Tool with string[] parameter causes serialization-related exception during initialization

[RBrid]

I created an MCP server in a console app that worked just fine, with version 0.1.0-preview.7.
Then I moved my code inside some existing application and now get an exception when Claude loads my server:

Unhandled exception. System.NotSupportedException: JsonTypeInfo metadata for type 'System.String[]' was not provided by TypeInfoResolver of type 'Microsoft.Extensions.AI.AIJsonUtilities+JsonContext'. If using source generation, ensure that all root types passed to the serializer have been annotated with 'JsonSerializableAttribute', along with any types that might be serialized polymorphically.
   at System.Text.Json.ThrowHelper.ThrowNotSupportedException_NoMetadataForType(Type type, IJsonTypeInfoResolver resolver)
   at System.Text.Json.JsonSerializerOptions.GetTypeInfoInternal(Type type, Boolean ensureConfigured, Nullable`1 ensureNotNull, Boolean resolveIfMutable, Boolean fallBackToNearestAncestorType)
   at System.Text.Json.JsonSerializerOptions.GetTypeInfo(Type type)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.AI.AIFunctionFactory.ReflectionAIFunctionDescriptor.GetParameterMarshaller(JsonSerializerOptions serializerOptions, ParameterBindingOptions bindingOptions, ParameterInfo parameter)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.AI.AIFunctionFactory.ReflectionAIFunctionDescriptor..ctor(DescriptorKey key, JsonSerializerOptions serializerOptions)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.AI.AIFunctionFactory.ReflectionAIFunctionDescriptor.GetOrCreate(MethodInfo method, AIFunctionFactoryOptions options)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.AI.AIFunctionFactory.ReflectionAIFunction.Build(MethodInfo method, Object target, AIFunctionFactoryOptions options)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.AI.AIFunctionFactory.Create(MethodInfo method, Object target, AIFunctionFactoryOptions options)
   at ModelContextProtocol.Server.AIFunctionMcpServerTool.Create(MethodInfo method, Object target, McpServerToolCreateOptions options)
   at ModelContextProtocol.Server.McpServerTool.Create(MethodInfo method, Object target, McpServerToolCreateOptions options)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.McpServerBuilderExtensions.<>c__DisplayClass1_0`1.<WithTools>b__0(IServiceProvider services)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitFactory(FactoryCallSite factoryCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitIEnumerable(IEnumerableCallSite enumerableCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitConstructor(ConstructorCallSite constructorCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitDisposeCache(ServiceCallSite transientCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitIEnumerable(IEnumerableCallSite enumerableCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitNoCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitConstructor(ConstructorCallSite constructorCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitDisposeCache(ServiceCallSite transientCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitConstructor(ConstructorCallSite constructorCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitConstructor(ConstructorCallSite constructorCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.Resolve(ServiceCallSite callSite, ServiceProviderEngineScope scope)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProvider.CreateServiceAccessor(ServiceIdentifier serviceIdentifier)
   at System.Collections.Concurrent.ConcurrentDictionary`2.GetOrAdd(TKey key, Func`2 valueFactory)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProvider.GetService(ServiceIdentifier serviceIdentifier, ServiceProviderEngineScope serviceProviderEngineScope)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.ServiceProviderEngineScope.GetService(Type serviceType)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProviderServiceExtensions.GetRequiredService(IServiceProvider provider, Type serviceType)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProviderServiceExtensions.GetRequiredService[T](IServiceProvider provider)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.McpServerBuilderExtensions.<>c.<AddSingleSessionServerDependencies>b__21_0(IServiceProvider services)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitFactory(FactoryCallSite factoryCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitConstructor(ConstructorCallSite constructorCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitIEnumerable(IEnumerableCallSite enumerableCallSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSiteMain(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.VisitRootCache(ServiceCallSite callSite, RuntimeResolverContext context)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteVisitor`2.VisitCallSite(ServiceCallSite callSite, TArgument argument)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceLookup.CallSiteRuntimeResolver.Resolve(ServiceCallSite callSite, ServiceProviderEngineScope scope)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProvider.CreateServiceAccessor(ServiceIdentifier serviceIdentifier)
   at System.Collections.Concurrent.ConcurrentDictionary`2.GetOrAdd(TKey key, Func`2 valueFactory)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProvider.GetService(ServiceIdentifier serviceIdentifier, ServiceProviderEngineScope serviceProviderEngineScope)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProvider.GetService(Type serviceType)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProviderServiceExtensions.GetRequiredService(IServiceProvider provider, Type serviceType)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ServiceProviderServiceExtensions.GetRequiredService[T](IServiceProvider provider)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting.Internal.Host.StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting.HostingAbstractionsHostExtensions.RunAsync(IHost host, CancellationToken token)
   at Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting.HostingAbstractionsHostExtensions.RunAsync(IHost host, CancellationToken token)
   at <myprogram>.Program.Main(String[] args)
   at <myprogram>.Program.<Main>(String[] args)

This is apparently happening because one of my tools includes string[] parameters:

[McpServerTool(Name = "foo"), Description("...")]
public static string Foo(
    ...
    [Description("...")] string[] bar)

Any idea what could be causing this and how to address it? Thank you!

[stephentoub]

inside some existing application

Is that application publishing for Native AOT?

[RBrid]

@stephentoub - Yes, I was just told it's a Native AOT COM server. Thanks.

[eiriktsarpalis]

In AOT you need to source generate for every type being used in the signature of your tool, even for seemingly trivial types like string[]. The resultant JsonSerializerOptions needs to then be passed as an argument in the WithToolsXXX calls so that the types can be taken into account.

[RBrid]

Thanks for the help, Stephen & Eirik.

This is how I ended up avoiding the issue:

[JsonSerializable(typeof(string))]
[JsonSerializable(typeof(string[]))]
internal partial class MyMcpServerJsonSerializerContext : JsonSerializerContext
{
}

internal static partial class MyMcpServer
{
    [RequiresUnreferencedCode("Calls Type.GetMethods() with BindingFlags.NonPublic")]
    internal static IMcpServerBuilder WithToolsAndCustomJsonSerializerContext(this IMcpServerBuilder builder, Type toolType)
    {
        Debug.Assert(builder != null);
        Debug.Assert(toolType != null);

        foreach (var toolMethod in toolType.GetMethods(BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic))
        {
            if (toolMethod.GetCustomAttribute<McpServerToolAttribute>() is not null)
            {
                builder.Services.AddSingleton(
                    services => McpServerTool.Create(
                        toolMethod,
                        options: new McpServerToolCreateOptions()
                        {
                            Services = services,
                            SerializerOptions = MyMcpServerJsonSerializerContext.Default.Options
                        }));
            }
        }

        return builder;
    }
}

Then I use:

builder.Services
    .AddMcpServer()
    .WithStdioServerTransport()
    .WithToolsAndCustomJsonSerializerContext(typeof(MyMcpServerTools))
    ...