| name | validate-samples |
| description | Build and validate SkiaSharp sample projects using CI-produced NuGet packages. Downloads the latest CI artifacts, detects the preview version, and runs the samples cake target to verify all samples compile correctly. Triggers: "validate samples", "build samples", "test samples", "check samples build", "run samples", "do the samples build", "samples CI", "verify sample builds". Also use when asked to check if samples work after a code change, or when investigating sample build failures. Use this skill proactively whenever the user mentions building, testing, or validating any SkiaSharp sample project. |
Validate Samples
Automates the workflow for building SkiaSharp samples against CI-produced NuGet packages.
The samples use package references (not project references) when built through the cake
target, so they need downloadable NuGet packages.
When to Use
- After making changes to samples and wanting to verify they build
- When CI reports sample build failures and you need to reproduce locally
- When validating that a new SkiaSharp release doesn't break samples
- After merging changes that affect sample project files or dependencies
Workflow
Step 1: Clear cached packages
rm -r -fo externals/package_cache/skiasharp*, externals/package_cache/harfbuzzsharp*
If you suspect deeper caching issues, also clear the global NuGet cache:
dotnet nuget locals all --clear
Step 2: Download CI packages
Downloads the latest NuGet packages from the CI feed into output/nugets/.
This target clears ./output/ first.
dotnet cake --target=docs-download-output
To download from a specific source instead of the latest main build:
# From a PR
dotnet cake --target=docs-download-output --previewLabel=pr.3553
# From a specific branch
dotnet cake --target=docs-download-output --gitBranch=release/3.119.4
# From a specific commit
dotnet cake --target=docs-download-output --gitSha=abc123def456
Step 3: Detect the preview version
Run the detection script — it prints the preview label and build number
extracted from the downloaded nupkg filenames:
pwsh .agents/skills/validate-samples/scripts/detect-preview-version.ps1
Output:
Found: SkiaSharp.3.119.4-preview.0.76.nupkg
Preview label: preview.0
Build number: 76
Full suffix: preview.0.76
Parse Preview label and Build number from the output for the next step.
Step 4: Build samples
dotnet cake --target=samples --previewLabel=<PREVIEW_LABEL> --buildNumber=<BUILD_NUMBER>
To build a single sample, add --sample=<name>:
dotnet cake --target=samples --previewLabel=<PREVIEW_LABEL> --buildNumber=<BUILD_NUMBER> --sample=Blazor
Troubleshooting
Stale packages after repeated runs
rm -r -fo externals/package_cache/skiasharp*, externals/package_cache/harfbuzzsharp*
dotnet nuget locals all --clear
Platform-specific samples not building
Some platforms are disabled by default:
# Pass these MSBuild properties to enable optional platforms
-p:IsNetTVOSSupported=true
-p:IsNetTizenSupported=true
-p:IsNetMacOSSupported=true
WinUI XAML compiler crash on .NET 10
May need a newer Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK version.
"The local source 'packages' doesn't exist" (Docker samples)
Docker samples are built via run.ps1 inside Docker, not dotnet build.
The samples-prepare target copies nupkgs there automatically.
Further Reading
See Building Samples for version construction
details, download resolution, cake arguments reference, and how samples-generate works.
