Question

I’m writing two processes using C# and WCF for one and C++ and WWSAPI for the second. I want to be able to define the address being used for communication between the two in a single place and have both C# and C++ use it. Is this possible?

The closest I’ve come is defining the constant in an IDL, then using MIDL and TLBIMP to get it into a DLL that can be consumed by C#. However this doesn’t seem to expose the constant, or at least I can’t figure out how to make it do so. Maybe it is limited to type definitions only.

Any other suggestions?

Answer 1

C# and C++ have differing models for constants. Typically, the constant won’t even be emitted in the resulting C++ binary — it’s automatically replaced where it is needed most of the time.

Rather than using the constant, make a function which returns the constant, which you can P/Invoke from C#.

Thus,

#include <iostream>
const double ACCELERATION_DUE_TO_GRAVITY = 9.8;
int main()
{
     std::cout << "Acceleration due to gravity is: " << 
         ACCELERATION_DUE_TO_GRAVITY;
}

becomes

#include <iostream>
extern "C" double AccelerationDueToGravity()
{
    return 9.8;
}
int main()
{
     std::cout << "Acceleration due to gravity is: " << 
         AccelerationDueToGravity();
}

which you should be able to P/Invoke from C#.