NuGet package issue (DLL cannot be found)

1-Clean up the NuGet cache and packages:

dotnet nuget locals all --clear

2-Delete the following directories in your project:

• bin
• obj
• .vs

3-Restore your NuGet packages:

dotnet restore

4-Rebuild your project:

dotnet restore

1. Make sure your Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Functions package version is compatible with .NET 8.0. You should be using version 4.2.0 or later.
2. Verify these key package versions in your .csproj file: <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Functions" Version="4.2.0" /> <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions" Version="8.0.0" />

If you’re still facing the error about Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions not being found after upgrading to .NET 8, try these additional steps:

1. Check for Transitive Dependency Conflicts:

• Sometimes, other NuGet packages reference different versions of Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions. Use the following command to inspect your dependency tree:

dotnet list package --include-transitive

• Look for any mismatched versions and align them in your .csproj by adding explicit PackageReference entries if needed.

2. Ensure All Projects Target the Same .NET Version:

• If your solution has multiple projects, make sure they all target .NET 8.0 and use compatible package versions. Mixing frameworks can cause assembly loading issues.

3. Remove and Re-add the Problematic Package:

• Sometimes, simply removing and re-adding the package can resolve hidden issues:

dotnet remove package Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions
dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions --version 8.0.0

4. Check Your Local Function Tools Version:

• Make sure your Azure Functions Core Tools are up to date and compatible with .NET 8. You can update them with:

 npm i -g azure-functions-core-tools@4 --unsafe-perm true

• Or download the latest from the official site.

5. Check for Binding Redirects (if using .config files):

• In some cases, especially with older projects, you may need to add or update binding redirects in your app.config or web.config to point to the correct assembly version.

6. Try a Clean Clone:

• If all else fails, clone your repository into a new directory, restore packages, and build. This can rule out any local environment issues.

.NET projects can sometimes get “confused” if there are version mismatches, stale caches, or transitive dependencies pulling in the wrong DLL versions. The above steps help ensure your project and all its dependencies are aligned and clean.

If you try these steps and still have issues, please share your .csproj file and the full error message for more targeted help!