Question

I am using .NET mapping library AutoMapper in my application, and I have a generic extension method like this:

public static T2 Map<T1, T2>(this T1 o)
{
    return Mapper.Map<T1, T2>(o);
}

...

var nc = new NonCustomer();
Customer c = nc.Map<NonCustomer, Customer>();

Is there any way I can get rid of the T1 generic parameter from the extension method so it is inferred? Resulting in a call like this:

var nc = new NonCustomer();
Customer c = nc.Map<Customer>();

Answer 1

You do not need to use generic version for T1 parameter.

You just need to change it to object:

public static TDest Map<TDest>(this object o)
{
    // todo check o is not null
    return (TDest) Mapper.Map(o, o.GetType(), typeof (TDest));
}

If you are using AutoMapper v2 and above, you could write it as following:

public static TDest Map<TDest>(this object o)
{
    return Mapper.Map<TDest>(o);
}