Add support for stamping version on server.json for MCP servers with 0.0.0-placeholder replacement

[Copilot]

Addresses #xxx by adding automatic version stamping for MCP server.json files when PackageType=McpServer is specified in MSBuild projects.

Problem

MCP (Model Context Protocol) server projects need their server.json files to be versioned consistently with their NuGet packages. Previously, developers had to manually handle this with hacky CI flows:

• Call nbgv to get the version number
• Replace from a template server.template.json to server.json
• Run build/pack on the NuGet package

Solution

This PR introduces automatic server.json version stamping that integrates seamlessly with Nerdbank.GitVersioning's existing build process:

New MSBuild Integration

• Target: NBGV_StampMcpServerJson runs before packaging when PackageType=McpServer
• Task: StampMcpServerJson handles simple string replacement with proper error handling
• Conditional: Only activates for MCP server projects, regular projects are unaffected

How it Works

1. Detects projects with <PackageType>McpServer</PackageType>
2. Finds the project's server.json file
3. Performs simple string replacement of "0.0.0-placeholder" with the computed NBGV version
4. Writes the stamped version to the intermediate output directory
5. Excludes the original server.json from packaging and includes the versioned one

Example

Original server.json:

{
  "$schema": "https://modelcontextprotocol.io/schemas/draft/2025-07-09/server.json",
  "description": "Sample .NET MCP Server",
  "name": "io.github.example/samplemcpserver",
  "version": "0.0.0-placeholder",
  "packages": [
    {
      "registry_type": "nuget",
      "identifier": "Example.McpServer",
      "version": "0.0.0-placeholder",
      "transport": {
        "type": "stdio"
      }
    }
  ]
}

After NBGV processing:

{
  "$schema": "https://modelcontextprotocol.io/schemas/draft/2025-07-09/server.json",
  "description": "Sample .NET MCP Server",
  "name": "io.github.example/samplemcpserver",
  "version": "1.2.3-alpha.4+branch.feature",
  "packages": [
    {
      "registry_type": "nuget",
      "identifier": "Example.McpServer",
      "version": "1.2.3-alpha.4+branch.feature",
      "transport": {
        "type": "stdio"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Testing

• Added comprehensive unit tests that verify version stamping works correctly
• Tests use realistic MCP server.json structure with multiple version placeholders using raw string literals for better readability
• Verifies all 0.0.0-placeholder values are replaced with the actual version
• Tested with both MCP server projects (version gets stamped) and regular projects (server.json untouched)
• All existing tests continue to pass, ensuring no regressions

This eliminates the need for manual version management in CI pipelines and ensures MCP server metadata stays in sync with package versions automatically, using a simple and efficient string replacement approach.

Fixes #1269

Fixes #1269

---

💬 Share your feedback on Copilot coding agent for the chance to win a $200 gift card! Click here to start the survey.

[AArnott]

@copilot please make the requested changes.

[Copilot]

@copilot please make the requested changes.

All requested changes have been implemented and tested. Updated MSBuild conditions, converted to namespace statements, implemented recursive VERSION replacement, improved tests, and addressed all feedback. Fixed in commit 412e26c.

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• 3dovsblobprodeus2188.blob.core.windows.net
  • Triggering command: dotnet restore --no-dependencies /home/REDACTED/work/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/.codeql-scratch/dbs/csharp/working/32A0A2D38A721DD2A3E59F6279CF8961/missingpackages_workingdir --packages /home/REDACTED/work/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/.codeql-scratch/dbs/csharp/working/missingpackages /p:DisableImplicitNuGetFallbackFolder=true --verbosity normal --configfile /home/REDACTED/work/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/.codeql-scratch/dbs/csharp/working/nugetconfig/nuget.config --force (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

[AArnott]

@copilot please make these changes

[Copilot]

@copilot please make these changes

All requested changes have been implemented:

• Updated test to use raw string literals with syntax highlighting
• Simplified version replacement to use string.Replace for "0.0.0-placeholder"
• Reverted unnecessary using statement from BuildIntegrationTests.cs
  Fixed in commit 4de35e1.

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• y5pvsblobprodeus219.blob.core.windows.net
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/dotnet/dotnet /usr/lib/dotnet/sdk/8.0.119/NuGet.Build.Tasks.Console.dll Recursive=True;CleanupAssetsForUnsupportedProjects=True;DisableParallel=False;Force=False;ForceEvaluate=False;HideWarningsAndErrors=False;IgnoreFailedSources=False;Interactive=False;NoCache=False;RestorePackagesConfig=False /usr/lib/dotnet/sdk/8.0.119/MSBuild.dll /home/REDACTED/work/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/src/Nerdbank.GitVersioning.Tasks/Nerdbank.GitVersioning.Tasks.csproj MSBuildRestoreSessionId=4fca6dda-cb20-48cf-997e-34699e8e198e;ExcludeRestorePackageImports=True;OriginalMSBuildStartupDirectory=/home/REDACTED/work/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/Nerdbank.GitVersioning (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

[timheuer]

This looks great!