From 0a319bfa51864a2da16cfcc7e259506282c4ff87 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Simon Cropp <simon.cropp@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2026 17:17:22 +1000
Subject: [PATCH] Build appended file targets per verification

Appended files were stored as Targets, and a binary one holds a live stream. The
engine disposes the stream of every target it writes, so a second Verify with
the same settings instance failed with ObjectDisposedException, even though the
caller had handed over re-readable bytes or a file path. Settings are reused
routinely, since SettingsTask copies them per Verify call.

They are now stored as factories and built once per verification:
AppendContentAsFile(byte[]) opens a fresh MemoryStream over the same array, and
AppendFile(string) opens the file per verification instead of holding a handle
from the moment it was appended. Existence is still checked eagerly, so a
missing path is still reported where it was passed.

AppendFile(Stream) is unchanged and still single use: the stream is owned by the
caller and cannot be replayed. That is now documented on the overload.
---
 ...ileSettingsReuse_first#sample.verified.png | Bin 0 -> 4621 bytes
 ...AppendFileSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt |   1 +
 ...leSettingsReuse_second#sample.verified.png | Bin 0 -> 4621 bytes
 ...ppendFileSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt |   1 +
 ...ingsReuse_first#appendedBytes.verified.bin |   1 +
 ...inaryBytesSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt |   1 +
 ...ngsReuse_second#appendedBytes.verified.bin |   1 +
 ...naryBytesSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt |   1 +
 .../Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.cs   |  27 ++++++++
 src/Verify/Guards.cs                          |  13 ++++
 src/Verify/Splitters/Settings_FileAppender.cs |  60 ++++++++++++++----
 11 files changed, 95 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first#sample.verified.png
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second#sample.verified.png
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first#appendedBytes.verified.bin
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second#appendedBytes.verified.bin
 create mode 100644 src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt

diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first#sample.verified.png b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first#sample.verified.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b54820aa60a6fca03967c68c61231b07f8978da8
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diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ca25d6d7b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+First
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second#sample.verified.png b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second#sample.verified.png
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diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ad4facd1db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.AppendFileSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Second
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first#appendedBytes.verified.bin b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first#appendedBytes.verified.bin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aed2973e4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first#appendedBytes.verified.bin
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+

\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ca25d6d7b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first.verified.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+First
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second#appendedBytes.verified.bin b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second#appendedBytes.verified.bin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aed2973e4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second#appendedBytes.verified.bin
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+

\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ad4facd1db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second.verified.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Second
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.cs b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.cs
index 92aaf8ffd6..7d71760a6c 100644
--- a/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.cs
+++ b/src/Verify.Tests/Converters/InstanceFileAppenderTests.cs
@@ -55,4 +55,31 @@ public Task TextBytesFluent() =>
     public Task TextStreamFluent() =>
         Verify("Foo")
             .AppendFile(new MemoryStream("appendedFile"u8.ToArray()));
+
+    // The engine disposes the stream of every target it writes, so an appended binary file
+    // held as a live stream was dead after the first verification. Both of these are backed
+    // by something re-readable, so reusing the settings has to work.
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task BinaryBytesSettingsReuse()
+    {
+        var reused = new VerifySettings();
+        reused.AppendContentAsFile(new byte[] {1, 2, 3}, "bin", "appendedBytes");
+
+        await Verify("First", reused)
+            .UseMethodName("BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_first");
+        await Verify("Second", reused)
+            .UseMethodName("BinaryBytesSettingsReuse_second");
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task AppendFileSettingsReuse()
+    {
+        var reused = new VerifySettings();
+        reused.AppendFile("sample.png");
+
+        await Verify("First", reused)
+            .UseMethodName("AppendFileSettingsReuse_first");
+        await Verify("Second", reused)
+            .UseMethodName("AppendFileSettingsReuse_second");
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Verify/Guards.cs b/src/Verify/Guards.cs
index 96cb8cbc31..2709168b86 100644
--- a/src/Verify/Guards.cs
+++ b/src/Verify/Guards.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,19 @@ public static void BadFileName(string name, [CallerArgumentExpression("name")] s
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Kept as a fail fast for APIs that record a path and read it later, so a missing
+    /// file is reported where the caller passed it rather than at verification time.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static void FileExists(string path, [CallerArgumentExpression(nameof(path))] string argumentName = "")
+    {
+        Ensure.NotNullOrEmpty(path, argumentName);
+        if (!File.Exists(path))
+        {
+            throw new FileNotFoundException($"File not found. Path: {path}", path);
+        }
+    }
+
     static char[] invalidPathChars = Path
         .GetInvalidPathChars()
         .Concat(invalidFileChars.Except(['/', '\\', ':']))
diff --git a/src/Verify/Splitters/Settings_FileAppender.cs b/src/Verify/Splitters/Settings_FileAppender.cs
index e4bf1581d5..e2a28e491d 100644
--- a/src/Verify/Splitters/Settings_FileAppender.cs
+++ b/src/Verify/Splitters/Settings_FileAppender.cs
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ internal static IEnumerable<Target> GetFileAppenders(VerifySettings settings)
 
