Causes bundler in default MVC 5 template to throw exception

[osoviejo]

Expected Behavior

Should be able to use the MVC 5 template for Framework 4.8, and bundle the chart.js script as with any other.

Current Behavior

Compiles fine, but Scripts.Render() for chart.js bundle throws when attempting to display a view:
System.NullReferenceException
HResult=0x80004003
Message=Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Source=WebGrease
StackTrace:
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseObjectLiteralProperty(Boolean isBindingPattern)
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseObjectLiteral(Boolean isBindingPattern)
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseLeftHandSideExpression(Boolean isMinus)
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseUnaryExpression(Boolean& isLeftHandSideExpr, Boolean isMinus)
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseExpression(Boolean single, JSToken inToken)
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseExpressionList(JSToken terminator)
at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseMemberExpression(AstNode expression, List1 newContexts) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseLeftHandSideExpression(Boolean isMinus) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseUnaryExpression(Boolean& isLeftHandSideExpr, Boolean isMinus) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseExpression(Boolean single, JSToken inToken) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseReturnStatement() at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseStatement(Boolean fSourceElement, Boolean skipImportantComment) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseStatements(Block block) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.InternalParse() at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.Parse(DocumentContext sourceContext) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.Parse(DocumentContext sourceContext, CodeSettings settings) at Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.Minifier.MinifyJavaScript(String source, CodeSettings codeSettings) at System.Web.Optimization.JsMinify.Process(BundleContext context, BundleResponse response) at System.Web.Optimization.Bundle.ApplyTransforms(BundleContext context, String bundleContent, IEnumerable1 bundleFiles)
at System.Web.Optimization.Bundle.GenerateBundleResponse(BundleContext context)
at System.Web.Optimization.Bundle.GetBundleResponse(BundleContext context)
at System.Web.Optimization.BundleResolver.GetBundleContents(String virtualPath)
at System.Web.Optimization.AssetManager.DeterminePathsToRender(IEnumerable`1 assets)
at System.Web.Optimization.AssetManager.RenderExplicit(String tagFormat, String[] paths)
at System.Web.Optimization.Scripts.RenderFormat(String tagFormat, String[] paths)
at System.Web.Optimization.Scripts.Render(String[] paths)
at ASP._Page_Views_Shared__Layout_cshtml.Execute() in C:\Development\Projects\ChartIssue\ChartIssue\Views\Shared_Layout.cshtml:line 40

This exception was originally thrown at this call stack:
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseObjectLiteralProperty(bool)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseObjectLiteral(bool)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseLeftHandSideExpression(bool)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseUnaryExpression(out bool, bool)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseExpression(bool, Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSToken)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseExpressionList(Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSToken)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseMemberExpression(Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.AstNode, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.Context>)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseLeftHandSideExpression(bool)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseUnaryExpression(out bool, bool)
Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSParser.ParseExpression(bool, Microsoft.Ajax.Utilities.JSToken)
...

Possible Solution

No idea. Worked fine with chart.js 2.9.x.

Steps to Reproduce

Note that an "interactive example" is not applicable here. I just created a new MVC 5 application for Framework 4.8. The only change was adding a bundle for chart.js in BundleConfig.cs, then adding the RenderScript() for it in _Layout.cshtml. I have the solution zipped, but wasn't able to attach it. Happy to upload it wherever you like.

Context

Environment

• Chart.js version: 3.3.2
• Browser name and version: Chrome latest.
• Link to your project: the zipped solution demo can be had here: chart issue. Can upload it elsewhere if preferred.
• Visual Studio 2019 (16.11) Community on Framework 4.8.

[kurkle]

Replacing ScriptBundle with Bundle for chart.js makes it work. That removes jsMinify from the picture.

You'll need to find out what exactly does it minify incorrectly. It might be something we can change though.

[osoviejo]

Thanks for your response. None of the scripts output by RenderScript() are minified (it's a debug build). Is jsMinify still a player in that case? Used dozens of third-party scripts in MVC over the last 10 years, first time I've ever seen this. Have no idea how'd I'd go about debugging it.

[kurkle]

Similar in SO: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30219807/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-in-layout-cshtml-after-upd (where I got the idea to try Bundle instead of ScriptBundle)

(Converted to discussion, as this is not really a bug in Chart.js.)