[BUG] MAUI extension does not show console output for MacCatalyst

[jonathanpeppers]

Describe the Issue

If I add Console.WriteLine("Hello!") in a .NET MAUI application running on macOS, I don't see the message in VS Code's "Debug Console".

However, if I run the app such as:

$ ./bin/Debug/net8.0-maccatalyst/maccatalyst-arm64/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp 
2024-04-30 11:39:27.336 MyApp[28217:8881808] You've implemented -[<UIApplicationDelegate> application:performFetchWithCompletionHandler:], but you still need to add "fetch" to the list of your supported UIBackgroundModes in your Info.plist.
2024-04-30 11:39:33.138 MyApp[28217:8881808] Hello!

Then I see the message.

Steps To Reproduce

1. dotnet new maui
2. Add a Console.WriteLine("Hello!") somewhere in the app
3. Run the project in VS Code
4. The log message does not appear

Expected Behavior

I can see CWL messages in the "Debug Console" window.

Environment Information

• macOS arm64
• .NET 8.0.204 SDK
• .NET MAUI Extension: v0.11.34 (pre-release) | VS Bug 2049431

[phillippschmedt]

I face the same issue when debugging .NET MAUI on iOS.

[hugebug4ever]

It's the expected behaviour.
You should use Debug.WriteLine("xxxx) to output to the "vs code debug console". "Console.WriteLine" is designed for console environment , not "deug console"

I think this issue could be closed.

[jonathanpeppers]

@hugebug4ever Console.WriteLine() has always appeared in IDEs for applications running on the Mono runtime: iOS, Android, MacCatalyst.

I wouldn't expect this behavior in VS Code should differ from VS Mac or VS Windows?

[hugebug4ever]

@jonathanpeppers sorry for my reckless, I didn't notice you are from official team. I have just adapted to "console to console window" and "debug to debug window". It behaved the same with latest dotnet core application with vs2022.
Just wondering why should we pipe the Console.WriteLine to Debug window, but not a separate console window ? To me, this way is more clear.

[jonathanpeppers]

What you are describing is definitely what happens on Windows (WinUI3, MAUI, etc.). I agree with that.

I don't know if we can change the behavior for .NET mobile at this point, as it has been this way since Xamarin, .NET 6, 7, 8, 9.

@rolfbjarne might have an opinion about what it should do. But I would think they want to see both NSLog() messages and Console.WriteLine() messages? We would also want Android.Util.Log.Debug() messages to show on Android.

[rolfbjarne]

@rolfbjarne might have an opinion about what it should do. But I would think they want to see both NSLog() messages and Console.WriteLine() messages? We would also want Android.Util.Log.Debug() messages to show on Android.

IMO Console[.Error].Write* output should be visible somewhere from inside VS Code. If that's the "Debug console", or some other pad, I don't particularly care.

FWIW macOS / iOS forwards anything written using NSLog to stderr, so showing stderr takes care of that.