[Feature Request] Deprecate NuGet packages that are no longer published

[KalleOlaviNiemitalo]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Many NuGet packages were built from earlier versions of DocFX and are no longer being updated, but they remain in the NuGet Gallery. Users can be mislead into referencing the unmaintained packages.

Describe the solution you'd like

Mark the packages as deprecated in NuGet Gallery. Deprecating packages on nuget.org

Describe alternatives you've considered

Publish new versions of these packages, just to update the README so it says these should not be used.

Additional context

All versions of the following packages should be deprecated. I list the latest version of each package, to show that these packages were not published as part of DocFX 2.67.5.

• msdn.4.5.2 0.1.0-alpha-1611021200:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 0.1.0-alpha-1611021200 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• AzureMarkdownRewriterTool 2.42.3:
  Removed in remove azure markdown rewriter #4549.
  Advice: Public DocFX packages no longer support building Microsoft Learn content. See https://learn.microsoft.com/contribute/get-started-setup-tools for recommended tools.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.AzureMarkdownRewriters 2.42.3:
  Removed in remove azure markdown rewriter #4549.
  Advice: Public DocFX packages no longer support building Microsoft Learn content. See https://learn.microsoft.com/contribute/get-started-setup-tools for recommended tools.
• DfmHttpService 2.43.0:
  Removed in drop VscExtension and DfmHttpService #4680.
  The newest version 2.43.0 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• docfx.console 2.59.4:
  Removed in ci: Ship as global tool to NuGet.org #8280.
  Advice: Use the docfx .NET tool package instead.
• MarkdownMigrateTool 2.59.4:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• memberpage 2.59.4:
  Removed in feat: New extensibility model based on libraries #8306.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
  Advice: Set "memberLayout": "separatePages" in the configuration of the metadata command, instead.
• memberpage.plugins 2.59.4:
  Removed in feat: New extensibility model based on libraries #8306.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
  Advice: Set "memberLayout": "separatePages" in the configuration of the metadata command, instead.
• MergeDeveloperComments 2.59.4:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• MergeSourceInfo 2.59.4:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• rest.operationpage 2.59.4:
  Removed in feat: New extensibility model based on libraries #8306.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
  Advice: Build your own executable that references the Microsoft.DocAsCode.App and Microsoft.DocAsCode.Build.OperationLevelRestApi packages.
• rest.tagpage 2.59.4:
  Removed in feat: New extensibility model based on libraries #8306.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
  Advice: Build your own executable that references the Microsoft.DocAsCode.App and Microsoft.DocAsCode.Build.TagLevelRestApi packages.
• SandcastleRefMapper 2.59.4:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• TocConverter 2.59.4:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• YamlSplitter 2.59.4:
  Removed in c83fd5e.
  The newest version 2.59.4 has been deprecated, but earlier versions have not.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Metadata.ManagedReference.FSharp 2.60.2:
  Removed in 70c81a5.
  Native F# support was discontinued. See also [BREAKING CHANGE]: drop builtin fsproj support #8375.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.MarkdigMarkdownRewriters 2.60.2:
  Removed in 3a40dc9.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.DataContracts.ManagedReference 2.61.0:
  Consolidated in f9cc9f2.
  Advice: Use the Microsoft.DocAsCode.Dotnet package instead.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Metadata.ManagedReference 2.61.0:
  Consolidated in f9cc9f2.
  Advice: Use the Microsoft.DocAsCode.Dotnet package instead.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Build.MergeOverwrite 2.61.0:
  Removed in e5a36d5.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Metadata.ManagedReference.Roslyn 2.61.0:
  Consolidated in f9cc9f2.
  Advice: Use the Microsoft.DocAsCode.Dotnet package instead.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Metadata.ManagedReference.Common 2.61.0:
  Consolidated in f9cc9f2.
  Advice: Use the Microsoft.DocAsCode.Dotnet package instead.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.MarkdownLite 2.63.1:
  Removed in BREAKING CHANGE: drop dfm markdown engine #8537.
  Advice: The DocFX Flavored Markdown (DFM) engine is no longer supported. Use Markdig instead.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Dfm 2.63.1:
  Removed in BREAKING CHANGE: drop dfm markdown engine #8537.
  Advice: The DocFX Flavored Markdown (DFM) engine is no longer supported. Use Markdig instead.
• Microsoft.DocAsCode.Build.MemberLevelManagedReference 2.63.1:
  Removed in feat: memberpage plugin -> memberLayout.SeparatePages #8569.
  Advice: Set "memberLayout": "separatePages" in the configuration of the metadata command, instead.

[yufeih]

Looks good, we can deprecate after package rename in #8930.

[KalleOlaviNiemitalo]

Are you going to write the deprecation explanations straight to nuget.org, or create a "deprecated packages" doc page and link to that?

[KalleOlaviNiemitalo]

Converted to a checklist to keep track of which packages have already been deprecated.

[KalleOlaviNiemitalo]

The newest versions of these packages have been deprecated, except docfx.console.

[yufeih]

Thank you @KalleOlaviNiemitalo . The docfx.console package is also deprecated now.

[KalleOlaviNiemitalo]

Older versions of several packages have not been deprecated yet.