dotnet · jonathanpeppers · Jun 13, 2025 · Jun 26, 2020
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+# Exception Handling
+
+Outside of Xamarin.Android, .NET exception handling
+[when a debugger is attached][0] potentially involves walking the runtime stack
+*twice*, involving three interactions between the runtime and the debugger:
+
+ 1. When the exception is first thrown, a *first chance notification* is raised
+    in the debugger, which provides the debugger with an opportunity to handle
+    breakpoint or single-step exceptions.
+
+ 2. If the debugger doesn't handle or continues execution from the first chance
+    notification, then:
+
+     a. The runtime will attempt to "find a frame-based exception handler that
+        handles the exception".
+
+     b. If no frame-based exception handler is found, then a
+        *last-chance notification* is raised in the debugger.
+
+ 3. If the debugger doesn't handle the last chance notification, then execution
+    will continue, causing the stack to be unwound.
+
+The first stack walk is step 2(a), while the second stack walk is step (3).
+
+Within Xamarin.Android, if a thread call-stack doesn't involve any calls to
+or from Java code, the same semantics are present.
+
+When a thread call-stack involves calls to or from Java code, the above
+"two-pass" semantics cannot be supported, as the Java Native Interface, which
+is used to support calls to or from Java code, does not support them.
+A cross-VM runtime stack can only be walked *while being unwound*; there is
+no way to ask "is there any method which will handle this exception" before
+code is executed and the stack is unwound.
+
+
+## The Setup
+
+Consider the following Java code:
+
+```java
+// Java
+public class Demo {
+    public static void run(Runnable r) {
+        /* setup code */
+        try {
+            r.run();
+        } finally {
+            /* cleanup code */
+            System.out.println("Demo.run() finally block!");
+        }
+    }
+}
+```
+
+`Demo.run()` is bound as:
+
+```csharp
+partial class Demo {
+	public static unsafe void Run (global::Java.Lang.IRunnable p0)
+	{
+		const string __id = "run.(Ljava/lang/Runnable;)V";
+		JniArgumentValue* __args = stackalloc JniArgumentValue [1];
+		__args [0] = new JniArgumentValue ((p0 == null) ? IntPtr.Zero : ((global::Java.Lang.Object) p0).Handle);
+		_members.StaticMethods.InvokeVoidMethod (__id, __args);
+	}
+}
+
+```
+
+Now imagine the above Java class has been bound and is used from a
+Xamarin.Android app:
+
+```csharp
+Action a = () => {
+    throw new Exception ("Hm…");
+};
+Demo.Run(new Java.Lang.Runnable(a));
+```
+
+
+## Exception Handling *Without* A Debugger
+
+When a debugger is *not* attached, the following happens:
+
+ 1. `Java.Lang.Runnable` has a Java Callable Wrapper generated at app
+    build time, `mono.java.lang.Runnable`, which implements the
+    `java.lang.Runnable` Java interface type.
+
+ 2. When the `Java.Lang.Runnable` is created, a `mono.java.lang.Runnable`
+    instance is also created, and the two instances are associated with each other.
+
+ 3. The `Demo.Run()` invocation invokes the Java `Demo.run()` method, passing
+    along the `mono.java.lang.Runnable` instance created in (2).
+
+ 4. The `r.run()` invocation within `Demo.run()` eventually invokes the method
+    `Java.Lang.IRunnableInvoker.n_Run()`:
+
+    ```csharp
+    static void n_Run (IntPtr jnienv, IntPtr native__this)
+    {
+        var __this = global::Java.Lang.Object.GetObject<Java.Lang.IRunnable> (jnienv, native__this, JniHandleOwnership.DoNotTransfer)!;
+        __this.Run ();
+    }
+    ```
+
+ 5. *However*, invocation of `n_Run()` is wrapped in a [runtime-generated][1]
+    `try`/`catch` block, which is equivalent to:
+
+    ```csharp
+    static void Call_n_Run(IntPtr jnienv, IntPtr native__this)
+    {
+        try {
+            IRunnableInvoker.n_Run(jnienv, native__this);
+        }
+        catch (Exception e) {
+            AndroidEnvironment.UnhandledException(e);
+        }
+    }
+    ```
+
+    This runtime-generated `try`/`catch` block is used for *every*
+    Java-to-managed call boundary; the method invoked in the `try` block changes.
+
+    [`AndroidEnvironment.UnhandledException()`][2] is responsible for calling
+    the [`JNIEnv::Throw()`][3] JNI method.
+
+ 6. At this point in time, the runtime call-stack is:
+
+      * Top-level managed method, which calls >
+      * Java `Demo.run()` method, which calls >
+      * Runtime-generated `try`/`catch` block, which calls >
+      * C# `IRunnableInvoker.n_Run()` method, which calls >
+      * C# `Action` delegate.
+
+ 7. The `Action` delegate is invoked, causing a C# exception to be thrown.
+
+ 8. The exception thrown in (7) is caught by the method in (5).  The managed
+    exception type is wrapped into a `JavaProxyThrowable` instance, which is
+    then raised in the Java code.
+
+ 9. The Java `finally` block executes, and then the `Demo.run()` method is
+    unwound by the JVM.
+
+10. The `Demo.Run()` binding sees the "pending exception" from the JNI call,
+    "unwraps" the `JavaProxyThrowable` to obtain the original `System.Exception`
+    then raises the `System.Exception`.
+
+11. If the method calling `Demo.Run()` was invoked from Java code, e.g.
+    an `Activity.OnCreate()` method override contained the sample code, then
+    the runtime-generated `try`/`catch` block will catch the exception being
+    propagated from (10) and likewise wrap it into a `JavaProxyThrowable`.
