Static Linking of libraries created on C# .NET

Question

Hello,

I'm using VS2008 C#.NET.

I created 3 different classes of libraries in 3 projects. I wrote an application which uses these libraries (dlls).

What is happening is each project is compiling into a class library. So, I've 3 dlls and 1 exe.

Instead I want to have these in two ways:

1. Only class library assembly (dll) which contains 3 of them and 1 exe.
2. just one EXE (everything inside it) :: static linking.

How could I do that? I cannot find any options for static linking in VS2008 also please mention commandline options too.

Answer 1

Ilmerge is what you're after.

I'm not sure I'd really call this "static linking" - it's just merging several assemblies into one. (In particular, please don't get the impression that this is building a native, unmanaged executable.) However, I think it's what you're after :)

Answer 2

You can place all of your code into one EXE project, use a third-party linker (google .net static linker for a number of options), or use ILMerge as illustrated here.

The third-party linkers generally also offer code obfuscation, and some can also statically link the .NET Framework.