MvvmCross 6.4.2 is an update within the MvvmCross 6 series, which introduced several changes and improvements to the framework. While specific changes in 6.4.2 itself are not detailed in the search results, understanding the broader context of MvvmCross 6 and its plugin loading mechanism can help identify potential impacts on plugin loading.
Key Changes in MvvmCross 6
1. Simplified Plugin Development: Starting from MvvmCross 6.0, plugin development became simpler. To create a plugin, you need to create a library that references the main MvvmCross package, add a type that inherits from `IMvxPlugin`, and annotate it with the `MvxPluginAttribute`. The `Load` method of the plugin is automatically called during app setup, where you should register services and classes with the IoC container[4].
2. IoC Improvements: MvvmCross 6 includes improvements in the IoC (Inversion of Control) system, such as better constructor matching for services, which might affect how plugins are loaded and registered[9].
3. Platform Support: MvvmCross 6 supports various platforms, including Xamarin iOS, Android, Forms, Windows, and Mac. This broad support ensures that plugins can be used across different platforms, but it also means that platform-specific issues might arise if not properly handled[2].
Potential Issues with Plugin Loading
- Assembly Loading: In MvvmCross 6, plugins are loaded by scanning assemblies for types annotated with `MvxPluginAttribute`. If the assemblies containing plugins are not properly referenced or loaded, this could lead to issues with plugin loading[1][4].
- Null Reference Exceptions: As seen in some cases, null reference exceptions can occur if the plugin assemblies are not correctly identified or if there are issues with the IoC registration process[1].
- Version Compatibility: Ensuring that all MvvmCross packages and plugins are on the same version is crucial to avoid compatibility issues. This includes checking that all NuGet packages are updated to the latest compatible versions[7].
Best Practices for Plugin Loading in MvvmCross 6.4.2
- Override `LoadPlugins` Correctly: If customizing plugin loading, ensure that the `LoadPlugins` method is properly overridden in the platform-specific setup classes to handle any custom logic[1][7].
- Use `IMvxPluginManager`: Utilize the `IMvxPluginManager` to manage plugin loading and ensure that plugins are correctly registered with the IoC container[4].
- Monitor Logs and Exceptions: Use tools like the device log on Mac or Windows to monitor for any exceptions that might occur during plugin loading[3].
In summary, while MvvmCross 6.4.2 does not introduce specific changes to plugin loading compared to earlier versions in the 6 series, understanding the simplified plugin development process and ensuring proper assembly loading and IoC registration are key to avoiding issues with plugin loading.
Citations:[1] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/73128508/how-to-load-plugins-when-updating-to-mvvmcross-6-4-2-from-5-6-2
[2] https://www.nuget.org/packages/MvvmCross/6.4.2
[3] https://github.com/MvvmCross/MvvmCross/issues/4364
[4] https://www.mvvmcross.com/documentation/plugins/plugins-development
[5] https://github.com/MvvmCross/MvvmCross/blob/develop/CHANGELOG.md
[6] https://www.nuget.org/packages/Plugin.BLE/
[7] https://stackoverflow.com/q/33774785
[8] https://www.nuget.org/packages/MvvmCross.Forms/6.4.2
[9] https://www.mvvmcross.com/mvvmcross-6.4.0-release/