Use MSBuild version comparison functions instead of numerical comparisons

[thomhurst]

@Brokolis fingers crossed!

[claude]

Claude finished @thomhurst's task —— View job

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Code Review: MSBuild Version Comparison Changes ✅

Todo List:

• Read repository setup instructions (CLAUDE.md) - No CLAUDE.md found
• Examine the changed file (Directory.Build.targets)
• Analyze MSBuild version comparison changes
• Provide comprehensive code review feedback
• Check for potential bugs, security, performance issues
• Assess test coverage implications

Changes Summary

File: Directory.Build.targets:3-4

Before:

<DefineConstants Condition="$(RoslynVersion) >= 4.7">$(DefineConstants);ROSLYN4_7_OR_GREATER</DefineConstants>
<DefineConstants Condition="$(RoslynVersion) >= 4.14">$(DefineConstants);ROSLYN4_14_OR_GREATER</DefineConstants>

After:

<DefineConstants Condition="$([MSBuild]::VersionGreaterThanOrEquals('$(RoslynVersion)', '4.7'))">$(DefineConstants);ROSLYN4_7_OR_GREATER</DefineConstants>
<DefineConstants Condition="$([MSBuild]::VersionGreaterThanOrEquals('$(RoslynVersion)', '4.14'))">$(DefineConstants);ROSLYN4_14_OR_GREATER</DefineConstants>

Review Feedback

✅ Code Quality & Best Practices

This is an excellent improvement! The change replaces string-based numerical comparison with proper semantic version comparison:

• Semantic Version Handling: MSBuild::VersionGreaterThanOrEquals() correctly handles version strings like "4.7.1", "4.14.0-preview", etc.
• Follows MSBuild Best Practices: Using built-in MSBuild functions is the recommended approach for version comparisons
• More Robust: Handles edge cases that string comparison might miss

✅ Bug Fixes

This change fixes a significant bug:

Problem with old approach:

• String comparison $(RoslynVersion) >= 4.7 treats versions as strings, not semantic versions
• This could cause issues with versions like:
  • "4.10" would be considered less than "4.7" (lexicographic comparison)
  • Pre-release versions like "4.7.0-preview" might not compare correctly
  • Multi-part versions like "4.7.1" could behave unexpectedly

Solution:

• MSBuild::VersionGreaterThanOrEquals() properly parses and compares semantic versions
• Handles all standard version formats correctly

✅ Performance Considerations

• Minimal Performance Impact: MSBuild version comparison functions are optimized and cached
• Build-Time Only: These conditions are evaluated at build time, so runtime performance is unaffected
• No Regression Risk: The function calls are very lightweight

✅ Security Concerns

• No Security Issues: Version comparison functions are safe and don't introduce vulnerabilities
• Input Sanitization: MSBuild functions handle malformed version strings gracefully
• No External Dependencies: Uses built-in MSBuild functionality

✅ Test Coverage

• Implicit Testing: This change affects conditional compilation, so existing tests for Roslyn-specific features provide coverage
• Build Validation: The build system itself validates that the conditions work correctly
• Consider Adding: Unit tests that verify the correct preprocessor constants are defined for different Roslyn versions would be beneficial

Recommendation

LGTM 🎉 This is a high-quality bug fix that:

1. Solves a real version comparison problem
2. Uses MSBuild best practices
3. Improves code reliability
4. Has no negative side effects

The change is small, focused, and addresses a specific technical debt issue. Perfect example of defensive programming!

Minor Suggestions

• Consider documenting this pattern in other parts of the codebase that might have similar version comparisons
• The approach could be extracted to a common MSBuild target if version comparisons become more frequent

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[Brokolis]

I can confirm that everything works in 0.55.0. Thanks for the fixes!