Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Survey - Who here uses System.Linq.Expressions to build Lambdas?

Survey - Who here uses System.Linq.Expressions to build Lambdas?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
linqcsharpcomdata-structuresfunctional
31 Posts 12 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • A Andrew Rissing

    *grin* It is nasty because the code is a tangled mess itself or is it just the interconnectedness of it all?

    P Offline
    P Offline
    Pete OHanlon
    wrote on last edited by
    #15

    A bit of both really. It replaced a CodeDOM module that we had - the problem is, we attempted to go feature for feature with the CodeDOM stuff, rather than taking the time to revisit the whole architecture. Now it's so convoluted that I don't want to touch it. Sooner or later we'll have to bite the bullet, but there are other more pressing things to work on first, and I really don't want to divert resources to this just in case they become suicidal.

    *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

    "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

    CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • A Andrew Rissing

      (Same question I asked Phil) If using Expressions was easier, would you likely use it over Emit? If not, what is the reason for your usage of Emit vs. Expressions?

      B Offline
      B Offline
      BobJanova
      wrote on last edited by
      #16

      I wrote this code under .Net 1.1. I'm not sure Expressions can build delegates, though, can it? And yeah I'd use anything over Emit that did the same job. Writing out IL opcodes is not at all fast or easy!

      A 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • B BobJanova

        I wrote this code under .Net 1.1. I'm not sure Expressions can build delegates, though, can it? And yeah I'd use anything over Emit that did the same job. Writing out IL opcodes is not at all fast or easy!

        A Offline
        A Offline
        Andrew Rissing
        wrote on last edited by
        #17

        Yes, Expressions can build delegates (typed even). Take a look at this[^]. The reason for this survey is that I've developed an open source API to make expressions easier. I'm just trying to gauge how useful it would be to the community at large. Once I've added some unit tests, I'll put together an article and post it on CodeProject. :D

        P 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • A Andrew Rissing

          Yes, Expressions can build delegates (typed even). Take a look at this[^]. The reason for this survey is that I've developed an open source API to make expressions easier. I'm just trying to gauge how useful it would be to the community at large. Once I've added some unit tests, I'll put together an article and post it on CodeProject. :D

          P Offline
          P Offline
          Pete OHanlon
          wrote on last edited by
          #18

          I'll certainly take a look at it.

          *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

          "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

          CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

          A 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • A Andrew Rissing

            If using Expressions was easier, would you likely use it over CodeDom? If not, what is the reason for your usage of CodeDom vs. Expressions?

            P Offline
            P Offline
            Phil Martin
            wrote on last edited by
            #19

            The short answer is that I couldn't figure out a way for Expressions to write out c# code to a file.

            A 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • A Andrew Rissing

              I'm just curious, so I wanted to take a quick poll to see how many people have actually used or are currently using System.Linq.Expressions[^]? Basically, have you written code like this in your life (courtesy of MSDN[^])?

              // Add the following directive to the file:
              // using System.Linq.Expressions;

              // An expression that represents the switch value.
              ConstantExpression switchValue = Expression.Constant(3);

              // This expression represents a switch statement
              // that has a default case.
              SwitchExpression switchExpr =
              Expression.Switch(
              switchValue,
              Expression.Call(
              null,
              typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
              Expression.Constant("Default")
              ),
              new SwitchCase[] {
              Expression.SwitchCase(
              Expression.Call(
              null,
              typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
              Expression.Constant("First")
              ),
              Expression.Constant(1)
              ),
              Expression.SwitchCase(
              Expression.Call(
              null,
              typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
              Expression.Constant("Second")
              ),
              Expression.Constant(2)
              )
              }
              );

              // The following statement first creates an expression tree,
              // then compiles it, and then runs it.
              Expression.Lambda(switchExpr).Compile()();

              // This code example produces the following output:
              //
              // Default

              Update: For those that use other techniques (CodeDom, Emit, etc.), would you use Expressions more if it was easier to use? If not, why would you choose to stay with your current technique?

              A Offline
              A Offline
              AspDotNetDev
              wrote on last edited by
              #20

              I tried something like that, but failed, so I bought a book on LINQ and haven't had a chance to read it yet. That is some confusing stuff.

              Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

              A 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • P Phil Martin

                The short answer is that I couldn't figure out a way for Expressions to write out c# code to a file.

                A Offline
                A Offline
                Andrew Rissing
                wrote on last edited by
                #21

                You needed to write it out to a file?

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • P Pete OHanlon

                  I'll certainly take a look at it.

                  *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

                  "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

                  CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

                  A Offline
                  A Offline
                  Andrew Rissing
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #22

                  The link or the API I'm referring to? :D

                  P 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • A AspDotNetDev

                    I tried something like that, but failed, so I bought a book on LINQ and haven't had a chance to read it yet. That is some confusing stuff.

                    Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

                    A Offline
                    A Offline
                    Andrew Rissing
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #23

                    What I'm working on might be of use to you, once I wrap it up in unit testing and an article for the site then. Btw, you probably would love to have seen this[^] back then. Static reflection using Expression trees is quite nice with something like what I linked.

                    A 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • A Andrew Rissing

                      What I'm working on might be of use to you, once I wrap it up in unit testing and an article for the site then. Btw, you probably would love to have seen this[^] back then. Static reflection using Expression trees is quite nice with something like what I linked.

                      A Offline
                      A Offline
                      AspDotNetDev
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #24

                      Certainly looks useful! I'll tuck that away for whenever I get back to doing complex LINQ stuff. :)

                      Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • A Andrew Rissing

                        I'm just curious, so I wanted to take a quick poll to see how many people have actually used or are currently using System.Linq.Expressions[^]? Basically, have you written code like this in your life (courtesy of MSDN[^])?

                        // Add the following directive to the file:
                        // using System.Linq.Expressions;

                        // An expression that represents the switch value.
                        ConstantExpression switchValue = Expression.Constant(3);

                        // This expression represents a switch statement
                        // that has a default case.
                        SwitchExpression switchExpr =
                        Expression.Switch(
                        switchValue,
                        Expression.Call(
                        null,
                        typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
                        Expression.Constant("Default")
                        ),
                        new SwitchCase[] {
                        Expression.SwitchCase(
                        Expression.Call(
                        null,
                        typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
                        Expression.Constant("First")
                        ),
                        Expression.Constant(1)
                        ),
                        Expression.SwitchCase(
                        Expression.Call(
                        null,
                        typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
                        Expression.Constant("Second")
                        ),
                        Expression.Constant(2)
                        )
                        }
                        );

                        // The following statement first creates an expression tree,
                        // then compiles it, and then runs it.
                        Expression.Lambda(switchExpr).Compile()();

                        // This code example produces the following output:
                        //
                        // Default

                        Update: For those that use other techniques (CodeDom, Emit, etc.), would you use Expressions more if it was easier to use? If not, why would you choose to stay with your current technique?

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        jschell
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #25

                        Andrew Rissing wrote:

                        Basically, have you written code like this in your life

                        No.

                        Andrew Rissing wrote:

                        would you use Expressions more if it was easier to use?

                        No.

                        Andrew Rissing wrote:

                        If not, why would you choose to stay with your current technique?

                        The only common usage I have seen for linq is for database access. And I either generate code like that or use dynamic framework apis. The only other usages I have seen have all been of the "gee this is really cool so lets find some way to use it regardless of how inappropriate it is".

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • A Andrew Rissing

                          The link or the API I'm referring to? :D

                          P Offline
                          P Offline
                          Pete OHanlon
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #26

                          The API.

                          *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

                          "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

                          CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

                          A 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • P Pete OHanlon

                            The API.

                            *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

                            "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

                            CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

                            A Offline
                            A Offline
                            Andrew Rissing
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #27

                            I've finished adding features at this point, so it'll likely be 1-2 weeks before an article pops up here on the site [needs unit testing and minor bug fixes]. If you want I can message you when it comes out or you'll likely just stumble upon it in your normal flow of things.

                            P 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • A Andrew Rissing

                              I've finished adding features at this point, so it'll likely be 1-2 weeks before an article pops up here on the site [needs unit testing and minor bug fixes]. If you want I can message you when it comes out or you'll likely just stumble upon it in your normal flow of things.

