How to programmatically parse and modify C# code

Question

What I want to do is to read C# code, parse it, insert some method calls and compile it finally.

Is it possible to convert C# source code (a list of strings) to CodeDOM objects?

user1726343 · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-04 23:09:57Z

13

This is a really old question, but is worth noting that the accepted answer no longer applies. Microsoft's recent Roslyn project is explicitly aimed at exposing all the knowledge the compiler gains about your codebase in the process of statically analyzing it, and exposing all this information through managed APIs for you to leverage. It is available for both VB and C#.

Since you want to consume static analysis information, you'll need the Microsoft.CodeAnalysis NuGet package (the stuff you need for C# is under the Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp namespace) and some time at the samples and walkthroughs page in the docs.

answered Jun 4, 2015 at 23:09

user1726343

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

bobbymcr · Accepted Answer · 2009-10-03 17:19:45Z

6

It is not directly possible to do this with the core .NET Framework. You need to use third party or add-on tools, for example:

Open source C# Parser: http://www.codeplex.com/csparser
GPLEX paired with a C# grammar: http://plas.fit.qut.edu.au/gplex/

answered Oct 3, 2009 at 17:19

bobbymcr

24.3k3 gold badges59 silver badges68 bronze badges

2 Comments

ulrichb Over a year ago

But why? Does the C# compiler don't use CodeDOM?

bobbymcr Over a year ago

No, it does not. CodeDom is for managed application developers; csc.exe is unmanaged code which has no .NET dependencies.

Tamás Szelei · Accepted Answer · 2009-10-03 16:17:47Z

2

Try Linq over C#. It's wonderful.

answered Oct 3, 2009 at 16:17

Tamás Szelei

24.1k20 gold badges115 silver badges186 bronze badges

Comments

Pawel Lesnikowski · Accepted Answer · 2009-10-03 16:33:02Z

0

Try Mono.Cecil

answered Oct 3, 2009 at 16:33

Pawel Lesnikowski

6,3924 gold badges40 silver badges43 bronze badges

1 Comment

Omer Raviv Over a year ago

Correct, it deals with IL only. You could use NRefactory (which is a parser for C# and VB.NET, also from the #Develop project).

Ira Baxter · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-24 03:07:02Z

If you want the ability to parse, and carry out arbitrary analyses and transformations on C# source code (or a variety of other languages), check out our The DMS Software Reengineering Toolkit.

DMS has a full C# front end, builds complete abstract syntax trees for parsed code (but not a CodeDom), provides a full procedural API for walking/checking/changing the ASTs. After revising the tree, DMS can regenerate source code corresponding to the modified tree, either in fidelity mode where it tries to preserve the original spacing, or prettyprint mode where it applies a prettyprint style that you can control completely. Comments are retained in the regenerated source properly.

In addition, DMS provides source-level pattern matching and transformation (e.g, you can write "x=x+1 ==> x++" instead of coding all the walk-around-tree-to-verify, hack the tree to change.) See writeup on program transformations to understand what why this is a lot less work..

luiscubal · Accepted Answer · 2009-10-03 16:32:57Z

-2

The CSharpCodeProvider might be what you're looking for.

answered Oct 3, 2009 at 16:32

luiscubal

25.2k9 gold badges61 silver badges84 bronze badges

1 Comment

ulrichb Over a year ago

NO. I don't think CSharpCodeProvider can do what I described above.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to programmatically parse and modify C# code

6 Answers 6

Comments

2 Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

6 Answers 6

Comments

2 Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related