CodeDomProvider: Is it possible to unload compiled code

Question

.NET application I work on allows to extend it's functionality with C# scripts that are put into configuration file and compiled like that:

CodeDomProvider provider;
...
var result = provider.CompileAssemblyFromSource(prms, new[] { scriptCode });
var asm = result.CompiledAssembly;
var t = asm.GetType("ScriptClass");
var scriptInstance = (IScript)Activator.CreateInstance();

I have to allow users to change configuration file, catch this event and recompile scripts in runtime without application restart.

I'm warned that previous code will still utilize memory. How should I unload compiled code?

Thank you in advance!

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 06 '10 at 07:47

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AFAIK, the only way to do this is to load it into a separate AppDomain and kill the entire AppDomain. I imagine this means moving much of the code related to compiling it to the second AppDomain, too. Then the question becomes how to talk cross-AppDomain; there, implicit remoting is IMO the easiest option.

answered Dec 06 '10 at 07:47

Marc Gravell

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Thank you @Marc, I'll investigate this option – Andrew Florko Dec 06 '10 at 07:49

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

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Since you'll have to use different AppDomains, you should have a look at the System.Addin namespace. It eases extensibility. A full discussion on SO is available here: Choosing between MEF and MAF (System.AddIn)

edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

Community

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answered Dec 06 '10 at 08:09

Simon Mourier

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Thank you @Simon. The discussion you point me at covers the problem more generally. – Andrew Florko Dec 06 '10 at 08:22

CodeDomProvider: Is it possible to unload compiled code

2 Answers2