execute c# code at runtime from code file

Question

I have a WPF C# application that contains a button.

The code of the button click is written in separate text file which will be placed in the applications runtime directory.

I want to execute that code placed in the text file on the click of the button.

Any idea how to do this?

Answer 1

You can use Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider to compile code on-the-fly. In particular, see CompileAssemblyFromFile.

Answer 2

Code sample for executing compiled on fly class method:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Net;
using Microsoft.CSharp;
using System.CodeDom.Compiler;

namespace ConsoleApplication2
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string source =
            @"
namespace Foo
{
    public class Bar
    {
        public void SayHello()
        {
            System.Console.WriteLine(""Hello World"");
        }
    }
}
            ";

             Dictionary<string, string> providerOptions = new Dictionary<string, string>
                {
                    {"CompilerVersion", "v3.5"}
                };
            CSharpCodeProvider provider = new CSharpCodeProvider(providerOptions);

            CompilerParameters compilerParams = new CompilerParameters
                {GenerateInMemory = true,
                 GenerateExecutable = false};

            CompilerResults results = provider.CompileAssemblyFromSource(compilerParams, source);

            if (results.Errors.Count != 0)
                throw new Exception("Mission failed!");

            object o = results.CompiledAssembly.CreateInstance("Foo.Bar");
            MethodInfo mi = o.GetType().GetMethod("SayHello");
            mi.Invoke(o, null);
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

I recommend having a look at Microsoft Roslyn, and specifically its ScriptEngine class. Here are a few good examples to start with:

1. Introduction to the Roslyn Scripting API
2. Using Roslyn ScriptEngine for a ValueConverter to process user input.

Usage example:

var session = Session.Create();
var engine = new ScriptEngine();
engine.Execute("using System;", session);
engine.Execute("double Sin(double d) { return Math.Sin(d); }", session);
engine.Execute("MessageBox.Show(Sin(1.0));", session);

Answer 4

Looks like someone created a library for this called C# Eval.

EDIT: Updated link to point to Archive.org as it seems like the original site is dead.

Answer 5

What you need is a CSharpCodeProvider Class

There are several samples to understand how does it work.

1 http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/12499/Run-Time-Code-Generation-I-Compile-C-Code-using-Mi

The important point of this example that you can do all things on flay in fact.

myCompilerParameters.GenerateExecutable = false;
myCompilerParameters.GenerateInMemory = false;

2 http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/10324/Compiling-code-during-runtime

This example is good coz you can create dll file and so it can be shared between other applications.

Basically you can search for http://www.codeproject.com/search.aspx?q=csharpcodeprovider&x=0&y=0&sbo=kw&pgnum=6 and get more useful links.