dnlib is a library for reading and writing .NET assemblies and modules. It allows developers to load assemblies, access their metadata, modify their structure, and save them back to disk. Primary use cases include assembly analysis, patching, and manipulation. dnlib leverages the dnlib.DotNet and dnlib.DotNet.Emit namespaces to provide a comprehensive set of APIs for interacting with .NET assemblies.
dnlib offers a flexible API for handling various assembly formats, including .NET Framework, .NET Core, and C++/CLI assemblies. It seamlessly handles PDB files, supporting Windows, portable, and embedded types. The library supports strong and enhanced name signing to ensure code integrity and security. Furthermore, dnlib allows for exporting managed methods for interoperability with non-.NET code.
- Assembly Loading: Supports loading .NET assemblies from files, byte arrays, streams, and memory addresses.
- PDB File Handling: Reads and writes Windows, portable, and embedded PDB files with options for customization.
- Strong Naming: Enables strong naming of assemblies with support for both basic and enhanced signing methods.
- Method Exporting: Facilitates exporting managed methods for use in native code and other environments.
- Module Manipulation: Provides APIs for modifying module metadata, including code and data sections.
- Cross-Platform: Designed to work across different operating systems, with PDB writing supported on all platforms.
- Assembly Interoperability: Handles .NET Framework, .NET Core, and C++/CLI assemblies effectively.
dnlib has been under active development for several years with consistent maintenance and updates. It maintains a robust set of features, including comprehensive documentation and a responsive community. The library's API is well-defined and relatively stable, with regular bug fixes and improvements. The project relies on Microsoft.DiaSymReader.Native for PDB reading if available, falling back to the older diasymreader.dll implementation.
dnlib is valuable for developers working with .NET assemblies who need to analyze, modify, or manipulate them programmatically. It's particularly useful for tasks like reverse engineering, assembly patching, security analysis, and creating custom tools for working with .NET code. It offers a robust alternative to manual assembly manipulation or limited built-in tools.