Unexpected AI related dlls are bundled into my app

[catmanjan]

Describe the bug

Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.AI is a transitive depdency in my app for some reason - why?

Many orgs are still anti AI

How can I remove it?

Steps to reproduce the bug

Install Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK package, AI package is added as a dependency

Expected behavior

No response

Screenshots

No response

NuGet package version

2.0.0.185

Packaging type

No response

Windows version

No response

IDE

No response

Additional context

No response

[catmanjan]

Another issue is that the AI related DLLs are over 3 times the size of the rest of my app:
onnxruntime.dll 21MB
DirectML.dll 18MB
Microsoft.Windows.AI.MachineLearning.dll 870kb

my app 15MB

[catmanjan]

I used some clues from #6015 to try and resolve this one, I was able to add the following csproj:

	<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="2.0.1">
		<ExcludeAssets>native</ExcludeAssets>
	</PackageReference>
	<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Base" Version="2.0.3" />

The problem is that I rely on some native dlls that are in MicrosoftAppSDK but this removes all of them - so I need a way to only remove certain files from the package

[catmanjan]

I set <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained> and the AI dlls are no longer included, but this is undesirable for me due to the advantages listed here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/package-and-deploy/deploy-overview

Funnily enough, packaged with self contained windowsappsdk now results in a smaller installer because these AI dlls are larger than the self contained ones!

[lgztx96]

For versions above 1.8, you only need to install Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.WinUI. Installing Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK will introduce dependencies on AI-related packages, which are unnecessary

[catmanjan]

That doesn't seem to be true if you are setting WindowsAppSDKSelfContained to false

A framework package dependent Windows App SDK app requires a package reference to Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime. Please add a reference to this package or set the <WindowsAppSdkSelfContained> property to true.

[lgztx96]

That doesn't seem to be true if you are setting WindowsAppSDKSelfContained to false

A framework package dependent Windows App SDK app requires a package reference to Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime. Please add a reference to this package or set the <WindowsAppSdkSelfContained> property to true.

Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime is also a standalone NuGet package; you can install it yourself.

Do not install Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK; it includes all the dependent packages.

[zhuxb711]

Some of the nuget packages used in my project also reference Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK, therefore, simply exclude Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK is not working.

<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="2.0.1">
	<ExcludeAssets>all</ExcludeAssets>
</PackageReference>

My project only need Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.WinUI and Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime, to exclude others, you can exclude them explicitly.

MyProject.csproj

<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.WinUI" />
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime" />
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.AI">
  <ExcludeAssets>all</ExcludeAssets>
  <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.ML">
  <ExcludeAssets>all</ExcludeAssets>
  <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.DWrite">
  <ExcludeAssets>all</ExcludeAssets>
  <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Widgets">
  <ExcludeAssets>all</ExcludeAssets>
  <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.AI.MachineLearning">
  <ExcludeAssets>all</ExcludeAssets>
  <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>

Directory.Packages.props

<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="2.0.1" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.AI" Version="2.0.185" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.ML" Version="2.0.300" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.WinUI" Version="2.0.12" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.DWrite" Version="2.0.26041403" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime" Version="2.0.1" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Widgets" Version="2.0.4" />
<PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Windows.AI.MachineLearning" Version="2.0.300" />

It saved about 60MB from the final msixbundle. Indeed, it's a very bad solution. Microsoft should provide another elegant way because not all the application needs the AI in reality.

Note: Though Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK did not reference Microsoft.Windows.AI.MachineLearning, but it must be excluded at the same time

[catmanjan]

Initially I was doing the same, but I don't want the overhead of managing the versions of each of those AppSDK references... I agree that Microsoft should provide better separation for AI which still has unresolved legal issues for some...

[ssparach]

Thanks for your feedback. As noted in earlier comments, referencing Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK will bring in its transitive dependencies. With the metapackage refactor, you now have the option to reference only the specific component package your application depends on, along with the Runtime NuGet package, to avoid pulling in additional packages.
Does this address your concern? If not, could you clarify your scenario. Are you primarily looking to exclude the AI NuGet package, or do you need to exclude additional packages as well?