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              Pete OHanlon
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #28

                              Message me so I know - I sometimes miss things if I'm busy at work, and as this is year end, I'm going to be very busy for the next month.

                              *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

                              "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

                              CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

                              A 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • P Pete OHanlon

                                I feel dirty for admitting that I have. There's a piece of code that we have that does this for generating messaging layers based on config that we pass in - it's a nasty piece of code that seemed cool at the time - now I'm afraid to touch it because of what it could break.

                                *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

                                "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

                                CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

                                N Offline
                                N Offline
                                Nagy Vilmos
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #29

                                At one of my previous jobs there was a piece of code like that. It could be fired from any one of several events and even the most innocuousness change would break it beyond all recognition. The last change made to it was to allow upto six instead of four options. The whole thing when FUBAR and it took three weeks of very clever people, plus me, to work out WTF was happening. There was a magic number derived from a magic number from a config lookup that required the entire config to be re-written. :omg: It was a bitch-slut module and I hope the b'tard who wrote it rots in hell. When I left, there was pleading that I'd take the POS with me and support it as I was, by then, about the only person who understood it. It's still there and still in use and, as of last week, unchanged.


                                Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • P Pete OHanlon

                                  Message me so I know - I sometimes miss things if I'm busy at work, and as this is year end, I'm going to be very busy for the next month.

                                  *pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

                                  "Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

                                  CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

                                  A Offline
                                  A Offline
                                  Andrew Rissing
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #30

                                  Roger roger.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • A Andrew Rissing

                                    I'm just curious, so I wanted to take a quick poll to see how many people have actually used or are currently using System.Linq.Expressions[^]? Basically, have you written code like this in your life (courtesy of MSDN[^])?

                                    // Add the following directive to the file:
                                    // using System.Linq.Expressions;

                                    // An expression that represents the switch value.
                                    ConstantExpression switchValue = Expression.Constant(3);

                                    // This expression represents a switch statement
                                    // that has a default case.
                                    SwitchExpression switchExpr =
                                    Expression.Switch(
                                    switchValue,
                                    Expression.Call(
                                    null,
                                    typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
                                    Expression.Constant("Default")
                                    ),
                                    new SwitchCase[] {
                                    Expression.SwitchCase(
                                    Expression.Call(
                                    null,
                                    typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
                                    Expression.Constant("First")
                                    ),
                                    Expression.Constant(1)
                                    ),
                                    Expression.SwitchCase(
                                    Expression.Call(
                                    null,
                                    typeof(Console).GetMethod("WriteLine", new Type[] { typeof(String) }),
                                    Expression.Constant("Second")
                                    ),
                                    Expression.Constant(2)
                                    )
                                    }
                                    );

                                    // The following statement first creates an expression tree,
                                    // then compiles it, and then runs it.
                                    Expression.Lambda(switchExpr).Compile()();

                                    // This code example produces the following output:
                                    //
                                    // Default

                                    Update: For those that use other techniques (CodeDom, Emit, etc.), would you use Expressions more if it was easier to use? If not, why would you choose to stay with your current technique?

                                    J Offline
                                    J Offline
                                    Jeremy Hutchinson
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #31

                                    Yer, I'm using System.Linq.Expressions to build an expression tree for our policy and claim search screens. The end result is that I can have as complex of a where clause as I'd ever want to create that buildable through our front end. It really is a nice slick piece of code and it has worked flawlessly since I first created it. But if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have used expressions. It was a pain in the ass to get working, and even I don't want to get back in there and touch it again. I can only imagine the next guys awe and/or horror when he opens that. I'd probably go with a more simple generation of a SQL where clause.

                                    My Blog[^] Chess Tactics for WP7[^]

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    Reply
                                    • Reply as topic
                                    Log in to reply
                                    • Oldest to Newest
                                    • Newest to Oldest
                                    • Most Votes


                                    • Login

                                    • Don't have an account? Register

                                    • Login or register to search.
                                    • First post
                                      Last post
                                    0
                                    • Categories
                                    • Recent
                                    • Tags
                                    • Popular
                                    • World
                                    • Users
                                    • Groups