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6/24/2026
Source Generators in .NET: Build a Zero-Reflection Command Dispatcher

Source Generators in .NET: Build a Zero-Reflection Command Dispatcher

Short summary

This tutorial demonstrates using .NET source generators to build a compile-time command dispatcher that replaces runtime reflection with generated switch statements, eliminating startup costs and runtime errors. Roslyn's incremental pipeline automatically detects handler classes and emits a generated dispatcher as pure C# code, avoiding assembly scanning and service locators. Readers learn critical patterns: carrying data as strings through the pipeline, using records for equality-based caching, and polyfilling compiler APIs for netstandard2.0 generators.

  • Use .NET source generators to build compile-time command dispatchers with generated switch statements instead of reflection
  • Roslyn's incremental pipeline automatically detects handler classes and generates dispatcher code without runtime assembly scanning
  • Key patterns: carry immutable data through stages, use records for caching equality, polyfill missing compiler APIs for netstandard2.0

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