
+        await test.RunAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Verifies that a non-tech-debt exception that no longer matches does NOT trigger RP0006.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task NonTechDebtException_NoLongerNeeded_ShouldNotReportDiagnostic_Async()
+    {
+        var test = GetAnalyzer();
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            ("DependencyRules.json", """
+            {
+                "ProjectDependencies": [
+                    {
+                        "From": "*",
+                        "To": "*",
+                        "Description": "No direct project references allowed",
+                        "Policy": "Forbidden",
+                        "LinkType": "Direct",
+                        "Exceptions": [
+                            {
+                                "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                                "To": "OldProject.csproj",
+                                "Justification": "Legitimate exception"
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+            """));
+
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            (ReferenceProtectorAnalyzer.DeclaredReferencesFile, """
+            TestProject.csproj	ProjectReferenceDirect	SomeOtherProject.csproj
+            """));
+
+        // RP0004 for the violating reference, but NO RP0006 since the exception is not tech debt
+        test.ExpectedDiagnostics.Add(DiagnosticResult.CompilerWarning("RP0004")
+            .WithNoLocation()
+            .WithMessage("Project reference 'TestProject.csproj' ==> 'SomeOtherProject.csproj' violates dependency rule 'No direct project references allowed' or one of its exceptions. Please remove the dependency or update 'DependencyRules.json' file to allow it."));
+
+        await test.RunAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Verifies that the analyzer reports RP0006 when a tech debt exception for a package reference no longer matches.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task TechDebtPackageException_NoLongerNeeded_ShouldReportDiagnostic_Async()
+    {
+        var test = GetAnalyzer();
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            ("DependencyRules.json", """
+            {
+                "PackageDependencies": [
+                    {
+                        "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                        "To": "*",
+                        "Description": "No packages allowed",
+                        "Policy": "Forbidden",
+                        "Exceptions": [
+                            {
+                                "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                                "To": "OldPackage",
+                                "Justification": "Legacy package to be removed",
+                                "IsTechDebt": true
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                ],
+                "ProjectDependencies": [
+                    {
+                        "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                        "To": "*",
+                        "Description": "Allowed",
+                        "Policy": "Allowed",
+                        "LinkType": "DirectOrTransitive"
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+            """));
+
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            (ReferenceProtectorAnalyzer.DeclaredReferencesFile, """
+            TestProject.csproj	PackageReferenceDirect	SomeOtherPackage
+            """));
+
+        test.ExpectedDiagnostics.Add(DiagnosticResult.CompilerWarning("RP0005")
+            .WithNoLocation()
+            .WithMessage("Package reference 'TestProject.csproj' ==> 'SomeOtherPackage' violates dependency rule 'No packages allowed' or one of its exceptions. Please remove the dependency or update 'DependencyRules.json' file to allow it."));
+
+        test.ExpectedDiagnostics.Add(DiagnosticResult.CompilerWarning("RP0006")
+            .WithNoLocation()
+            .WithMessage("Tech debt exception 'TestProject.csproj' ==> 'OldPackage' in rule 'No packages allowed' no longer matches any declared reference and can be removed from 'DependencyRules.json'"));
+
+        await test.RunAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Verifies IsTechDebt defaults to false when not specified in JSON.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task TechDebtException_DefaultFalse_NoFlagSpecified_ShouldNotReportDiagnostic_Async()
+    {
+        var test = GetAnalyzer();
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            ("DependencyRules.json", """
+            {
+                "ProjectDependencies": [
+                    {
+                        "From": "*",
+                        "To": "*",
+                        "Description": "No direct project references allowed",
+                        "Policy": "Forbidden",
+                        "LinkType": "Direct",
+                        "Exceptions": [
+                            {
+                                "From": "TestProject.csproj",
+                                "To": "OldProject.csproj",
+                                "Justification": "Legitimate exception",
+                                "IsTechDebt": false
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+            """));
+
+        test.TestState.AdditionalFiles.Add(
+            (ReferenceProtectorAnalyzer.DeclaredReferencesFile, """
+            TestProject.csproj	ProjectReferenceDirect	SomeOtherProject.csproj
+            """));
+
+        // Only RP0004 for SomeOtherProject, no RP0006 since IsTechDebt is explicitly false
+        test.ExpectedDiagnostics.Add(DiagnosticResult.CompilerWarning("RP0004")
+            .WithNoLocation()
+            .WithMessage("Project reference 'TestProject.csproj' ==> 'SomeOtherProject.csproj' violates dependency rule 'No direct project references allowed' or one of its exceptions. Please remove the dependency or update 'DependencyRules.json' file to allow it."));
+
+        await test.RunAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+    }
 }

src/Analyzers/ReferenceProtector.Analyzers/AnalyzerReleases.Shipped.md

@@ -12,3 +12,10 @@ RP0002 | Usage | Warning | Make sure the dependency rules file '{0}' is in the c
 RP0003 | Usage | Info | No dependency rules matched the current project '{0}'
 RP0004 | Usage | Warning | Project reference '{0}' ==> '{1}' violates dependency rule '{2}' or one of its exceptions
 RP0005 | Usage | Warning | Package reference '{0}' ==> '{1}' violates dependency rule '{2}' or one of its exceptions
+
+## Release 1.3.7
+
+### New Rules
+Rule ID | Category | Severity | Notes
+--------|----------|----------|-------
+RP0006 | Usage | Warning | Technical debt dependency can be removed from the rules exception

src/Analyzers/ReferenceProtector.Analyzers/DiagnosticDescriptors.cs

@@ -45,4 +45,12 @@ internal static class Descriptors
         category: "Usage",
         defaultSeverity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning,
         isEnabledByDefault: true);
+
+    public static readonly DiagnosticDescriptor TechDebtExceptionNoLongerNeeded = new(
+        id: "RP0006",
+        title: "Tech debt exception is no longer needed",
+        messageFormat: "Tech debt exception '{0}' ==> '{1}' in rule '{2}' no longer matches any declared reference and can be removed from '{3}'",
+        category: "Usage",
+        defaultSeverity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning,
+        isEnabledByDefault: true);
 }

src/Analyzers/ReferenceProtector.Analyzers/Models/DependencyRules.cs

@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ internal record PackageDependency(
 internal record Exceptions(
     string From,
     string To,
-    string Justification);
+    string Justification,
+    bool IsTechDebt = false);
 
 internal enum Policy
 {