         if (settings.appendedFiles != null)
         {
-            foreach (var target in settings.appendedFiles)
+            foreach (var buildTarget in settings.appendedFiles)
             {
-                yield return target;
+                yield return buildTarget();
             }
         }
     }
@@ -37,18 +37,23 @@ public static void RegisterFileAppender(FileAppender appender)
 
 public partial class VerifySettings
 {
-    internal List<Target>? appendedFiles;
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Built once per verification rather than held as Targets. The engine disposes the
+    /// stream of every target it writes, so a stored stream is dead after the first
+    /// verification, and settings are reused: SettingsTask copies them per Verify call.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal List<Func<Target>>? appendedFiles;
 
     public void AppendContentAsFile(string content, string extension = "txt", string? name = null)
     {
         appendedFiles ??= [];
-        appendedFiles.Add(new(extension, content, name));
+        appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, content, name));
     }
 
     public void AppendContentAsFile(StringBuilder content, string extension = "txt", string? name = null)
     {
         appendedFiles ??= [];
-        appendedFiles.Add(new(extension, content, name));
+        appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, content, name));
     }
 
     public void AppendContentAsFile(byte[] content, string extension = "txt", string? name = null)
@@ -56,16 +61,26 @@ public void AppendContentAsFile(byte[] content, string extension = "txt", string
         appendedFiles ??= [];
         if (FileExtensions.IsTextExtension(extension))
         {
-            appendedFiles.Add(new(extension, Encoding.UTF8.GetString(content), name));
+            var text = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(content);
+            appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, text, name));
         }
         else
         {
-            appendedFiles.Add(new(extension, new MemoryStream(content), name));
+            // A fresh stream per verification: the bytes stay re-readable, so reusing the
+            // settings for a second Verify works.
+            appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, new MemoryStream(content), name));
         }
     }
 
-    public void AppendFile(string file, string? name = null) =>
-        AppendFile(IoHelpers.OpenRead(file), name);
+    public void AppendFile(string file, string? name = null)
+    {
+        // Opened per verification rather than held open from here, for the same reason,
+        // and so the handle is not held for the lifetime of the settings.
+        Guards.FileExists(file);
+        var extension = Path.GetExtension(file);
+        extension = extension.Length == 0 ? "noextension" : extension[1..];
+        AppendFile(() => IoHelpers.OpenRead(file), extension, name ?? Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(file));
+    }
 
     public void AppendFile(FileInfo file, string? name = null) =>
         AppendFile(file.FullName, name);
@@ -73,6 +88,12 @@ public void AppendFile(FileInfo file, string? name = null) =>
     public void AppendFile(FileStream stream, string? name = null) =>
         AppendFile(stream, stream.Extension(), name ?? Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(stream.Name));
 
+    /// <remarks>
+    /// The stream is owned by the caller and can only be read once, so unlike the other
+    /// overloads this one cannot be replayed for a second verification with the same
+    /// settings. Use <see cref="AppendFile(string,string?)" /> or
+    /// <see cref="AppendContentAsFile(byte[],string,string?)" /> where that matters.
+    /// </remarks>
     public void AppendFile(Stream stream, string extension = "txt", string? name = null)
     {
         stream.MoveToStart();
@@ -80,11 +101,28 @@ public void AppendFile(Stream stream, string extension = "txt", string? name = n
         if (FileExtensions.IsTextExtension(extension))
         {
             using var reader = new StreamReader(stream, Encoding.UTF8);
-            appendedFiles.Add(new(extension, reader.ReadToEnd(), name));
+            var text = reader.ReadToEnd();
+            appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, text, name));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, stream, name));
+        }
+    }
+
+    void AppendFile(Func<Stream> openStream, string extension, string? name)
+    {
+        appendedFiles ??= [];
+        if (FileExtensions.IsTextExtension(extension))
+        {
+            using var stream = openStream();
+            using var reader = new StreamReader(stream, Encoding.UTF8);
+            var text = reader.ReadToEnd();
+            appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, text, name));
         }
         else
         {
-            appendedFiles.Add(new(extension, stream, name));
+            appendedFiles.Add(() => new(extension, openStream(), name));
         }
     }
 }