C# Extension methods in .NET 2.0

Question

I have found several links to methods of making extension methods work in .NET2.0 (The moth, Discord & Rhyme, Stack Overflow). I have also heard vaguely from a colleague

Answer 1

The SO version is the accurate one, for the pure sake of accuracy you should use it.

Fwiw, the AttributeTarget.Method specifier is crystal clear. Class and Assembly less so. Both the C# and the VB.NET compiler emit the attribute on the static class / Module that contains the extension method. And on the assembly that contains the class / Module. Why they do this is less crystal clear, it wouldn't be needed to properly compile them. I'm guessing this is an optimization at work, helping both the compiler and IntelliSense discover when an extension method should be considered.

Getting the attribute applied to the assembly is actually a problem. That won't work right when you compile code to .netmodules. But that's a very obscure issue.