MVC5 MEF-based dynamically loaded plugins

MVC5 MEF-based dynamically loaded plugins

In MVC5, MEF (Managed Extensibility Framework) can be used to implement dynamically loaded plugins.

Here's an overview of the steps involved in implementing this approach:

  1. Define an interface for the plugin contract that defines the methods and properties that plugins must implement.
  2. Create a plugin project that references the interface and implements the contract.
  3. Use MEF to load the plugins at runtime.
  4. Optionally, use dependency injection to provide additional services to the plugin.

To implement this approach, you can follow the steps below:

Step 1: Define the Plugin Contract Interface

Define an interface that defines the methods and properties that plugins must implement. For example:

public interface IPlugin
{
    string Name { get; }
    void Execute();
}

Step 2: Implement the Plugin

Create a plugin project that references the interface and implements the contract. For example:

[Export(typeof(IPlugin))]
public class MyPlugin : IPlugin
{
    public string Name => "My Plugin";

    public void Execute()
    {
        // Plugin code goes here
    }
}

Step 3: Load the Plugins using MEF

MEF can be used to load the plugins at runtime. Here's an example:

public class PluginManager
{
    [ImportMany(typeof(IPlugin))]
    public IEnumerable<IPlugin> Plugins { get; set; }

    public PluginManager()
    {
        var catalog = new AggregateCatalog();
        catalog.Catalogs.Add(new DirectoryCatalog(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory));

        var container = new CompositionContainer(catalog);
        container.ComposeParts(this);
    }
}

Step 4: Use Dependency Injection (Optional)

Optionally, you can use dependency injection to provide additional services to the plugin. For example:

public interface IMyService
{
    void DoSomething();
}

[Export(typeof(IMyService))]
public class MyService : IMyService
{
    public void DoSomething()
    {
        // Service code goes here
    }
}

[Export(typeof(IPlugin))]
public class MyPlugin : IPlugin
{
    private readonly IMyService _myService;

    [ImportingConstructor]
    public MyPlugin(IMyService myService)
    {
        _myService = myService;
    }

    public string Name => "My Plugin";

    public void Execute()
    {
        _myService.DoSomething();
    }
}

That's it! With these steps, you can implement MEF-based dynamically loaded plugins in MVC5.

Examples

  1. "MVC5 MEF plugin architecture"

    • Description: Explore how to implement a plugin architecture in MVC 5 using Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF) for dynamically loaded plugins.
    • Code:
      // CompositionContainer setup in Application_Start (e.g., Global.asax.cs)
protected void Application_Start()
{
    // Initialize and configure the MEF CompositionContainer
    var container = new CompositionContainer(new AssemblyCatalog(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()));
    DependencyResolver.SetResolver(new MefDependencyResolver(container));
}

  2. "MVC5 MEF plugin directory catalog"

    • Description: Learn how to use MEF DirectoryCatalog to dynamically load plugins from a specific directory in MVC 5.
    • Code:
      // CompositionContainer setup with DirectoryCatalog
var directoryCatalog = new DirectoryCatalog("Your/Plugin/Directory");
var container = new CompositionContainer(directoryCatalog);

  3. "MVC5 MEF plugin interface definition"

    • Description: Understand the process of defining a common interface for plugins to be used with MEF in MVC 5.
    • Code:
      // Plugin Interface Definition
public interface IPlugin
{
    void Execute();
}

  4. "MVC5 MEF plugin export attribute"

    • Description: Implement the MEF Export attribute to mark classes as exportable plugins in MVC 5.
    • Code:
      // Exporting a class as a MEF plugin
[Export(typeof(IPlugin))]
public class YourPlugin : IPlugin
{
    public void Execute()
    {
        // Plugin logic here
    }
}

  5. "MVC5 MEF plugin import attribute"

    • Description: Use the MEF Import attribute to import plugins dynamically into your MVC 5 application.
    • Code:
      // Importing MEF plugins in your MVC Controller or Service
[ImportMany]
public IEnumerable<IPlugin> Plugins { get; set; }

  6. "MVC5 MEF plugin lazy loading"

    • Description: Explore lazy loading of MEF plugins in MVC 5 for better performance and resource utilization.
    • Code:
      // Lazy loading MEF plugins
[ImportMany]
public Lazy<IPlugin, IDictionary<string, object>>[] Plugins { get; set; }

  7. "MVC5 MEF plugin metadata"

    • Description: Utilize MEF metadata to provide additional information about plugins in MVC 5 for improved extensibility.
    • Code:
      // Defining MEF metadata for a plugin
[MetadataAttribute]
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Class, AllowMultiple = false)]
public class PluginMetadataAttribute : ExportAttribute, IPluginMetadata
{
    public PluginMetadataAttribute(string name, string version)
        : base(typeof(IPlugin))
    {
        Name = name;
        Version = version;
    }

    public string Name { get; }
    public string Version { get; }
}

  8. "MVC5 MEF plugin reloadable catalog"

    • Description: Implement a reloadable MEF catalog in MVC 5 to dynamically add or remove plugins during runtime.
    • Code:
      // Creating a reloadable MEF catalog
var reloadableCatalog = new ReloadableCatalog("Your/Plugin/Directory");
var container = new CompositionContainer(reloadableCatalog);

  9. "MVC5 MEF plugin exception handling"

    • Description: Learn how to handle exceptions when loading MEF plugins in MVC 5 to ensure robustness.
    • Code:
      // Handling exceptions during MEF plugin loading
try
{
    // Code for loading MEF plugins
}
catch (ReflectionTypeLoadException ex)
{
    // Handle exception and log errors
}

  10. "MVC5 MEF plugin controller execution"

    • Description: Integrate MEF plugins with MVC 5 controllers to execute dynamic functionality based on plugins.
    • Code:
      // Using MEF plugins in MVC Controller
public class YourController : Controller
{
    [ImportMany]
    public IEnumerable<IPlugin> Plugins { get; set; }

    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        foreach (var plugin in Plugins)
        {
            plugin.Execute();
        }
        return View();
    }
}

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