+
+12. The Java stack frames will unwind, and the Java uncaught exception behavior
+    kicks in: [`java.lang.Thread.getUncaughtExceptionHandler()`][4] and
+    [`java.lang.Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler.uncaughtException()`][5]
+    are invoked.
+
+13. During process startup, Xamarin.Android inserts itself into Java's
+    uncaught exception handler chain.  As such,
+    [`JNIEnv.PropagateUncaughtException()`][6] is invoked, which will attempt
+    to invoke `Debugger.Mono_UnhandledException()`, which gives an attached
+    debugger a chance to observe the exception, and
+    `AppDomain.DoUnhandledException()` is invoked, which will raise the
+    `AppDomain.UnhandledException` event, giving managed code a chance to
+    deal with the pending unhandled exception.
+
+14. The process exits, because the `System.Exception` isn't handled. :-)
+
+
+## Exception Handling *With* A Debugger
+
+When the debugger is attached, runtime behavior differs significantly.
+Steps (1) through (4) are the same, then:
+
+ 5. Invocation of `n_Run()` is wrapped in a [runtime-generated][1]
+    `try`/`catch` block which pulls in the debugger via an
+    *exception filter*, and is equivalent to:
+
+    ```csharp
+    static void Call_n_Run(IntPtr jnienv, IntPtr native__this)
+    {
+        try {
+            IRunnableInvoker.n_Run(jnienv, native__this);
+        }
+        catch (Exception e) when (Debugger.Mono_UnhandledException(e)) {
+            AndroidEnvironment.UnhandledException(e);
+        }
+    }
+    ```
+
+ 6. The runtime call-stack is unchanged relative to execution without a debugger.
+
+ 7. The `Action` delegate is invoked, causing a C# exception to be thrown.
+
+ 8. No *first chance notification* is raised.  Instead, Mono will
+    "find a frame-based exception handler that handles the exception,"
+    and as part of this process will execute any exception filters.  This
+    causes `Debugger.Mono_UnhandledException()` to be executed, which is what
+    triggers the "**System.Exception** has been thrown" message within the
+    debugger.
+
+    If you look at the *Call Stack* Debug pad within Visual Studio for Mac,
+    `System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Mono_UnhandledException_internal()` and
+    `System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Mono_UnhandledException()` are the topmost
+    call stack entries.
+
+ 9. The Java `finally` block within `Demo.run()` *has not executed yet*.
+
+    If `Demo.run()` had a `catch(Throwable)` block instead of a `finally`
+    block, it likewise (1) would not have executed yet, and (2) will not
+    participate in the stack walking to determine whether or not the exception
+    is handled or unhandled in the first place.
+
+10. The exception is not yet "pending" in Java either, so it is safe to invoke
+    Java code in e.g. the Immediate window.
+
+11. If execution is continued, e.g. via **Continue Debugging**, then
+    `AndroidEnvironment.UnhandledException()` will be executed, causing the
+    exception to be wrapped and become a "pending exception" within Java code.
+    After this point, any invocation of Java code from the debugger will
+    *immediately* cause the process to abort:
+
+        JNI DETECTED ERROR IN APPLICATION: JNI … called with pending exception android.runtime.JavaProxyThrowable: System.Exception: Hm…
+
+12. ***Furthermore***, *No* Java code can ever again execute within the process.
+    Once execution is continued, *Mono* will be unwinding the call stack
+    *without involvement of the Java VM*.
+
+    The `finally` block within `Debug.run()` hasn't executed yet, and will
+    *never* execute.  In particular, the `System.out.println()` message isn't
+    visible in `adb logcat`!
+
+    If `Debug.run()` instead had a `catch` block, it will similarly never be
+    executed.
+
+13. Execution then "breaks" at the managed `Debug.Run()` method.  At this point
+    there is a pending exception within Java; any invocations of Java code from
+    the debugger will *immediately* cause the process to abort.
+
+
+14. If execution is continued again, the process will exit.
+
+    Unexpectedly (2020-06-26), the exit is *also* due to a JNI error:
+
+        JNI DETECTED ERROR IN APPLICATION: JNI NewString called with pending exception android.runtime.JavaProxyThrowable: System.Exception: Hm…
+
+
+
+[0]: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/debug/debugger-exception-handling
+[1]: https://github.com/xamarin/xamarin-android/blob/402ae221be90fdb4b48c2aeb29170b745c30f60b/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/JNINativeWrapper.cs#L34-L97
+[2]: https://github.com/xamarin/xamarin-android/blob/402ae221be90fdb4b48c2aeb29170b745c30f60b/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/AndroidEnvironment.cs#L115-L129
+[3]: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/jni/spec/functions.html#Throw
+[4]: https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Thread#getUncaughtExceptionHandler()
+[5]: https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler#uncaughtException(java.lang.Thread,%20java.lang.Throwable)
+[6]: https://github.com/xamarin/xamarin-android/blob/4cae5f5e40896c69b7448cb78cf613cf6327c97c/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/JNIEnv.cs#L265-L296
+
+
+---
+
+Internal context:
+
+  * https://bugzilla.xamarin.com/show_bug.cgi?id=7634
+  * https://github.com/xamarin/monodroid/commit/b0f85970102d43bab9cd860a8e8884d136d766b3
+  * https://github.com/xamarin/monodroid/commit/a9697ca2ac026b960b347a925fbe414efe3876f7
+  * https://github.com/xamarin/monodroid/commit/12a012e00b4533d586ef31ced33351b63c9de883