How can I evaluate C# code dynamically?

Question

I can do an eval(\"something()\"); to execute the code dynamically in JavaScript. Is there a way for me to do the same thing in C#?

An example of what I

Answer 1

Uses reflection to parse and evaluate a data-binding expression against an object at run time.

DataBinder.Eval Method

Answer 2

Using the Roslyn scripting API (more samples here):

// add NuGet package 'Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Scripting'
using Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.CSharp.Scripting;

await CSharpScript.EvaluateAsync("System.Math.Pow(2, 4)") // returns 16

You can also run any piece of code:

var script = await CSharpScript.RunAsync(@"
                class MyClass
                { 
                    public void Print() => System.Console.WriteLine(1);
                }")

And reference the code that was generated in previous runs:

await script.ContinueWithAsync("new MyClass().Print();");

Answer 3

I was trying to get a value of a structure (class) member by it's name. The structure was not dynamic. All answers didn't work until I finally got it:

public static object GetPropertyValue(object instance, string memberName)
{
    return instance.GetType().GetField(memberName).GetValue(instance);
}

This method will return the value of the member by it's name. It works on regular structure (class).

Answer 4

This is an eval function under c#. I used it to convert anonymous functions (Lambda Expressions) from a string. Source: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/evalcscode.aspx

public static object Eval(string sCSCode) {

  CSharpCodeProvider c = new CSharpCodeProvider();
  ICodeCompiler icc = c.CreateCompiler();
  CompilerParameters cp = new CompilerParameters();

  cp.ReferencedAssemblies.Add("system.dll");
  cp.ReferencedAssemblies.Add("system.xml.dll");
  cp.ReferencedAssemblies.Add("system.data.dll");
  cp.ReferencedAssemblies.Add("system.windows.forms.dll");
  cp.ReferencedAssemblies.Add("system.drawing.dll");

  cp.CompilerOptions = "/t:library";
  cp.GenerateInMemory = true;

  StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("");
  sb.Append("using System;\n" );
  sb.Append("using System.Xml;\n");
  sb.Append("using System.Data;\n");
  sb.Append("using System.Data.SqlClient;\n");
  sb.Append("using System.Windows.Forms;\n");
  sb.Append("using System.Drawing;\n");

  sb.Append("namespace CSCodeEvaler{ \n");
  sb.Append("public class CSCodeEvaler{ \n");
  sb.Append("public object EvalCode(){\n");
  sb.Append("return "+sCSCode+"; \n");
  sb.Append("} \n");
  sb.Append("} \n");
  sb.Append("}\n");

  CompilerResults cr = icc.CompileAssemblyFromSource(cp, sb.ToString());
  if( cr.Errors.Count > 0 ){
      MessageBox.Show("ERROR: " + cr.Errors[0].ErrorText, 
         "Error evaluating cs code", MessageBoxButtons.OK, 
         MessageBoxIcon.Error );
      return null;
  }

  System.Reflection.Assembly a = cr.CompiledAssembly;
  object o = a.CreateInstance("CSCodeEvaler.CSCodeEvaler");

  Type t = o.GetType();
  MethodInfo mi = t.GetMethod("EvalCode");

  object s = mi.Invoke(o, null);
  return s;

}