CNTK 2.6.0-rc0.dev20180821 with .NET Core 2.1 throws Unhandled Exception: System.TypeInitializationException due to missing DLL Cntk.Core.CSBinding-2.6-rc0.dev20180821.dll

[XavierGeerinck]

I am creating a completely new solution, with just a few lines of code that result in the stacktrace:

PS E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted> dotnet restore
  Restoring packages for E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\CNTK-GettingStarted.csproj...
  Generating MSBuild file E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\obj\CNTK-GettingStarted.csproj.nuget.g.props.
  Generating MSBuild file E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\obj\CNTK-GettingStarted.csproj.nuget.g.targets.
  Restore completed in 141.36 ms for E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\CNTK-GettingStarted.csproj.
PS E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted> dotnet build
Microsoft (R) Build Engine version 15.8.160-preview+gaf9d27ba72 for .NET Core
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

  Restore completed in 28.66 ms for E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\CNTK-GettingStarted.csproj.
C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\2.1.400-preview-009171\Sdks\Microsoft.NET.Sdk\targets\Microsoft.NET.RuntimeIdentifierInference.targets(143,5): message NETSDK1057: You are working with a preview version of the .NET Core SDK. You can define the SDK version via a global.json file in the current project. More at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=869452 [E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\CNTK-GettingStarted.csproj]
  CNTK-GettingStarted -> E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\bin\Debug\netcoreapp2.1\CNTK-GettingStarted.dll

Build succeeded.
    0 Warning(s)
    0 Error(s)

Time Elapsed 00:00:00.83
PS E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted> dotnet run

Unhandled Exception: System.TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'CNTK.CNTKLibPINVOKE' threw an exception. ---> System.TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'SWIGExceptionHelper' threw an exception. ---> System.DllNotFoundException: Unable to load DLL 'Cntk.Core.CSBinding-2.6-rc0.dev20180821.dll' or one of its dependencies: The specified module could not be found. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8007007E)
   at CNTK.CNTKLibPINVOKE.SWIGExceptionHelper.SWIGRegisterExceptionCallbacks_CNTKLib(ExceptionDelegate applicationDelegate, ExceptionDelegate arithmeticDelegate, ExceptionDelegate divideByZeroDelegate, ExceptionDelegate indexOutOfRangeDelegate, ExceptionDelegate invalidCastDelegate, ExceptionDelegate invalidOperationDelegate, ExceptionDelegate ioDelegate, ExceptionDelegate nullReferenceDelegate, ExceptionDelegate outOfMemoryDelegate, ExceptionDelegate overflowDelegate, ExceptionDelegate systemExceptionDelegate)
   at CNTK.CNTKLibPINVOKE.SWIGExceptionHelper..cctor()
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at CNTK.CNTKLibPINVOKE.SWIGExceptionHelper..ctor()
   at CNTK.CNTKLibPINVOKE..cctor()
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at CNTK.CNTKLibPINVOKE.DeviceDescriptor_UseDefaultDevice()
   at CNTK.DeviceDescriptor.UseDefaultDevice()
   at CNTK_GettingStarted.Program.Run() in E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\Program.cs:line 15
   at CNTK_GettingStarted.Program.Main(String[] args) in E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted\Program.cs:line 10
PS E:\MyProjects\C#\CNTK-GettingStarted>

My .csproj file:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp2.1</TargetFramework>
    <RootNamespace>CNTK_GettingStarted</RootNamespace>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="CNTK.GPU" Version="2.6.0-rc0.dev20180821" />
    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="11.0.2" />
  </ItemGroup>

</Project>

My Program.cs file;

```C#
using CNTK;
using System;

namespace CNTK_GettingStarted
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
new Program().Run();
}

    void Run()
    {
        var cpu = DeviceDescriptor.UseDefaultDevice();
        Console.WriteLine($"You are using CNTK for: {cpu.Type}");
    }
}

}
```

[pksorensen]

Try to add

<CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>true</CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>
  <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>

to the propertygroup.

It only works in x64 configuration.

I however ran into other issues with 2.6 that works fine on 2.5.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51974745/how-to-load-a-onnx-model-with-cntk-on-dotnet-core

[limapedro]

I have the same error, does anyone has a solution? I'm using the version 2.5.1, my project already is in x64, but I get the same.

Update: I've manage to solve the problem. Take a look.

[Rleahy]

I have the same issue using 2.6.0-rc0.dev20180823.

@limapedro Can you give more information about how you managed to solve the problem?

Also could you post the .csproj that worked for you?

[aaad]

I have the same problem with my x64 project running on .netcore 2.0, not working neither in IIS express (64bit) nor console. #2352

[C5D5E5]

I have the same issue with my x64 wpf project using ver. 2.6. I solved the issue as limapedro suggested. To add 'x64' platform, be sure to check off 'create new solution platform' in the 'new' dialog.

[frank-ozgul]

It looks as if you need to set the x64 on the solution via the Configuration manager, not the project.