delegatesdynamic-assemblies

How to Save an Expression Tree as the Main Entry Point to a New Executable Disk File?


I'm trying to export an expression tree to a PE assembly as the main entry point. I've acquired a Lambda Expression through building an expression tree, for example:

using System.Linq;
using System;

// 1. use expression trees to create a block expression (not shown)

// 2. create a lambda expression: 
LambdaExpression exprLambda = Expression.Lambda(exprBlock, new ParameterExpression[0]);

MethodBuilder mbuilder = null;
// 3. ??? Somehow get a method builder instance that works ??? 

// 4. Compile the lambda using the MethodBuilder instance. 
exprLambda.CompileToMethod(mbuilder);

// 5. ??? Somehow get an AssemblyBuilder instance to .Save(..) this to disk.  ??? 

Steps 3 and 5 are what I'm missing.


Solution

  • Instead of just using Expression.Compile, use Expression.CompileToMethod(MethodBuilder).

    Short but complete example which creates an executable on disk, with the expression tree as the code executed in the entry point:

    using System;
    using System.Reflection;
    using System.Reflection.Emit;
    using System.Linq.Expressions;
    
    class Program
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            var asmName = new AssemblyName("Foo");
            var asmBuilder = AssemblyBuilder.DefineDynamicAssembly
                (asmName, AssemblyBuilderAccess.RunAndSave);
            var moduleBuilder = asmBuilder.DefineDynamicModule("Foo", "Foo.exe");
    
            var typeBuilder = moduleBuilder.DefineType("Program", TypeAttributes.Public);
            var methodBuilder = typeBuilder.DefineMethod("Main",
                MethodAttributes.Static, typeof(void), new[] { typeof(string) });
    
            Expression<Action> action = () => Console.WriteLine("Executed!");
    
            action.CompileToMethod(methodBuilder);
    
            typeBuilder.CreateType();
            asmBuilder.SetEntryPoint(methodBuilder);
            asmBuilder.Save("Foo.exe");
        }
    }