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subsonicbuildprovider

Why can BuildProvider be used only with ASP.NET website projects?


I was going to try Subsonic, you can generate DAL with buildProvider element in an ASP.NET website project. But I get curious why Web applications or windows applications do not support BuildProvider.

PS: I know for Subsonic there is one other option to use it with other than BuildProvider, but I just get curious.


Solution

  • It doesn't work because of the different way things are compiled in web application projects vs. website projects. From what I read on MSDN, it has to do with the fact that in web app projects, all your code files are compiled into a single assembly using MSBuild before deployment, but Build Providers are used to generate code that is compiled at runtime (from your App_Code folder).

    In website projects, all of your code is compiled at runtime so it all plays nicely together.