Integrating a .NET C# program into a compiled (unmanaged) C++ program (without having to execute a separate .exe file)

Question

I have some .NET C# code that I want to execute through a compiled (unmanaged) C++ program.

Currently what I have done is to put the former into a separate .exe file, which I execute from the C++ program. (The C++ program executes the .exe file, passing in the proper arguments, and captures its output into a variable.)

This works. However, executing a separate .exe file introduces some overhead, and the overhead is noticeable - one notices a half a second gap or so while the .exe program runs and finishes.

Question: Are there any better ways to do such integration? Something that would be faster than executing an .exe.

I'm on Windows XP running Visual Studio 2010.

You should be able to do this using the native CLR host APIs. — SLaks, Nov 15 '12 at 17:35
You do understand there is likely still going to be this 1 second gap right? — Security Hound, Nov 15 '12 at 17:42
If you are running the managed program repeatedly, you may find it more efficient to re-engineer it as a persistent service. — Rook, Nov 15 '12 at 17:52

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 15 '12 at 17:41

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You might find this link useful: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/x0w2664k.aspx

You can create mixed mode assemblies that contain both native code and .NET code. However this is usually done using C++/CLR.

answered Nov 15 '12 at 17:41

Lloyd

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score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:24

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If your goal is only to execute specific code in the C# project you can simply build it as a dll and add it as a reference in the C++ project. From there you can execute parts of the C# code base as you please.

This question using c# dll in project c++ explains how to use the C# assembly in a project compiled with VC++

edited May 23 '17 at 10:24

Community

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answered Nov 15 '12 at 18:07

evanmcdonnal

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 15 '12 at 18:15

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One another way of integrating .NET with C++ would be through COM interface. Turn the .NET into COM component. Instantiate and invoke them from C++ is simple and fast enough. Hope it helps.

answered Nov 15 '12 at 18:15

Cinchoo

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 15 '12 at 18:45

In one of our business solutions we had to connect an unmanaged c++ application to a managed c# application. We achieved that by creating one mixed mode "Wrapper" dll, one managed c# "Client" dll on the unmanaged application side and one WCF service with a NamedPipe-Binding, hostet by the managed c# application.

The unmanaged c++ application calls the wrapper, which redirects the request to the c# Client dll. That dll establishes the connection to the WCF service of the c# Application and calls the requested Method on that service.

Integrating a .NET C# program into a compiled (unmanaged) C++ program (without having to execute a separate .exe file)

4 Answers4