Extending .Net Reflector: Writing Your own Addins

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Extending .Net ReflectorWriting Your own Add-ins

• Jason Haley
• Seattle Code Camp 4
• November 2008

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Who is this guy?

• Using .Net since Fall 2001 (beta 2)
• MCSD.Net
• Debris.Net A .Net disassembler (in progress)
• .Net related link blog Interesting Finds
• Author of a few Reflector Add-ins
• The team software guy, Open Seas

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Ways to extend Reflector

• Additional languages
• Change the disassembler output
• Display different assembly information
• Add missing functionality
• Create new functionality

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Demo

• Simplest Reflector Add-in

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Agenda

• Ways to Extend .Net Reflector
• .Net Reflector Add-in Model Overview
• Getting Started

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Languages

• Disassembler/Decompiler add-ins
• Implement ILanguage, plus a few others
• Often paired with a browser/viewer

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Demo

• PowerShellLanguage

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Viewers/Browsers

• UI/Visual add-ins
• WinForms Controls to display decompiler output

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Demo

• ClassView, CodeModelView

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Metadata applications

• Provide useful extensions to Reflector
• Use the assembly information in some way
• Use other Reflector functionality

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Demo

• Review

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Agenda

• Ways to Extend .Net Reflector
• .Net Reflector Add-in Model Overview
• Getting Started

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Introducing the code model

• Resides in Reflector.exe
• Interface driven
• Reflector namespace
• Majority of non metadata interfaces
• Managers
• Reflector.CodeModel namespace
• Contains the metadata interfaces
• Reflector.CodeModel.Memory namespace
• Contains some concrete objects

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The visible parts

• IAssemblyManager
• Tree view of loaded assemblies
• ICommandBarManager
• Menus, Context Menus, Toolbar
• ILanguageManager
• Language drop down list on Toolbar
• IPropertyPageManager
• Dialog shown from View- Options

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Demo

• ReflectorUI

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The not-so visible parts

• IWindowManager
• Access to StatusBar, ComandBars, Windows
• IConfigurationManager
• Access to cfg file storage
• ITranslationManager
• Access disassembler factory
• ApplicationManager
• Not used by add-ins, provides a IServiceProvider

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Demo

• EnumAddin, ReflectorWrapper

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Agenda

• Ways to Extend .Net Reflector
• .Net Reflector Add-in Model Overview
• Getting Started

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Writing your own add-in

• Where to start
• CodePlex site has articles and code
• Existing add-ins
• My addins page
• Add-ins to start with
• ClassViewer
• CodeModelViewer

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Reference Points I Use

• Solution from CodePlex site
• AssemblyCollection.Sort
• Enum Addin
• Boxing Count
• Create Using
• Code Shortcut
• Open Zip

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Tips for Creating Addins

• Look at the source of similar addins
• Reflector Add-in Starter Kit
• Create a shortcut to the reflector.exe in bin
  directory
• Add your add-in, then close it (generates the
  .cfg file)
• Set bookmarks for testing
• System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break()
• (Vista) Taskkill /im reflector.exe

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Summary

• Reflector.exe has the code model
• Get the starter kit
• Download the add-ins on CodePlex
• Look at the code for existing add-ins
• Create your own big or small

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Web Resources

• .Net Reflector http//www.red-gate.com/products/
  reflector/
• .Net Reflector Add-ins http//codeplex.com/refle
  ctoraddins/
• .Net Reflector Forum - http//www.red-gate.com/Mes
  sageBoard/viewforum.php?f85
• My material http//jasonhaley.com/addins/

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Questions and Discussion

• Any additional tips on using Reflector?
• Any ideas on creating additional add-ins?
• A few on my list
• Interface usage helper
• Assembly reference mismatch finder
• F language
• Other languages?
• Obfuscation name mapper
• Add-in manager modeled after Firefox