Is C# code compiled to native binaries?

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I know that Java code is compiled into byte-code, that is executed by the JVM.

What is the case with C# ? I have noticed that applications written in C# have the .exe extension what would suggest they are native machine instructions. but is it really so ?

Morganmorgana answered 25/9, 2012 at 13:0 Comment(2)

This should explain. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CLI_languages – Fissionable 25/9, 2012 at 13:18

With ngen (alike Java with jit) – Ary 25/9, 2012 at 13:23

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No.

Like Java, C# is compiled to an intermediary language (called MSIL or CIL).

Unlike Java, the IL is stored in EXE files which have enough actual EXE code to show a dialog box asking users to install .Net.

Tutelary answered 25/9, 2012 at 13:1 Comment(9)

Mm. Bit confusing to just say "No" to "Is C# code compiled". Obviously, it is compiled. Into CLI instructions. Just not (directly) into native code. Obviously, in the end they are (just-in-time) compiled to native code, anyways. – Porscheporsena 25/9, 2012 at 13:3

@sehe: I'm saying "no" to the last line in the question. – Tutelary 25/9, 2012 at 13:3

I've edited the question title to avoid the mismatch there :) – Porscheporsena 25/9, 2012 at 13:5

It's not that simple. There is ngen and GAC. – Lewse 25/9, 2012 at 13:6

Okay. Does C# then take any advantage of being stored in an EXE or being developed by the same company as the OS? Short: is C# faster than Java? – Morganmorgana 25/9, 2012 at 13:40

@Morganmorgana it is as fast as it needs to be. If you are having a slow down, run a profiler and identify the problem, don't just blame the language. – Eusebioeusebius 25/9, 2012 at 13:44

@Lewse So.. is it possible to compile C# to native binary? For instance, in Visual Studio? – Morganmorgana 25/9, 2012 at 14:59

@Queequeg, use ngen for pre-compiling your assemblies into native code. – Lewse 25/9, 2012 at 15:2

But can it be a default behavior, can I really make a standalone executable that will run on a Windows machine that doesnt have .net installed? – Morganmorgana 25/9, 2012 at 15:4

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C# compilation is done in these two steps :

1. Conversion from C# to CIL by the C# compiler

2. Conversion from CIL to instructions that the processor can execute.

A component (just in time) performs this compilation at run time from CIL to machine code

Anthonyanthophore answered 25/9, 2012 at 13:12 Comment(0)

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What that .exe is supposed to tell you is that the file is executable. C# is compiled into bytecode, just as java is, but .NET wraps this in a CLR executable.

Look here for a more in depth look at CLR executable http://etutorials.org/Programming/.NET+Framework+Essentials/Chapter+2.+The+Common+Language+Runtime/2.2+CLR+Executables/

Hydroplane answered 25/9, 2012 at 13:12 Comment(1)

The term Portable Executable is not just specific to .NET. – Octosyllabic 25/9, 2012 at 13:15

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c# code is compiled to MSIL. it likes java bytecode. msil will be convert to machine isntrctions at runtime.

Brothers answered 25/9, 2012 at 13:2 Comment(0)

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C# code is compiled to MSIL, MSIL is taken care by .NET CLR

Voncile answered 25/9, 2012 at 13:5 Comment(0)

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There is also a project that allows compilation of C# to standalone binary executables: CoreRT

Begun answered 13/2, 2020 at 8:18 Comment(0)

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