C# Compiler

• Download demo project - 9 Kb

Introduction

CSCompiler is a simple application for compiling single file C# source code. It was written in C#. Of course I didn't wrote a whole C# compiler. Instead I've used interfaces provided by the .NET platform.

What you have to do in order to have a C# compiler :

1. Create an instance of CSharpCodeProvider (VBCodeProvider for Visual Basic)
2. Obtain interface for ICodeCompiler
3. Provide CompilerParameters for compiler options
4. Compile source code using CompileAssemblyFromSource method of ICodeCompiler interface
5. Process CompilerResults
6. Execute generated application if there were no errors

That's it.

This scenario uses code provided as a string, but you can also use source files. You can also generate an assembly in memory , but generating binary a application is better for viewing 'physical' result of a compiler.

This simple application forces you to type in a main class of the application (it is not so tricky as it could be :( ). The assembly references of CSCompiler application should be enough for most of the simplest applications, but if not you must add more assembly references to CompilerParamters to work fine.

The "Compile and Execute" button code look like :

private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    CSharpCodeProvider codeProvider = new CSharpCodeProvider();
    // For Visual Basic Compiler try this :
    //Microsoft.VisualBasic.VBCodeProvider

    ICodeCompiler compiler = codeProvider.CreateCompiler();
    CompilerParameters parameters = new CompilerParameters();

    parameters.GenerateExecutable = true;
    if (appName.Text == "")    
    {
        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(this, 
                               "Application name cannot be empty");
        return ;
    }

    parameters.OutputAssembly = appName.Text.ToString();

    if (mainClass.Text.ToString() == "")
    {
        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(this, 
                               "Main Class Name cannot be empty");
        return ;
    }

    parameters.MainClass = mainClass.Text.ToString();
    parameters.IncludeDebugInformation = includeDebug.Checked;

    // Add available assemblies - this should be enough for the simplest
    // applications.
    foreach (Assembly asm in AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies()) 
    {
        parameters.ReferencedAssemblies.Add(asm.Location);
    }

    String code = textBox1.Text.ToString();
    //System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(this, code);

    CompilerResults results = compiler.CompileAssemblyFromSource(parameters, 
                                                                 code);
            
    if (results.Errors.Count > 0) 
    {
        string errors = "Compilation failed:\n";
        foreach (CompilerError err in results.Errors) 
        {
            errors += err.ToString() + "\n";
        }
        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(this, errors, 
                               "There were compilation errors");
    }
    else    
    {
        #region Executing generated executable
        // try to execute application
        try 
        {
            if (!System.IO.File.Exists(appName.Text.ToString())) 
            {
                MessageBox.Show(String.Format("Can't find {0}", appName), 
                                "Can't execute.", MessageBoxButtons.OK, 
                                MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                return;
            }
            ProcessStartInfo pInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(appName.Text.ToString());
            Process.Start(pInfo);
        } 
        catch (Exception ex) 
        {
            MessageBox.Show(String.Format("Error while executing {0}", 
                    appName) + ex.ToString(), "Can't execute.", 
                    MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
        }

        #endregion
                
    }
    
}

If you want to know more about CodeProvider interfaces look at NAnt project at sourceforge.

Credits:

• NAnt Project : http://nant.sourceforge.net