Link an external library at runtime in .NET

Question

Is it possible for my application to monitor a folder that if we copy a DLL (library) in it, the application will pick it up and link it?

I did a similar thing in C++ back in the days but is it possible to dynamically link a library in .NET?

Thanks

I gave points to each, setting the answer to the fastest one.. — Mike Gleason jr Couturier
– Mike Gleason jr Couturier, Commented Jan 5, 2010 at 19:47

Brett Allen · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-05 19:40:35Z

1

Using reflection you could.

Poll the directory for added files, and then if you find one, load it using reflection and run some Main method inside it.

However you can't "unload" these DLLs unless they are loaded into seperate AppDomains.

answered Jan 5, 2010 at 19:40

Brett Allen

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Comments

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:07:05Z

1

Absolutely. See this SO question or consider using the MEF.

CommunityBot

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answered Jan 5, 2010 at 19:42

plinth

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MEF looks promising, haven't had a chance to play with yet though.