I’m a huge fan or runtime code generation.  I think it solves a lot of common problems in modern applications.  However, the .NET implementation of runtime code gen, a.k.a. the CodeDOM, is viciously difficult to learn and use.  I think that’s holding many people back from implementing good solutions using runtime codegen. 

For example, it takes all this

to make this

Not only is it a lot more code using the CodeDOM, but it’s certainly not the kind of code that you can just pick up and understand. 

There must be an easier way.  Refly helps a bunch, but last time I tried it I found it to be incomplete.  It’s certainly a step in the right direction.  It’s certainly a model that’s much easier to understand.  I wonder if, in the end, it’s too limiting?  There may be a good reason for the complexity of the CodeDOM.  Or there may not be.