How do I call external, uncompiled C# code inside C# and call it's methods?

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I am trying to make a game engine with C# and I want the games to be extremely modifiable
(E.G. External uncompiled C# code and sprites located outside the engine)

I also want the external C# to call classes and methods from within the engine.

EG:

Engine code:

Program.cs (compiled)

C#

using System;

namespace GameEngine
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //Code to open args[0] (Path to CS file)
            //Execute it
        }
    }
}

Engine.cs (compiled)

C#

using System;

namespace GameEngine
{
    class Program
    {
        static void SayHi()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hello");
        }
    }
}

Game Code:

Program.cs (uncompiled)

C#

using System;
using GameEngine;
using GameEngine.Engine;

namespace MyGame
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Engine.SayHi();
        }
    }
}

Any way I could do this?

What I have tried:

I have tried using "Microsoft.CSharp" and "System.CodeDom.Compiler" but I couldn't find out how to call methods from inside the compiled code.

Posted 3-May-21 9:44am

VinnyRulesGaming

Updated 3-May-21 23:25pm

Add a Solution

Comments

The Other John Ingram 3-May-21 17:56pm

Look up plugins, they are modules of code that can be loaded in at startup.
Different plugins can do different things and can be updated.

2 solutions

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

PIEBALDconsult · Answer 1 · 2021-05-03T10:46:00

Solution 1

Maybe this will help?

Compiling Source Code from a String[^]

Posted 3-May-21 10:46am

PIEBALDconsult

Chris Copeland · Answer 2 · 2021-05-03T23:24:00

As someone has already commented on your question, if you want to expose your engine's functions to the external C# you might have a better experience using a plugin engine instead. It is possible to compile the code within the application domain using tools like the System.CodeDom.Compiler but you are going to have to deal with type resolution. And also, anyone scripting for the engine would need to know how to call the functions presumably without the benefits of autocompletion? That could be a headache.

Instead, you could build a DLL containing interfaces representing the core aspects of your game engine, and a contract for the plugin itself. A developer could then reference this DLL and code their implementation within VS. Your application could then fulfil the interfaces in this DLL (ie. IGameEngine -> GameEngine) and load the plugins into the application domain.

This would be good for breaking down your game engine into manageable pieces. If you know a plugin may need to load textures, you could build an ITextureLoader interface for that. If the plugin should be able to define NPCs, skills, AI behaviour, break those down INpc, ISkill, IAIBehaviour