Using c# code from a native c++ application

Question

I am working on a basic 2D C++ Game engine but i want to be able to use C# to make games with it like unity does but I'm not sure how to do it. I've seen people saying about CLI but not sure exactly how that works. I want to be able to access functions on the engine in C# and be able to have the engine run the C# code.

Thanks for any help with this.

You probably should change your question title to something like: Using c# code from a native c++ application. You are not trying to spawn a c# compiler from your c++ application to build some unrelated c# project. With this said I am not sure this is an on-topic request. You basically want a tutorial. — drescherjm
– drescherjm, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 17:33
There's a difference between a tutorial and just a name for the thing you're trying to do. It's hard to search something if you don't even know what it's called. — Blindy
– Blindy, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 17:38
Where do you want main to be in? Your C# EXE which loads your game engine? Or does your game engine have its own EXE and main and loads you game logic from a .NET assembly? — selbie
– selbie, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 17:39
Check this SO thread. P\Invoke or CLI for native managed communication. stackoverflow.com/questions/2561898/… — Sisir
– Sisir, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 17:40

Blindy · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-23 17:37:40Z

5

Right now you have two big ways of doing this:

Make your C# application generate COM objects which you can consume from C++. Performance is a bit iffy, but doable and very simple.
Use reverse PInvoke, where you export functions from your C++ application with in function pointers that you fill in from the C# side with delegates to the functions that drive your code.

In .Net 5, there's a third way: you can directly export C# functions from your assemblies to be consumed in a platform-independent way, like in C++ (ie, .dll or .so exports).

answered Jun 23, 2020 at 17:37

Blindy

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2 Comments

RadiantMin3 Over a year ago

Would it be best to run the game from the engine or have the game use what it needs from the engine?

Blindy Over a year ago

Generally the engine is the game, so I don't really know what you mean, but if you're asking which side should drive the application, C++ or C#, in an ideal world it's up to you. Right now it's a bit easier to drive it from C#, but in .Net 5 it's just as easy either way!

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