AndroidX: Create managed assembly patching tool POC

[Redth]

We need to rewrite several parts of managed assemblies which will be migrated to AndroidX with Mono.Cecil. Let's make a proof of concept too which can handle patching a given managed assembly:

• Input will be a .csv file containing java type mappings and .NET managed type mappings (eg: com.android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity,androidx.app.AppCompatActivity,Android.Support.V7.App.AppCompatActivity,AndroidX.AppCompatActivity)
• Replace all JNI strings containing old android support types with their new types in:
  • [Register] attribute ctor parameters
  • Strings inside method bodies of methods marked with [Register] attributes (note there are a couple different generator patterns used you need to account for)
  • There may be other places, we need to investigate

The tool should take a given set of managed .dll's as well as mapping file(s) and output the rewritten .dll

VS bug #773870

[AlexanderMelchers]

Hi @Redth,

Is there any timeline indication on when this work will be complete?

Kind regards, Alexander.

[mattleibow]

I can't give an answer just yet on when it will be done. But, we are hard at work and we have some things working internally. We are in the process of putting these things together so that it is one coherent solution. From what we can see, we should be able to have at least a preview available in the very near future.

[AlexanderMelchers]

As we've since found a work-around the pressure is off for the time being, but thanks for the answer @mattleibow!