WebActivator throws exception with latest version of ASP.NET MVC 4

[joelnet]

I created a New ASP.NET MVC 4 Project and selected Web API as my template. This template installs the package Microsoft.Net.Http version 2.0.20710.0. If I upgrade this package to 2.1.10 (http://nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.Net.Http/2.1.10) WebActivator throws the following exception when I run the project...

Server Error in '/' Application.

Token 0x02000001 resolves to the special module type representing this module.
Parameter name: metadataToken

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code. 

Exception Details: System.ArgumentException: Token 0x02000001 resolves to the special module type representing this module.
Parameter name: metadataToken

Source Error: 

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace: 


[ArgumentException: Token 0x02000001 resolves to the special module type representing this module.
Parameter name: metadataToken]
   System.Reflection.RuntimeModule.ResolveType(Int32 metadataToken, Type[] genericTypeArguments, Type[] genericMethodArguments) +750
   System.Reflection.CustomAttribute.FilterCustomAttributeRecord(CustomAttributeRecord caRecord, MetadataImport scope, Assembly& lastAptcaOkAssembly, RuntimeModule decoratedModule, MetadataToken decoratedToken, RuntimeType attributeFilterType, Boolean mustBeInheritable, Object[] attributes, IList derivedAttributes, RuntimeType& attributeType, IRuntimeMethodInfo& ctor, Boolean& ctorHasParameters, Boolean& isVarArg) +1281
   System.Reflection.CustomAttribute.GetCustomAttributes(RuntimeModule decoratedModule, Int32 decoratedMetadataToken, Int32 pcaCount, RuntimeType attributeFilterType, Boolean mustBeInheritable, IList derivedAttributes, Boolean isDecoratedTargetSecurityTransparent) +1574
   System.Reflection.CustomAttribute.GetCustomAttributes(RuntimeModule decoratedModule, Int32 decoratedMetadataToken, Int32 pcaCount, RuntimeType attributeFilterType, Boolean isDecoratedTargetSecurityTransparent) +460
   System.Reflection.CustomAttribute.GetCustomAttributes(RuntimeAssembly assembly, RuntimeType caType) +470
   System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.GetCustomAttributes(Type attributeType, Boolean inherit) +563
   WebActivatorEx.AssemblyExtensions.GetActivationAttributes(Assembly assembly) +394
   WebActivatorEx.ActivationManager.RunActivationMethods(Boolean designerMode) +490
   WebActivatorEx.ActivationManager.RunPreStartMethods(Boolean designerMode) +286
   WebActivatorEx.ActivationManager.Run() +260

[InvalidOperationException: The pre-application start initialization method Run on type WebActivatorEx.ActivationManager threw an exception with the following error message: Token 0x02000001 resolves to the special module type representing this module.
Parameter name: metadataToken.]
   System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.InvokePreStartInitMethodsCore(ICollection`1 methods, Func`1 setHostingEnvironmentCultures) +1247
   System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.InvokePreStartInitMethods(ICollection`1 methods) +356
   System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.CallPreStartInitMethods(String preStartInitListPath) +424
   System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.ExecutePreAppStart() +431
   System.Web.Hosting.HostingEnvironment.Initialize(ApplicationManager appManager, IApplicationHost appHost, IConfigMapPathFactory configMapPathFactory, HostingEnvironmentParameters hostingParameters, PolicyLevel policyLevel, Exception appDomainCreationException) +1458

[HttpException (0x80004005): The pre-application start initialization method Run on type WebActivatorEx.ActivationManager threw an exception with the following error message: Token 0x02000001 resolves to the special module type representing this module.
Parameter name: metadataToken.]
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +1037
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.EnsureFirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +392
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.ProcessRequestNotificationPrivate(IIS7WorkerRequest wr, HttpContext context) +578

[davidebbo]

I wasn't able to repro this. Here is my test app: https://github.com/davidebbo-test/WebActivatorBug12. Can you try with that app to see if you repro? If not, maybe there are differences with what you're doing?

[joelnet]

It looks like it's something specific to one of the machine's here. On one machine it produces an exception, on the other machine, no exception. (aren't these fun to trouble shoot?)

I will attempt to discover the difference.

[davidebbo]

Yeah, that's a weird error; no idea what that even means! :) And very few references to it out there, so it's not at a common thing.

And if you switch back to the older Microsoft.Net.Http, it definitely doesn't happen?

Here is where WebActivator calls GetCustomAttributes: https://github.com/davidebbo/WebActivator/blob/master/WebActivator/AssemblyExtensions.cs#L12. If you debug it, you should be able to tell which specific assembly is triggering that. And then maybe you can isolate to a simple Console app repro that just does that on that assembly.

[joelnet]

i've never seen that error before either. and ya, if i switch back to v2.0.20710.0 it starts to work again. I'll poke around it some more tomorrow.

[LorenDorez]

Has anyone found out why this is happening. I am getting this error. WebActivator is added when im trying to add Ninject.MVC3 to my project. I have another project running webactivator v2.0.20710.0 and its running fine.

[davidebbo]

I'm yet to be able to repro this myself, making it hard to investigate. If you have a repro, can you try isolating it as I suggest above (calling GetCustomAttributes directly to see what assembly causes it)?

[LorenDorez]

Hi David, How to i call this. Im fairly new to all of this.

For my project it only happens when i updated ALL the base MVC Internet Template then added Ninject which add WebActivator.

You can reproduce it this way.

[joelnet]

I gave him the steps to reproduce, and it works just fine on his machine. He also gave me his project, which doesn't work on my machine. It seems to be something specific to our machines maybe like .net version or some other assembly.

This is just one of about a handful off issues I've been having on this project so I haven't had time to look into it further. I'm going to test this later.

[LorenDorez]

No i think it has to do with what you have installed for your project.

Heres the debug info.. and steps to reproduce

1. Create a MVC 4 , Targeting 4.5 Project
2. Go to Nuget and Update ALL packages right off the bat.
3. Add a Reference to the WebActivate Project.
4. Run debug and BAM!!! error here is the details

T = WebActivatorEx.PreApplicationStartMethodAttribute
Assembly = System.Net.Http.Primitives, Version=4.0.10.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a

Under CustomAttributes says assembly.CustomAttributes threw and exception of type 'System.MissingMethodException'

Hope this helps

[davidebbo]

Hmmm, interesting that you get a MissingMethodException. If you run it in debugger with Break on all Exceptions, can you maybe get more details? e.g. what specific method is missing, and from where?

I think we've established that these repro steps don't actually repro the issue on all machines, only on some.

[LorenDorez]

Sorry never dont that before how to i do that in VS2012?

[joelnet]

The error I was getting was not System.MissingMethodException, it was System.ArgumentException.

I do not believe it has to do with what is installed (nuget) in the project. I ran David's project exactly as it was, which works for him, yet I got the error message above.

[davidebbo]

@LorenDorez Try:

• Ctrl-Alt-E
• Click check box next to CLR Exceptions
• Run scenario in debugger

[LorenDorez]

It still breaks at the same point.

All i see digging in the Assembly object is Method not found: 'Void ..ctor(System.String)'. all associated around a ResolveModule Method

[LorenDorez]

@joelnet I notice david's project wasnt using the latest versions System.Net.Http and all of its dependecies like OpenAuth etc.. that the Basic Internet Template for MVC4 comes with