The host packages still use runtime.json which was the mechanism to define RID based package dependencies in the .NET Core 2.x era. That feature was never publicly exposed by NuGet and is discussed to be removed in NET 6. For more details see NuGet/Home#5862.

There are alternatives to runtime.json, i.e.:

• KnownFrameworkPackage with known RIDs
• A single package with multiple RID based folders (bigger package, but easier to maintain)
• Dead ending the package if it isn't supposed to be used anymore.

dotnet/sdk still consumes the meta package via the runtime.json mechanism which should be considered when switching to a different restore mechanism.

Host packages:

• https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.NETCore.DotNetHostPolicy/
• https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.NETCore.DotNetHostResolver/
• https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.NETCore.DotNetAppHost/
• https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.NETCore.DotNetHost/

cc @agocke @vitek-karas @ericstj