book

.NET IL Assembler

Name: .NET IL Assembler
Author: Serge Lidin
ISBN: 9781430267607

by Serge Lidin

June 2014

Intermediate to advanced

492 pages

14h 35m

English

Apress

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Cover
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents at a Glance
Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Chapter 1: Simple Sample
Basics of the Common Language RuntimeSimple Sample: The CodeProgram HeaderClass DeclarationField DeclarationMethod DeclarationGlobal ItemsMapped FieldsData DeclarationValue Type As PlaceholderCalling Unmanaged CodeForward Declaration of ClassesSummary
Chapter 2: Enhancing the Code
Compacting the CodeProtecting the CodeSummary
Chapter 3: Making the Coding Easier
AliasingCompilation Control DirectivesReferencing the Current Class and Its RelativesSummary
Chapter 4: The Structure of a ManagedExecutable File
PE/COFF HeadersMS-DOS Header/Stub and PE SignatureCOFF HeaderPE HeaderSection HeadersCommon Language Runtime HeaderHeader StructureFlags FieldEntryPointToken FieldVTableFixups FieldStrongNameSignature FieldRelocation SectionText SectionData SectionsData ConstantsV-TableUnmanaged Export TableThread Local StorageResourcesUnmanaged ResourcesManaged ResourcesSummaryPhase 1: InitializationPhase 2: Source Code ParsingPhase 3: Image GenerationPhase 4: Completion
Chapter 5: Metadata Tables Organization
What Is Metadata?Heaps and TablesHeapsGeneral Metadata HeaderMetadata Table StreamsRIDs and TokensRIDsTokensCoded TokensMetadata ValidationSummary
Chapter 6: Modules and Assemblies
What Is an Assembly?Private and Shared AssembliesApplication Domains As Logical Units of ExecutionManifestAssembly Metadata Table and DeclarationAssemblyRef Metadata Table and DeclarationAutodetection of Referenced AssembliesThe Loader in Search of AssembliesModule Metadata Table and DeclarationModuleRef Metadata Table and DeclarationFile Metadata Table and DeclarationManaged Resource Metadata and DeclarationExportedType Metadata Table and DeclarationOrder of Manifest Declarations in ILAsmSingle-Module and Multimodule AssembliesSummary of Metadata Validity RulesAssembly Table Validity RulesAssemblyRef Table Validity RulesModule Table Validity RulesModuleRef Table Validity RulesFile Table Validity RulesManifestResource Table Validity RulesExportedType Table Validity Rules
Chapter 7: Namespaces and Classes
Class MetadataTypeDef Metadata TableTypeRef Metadata TableInterfaceImpl Metadata TableNestedClass Metadata TableClassLayout Metadata TableNamespace and Full Class NameILAsm Naming ConventionsNamespacesFull Class NamesClass AttributesFlagsClass Visibility and Friend AssembliesClass ReferencesParent of the TypeInterface ImplementationsClass Layout InformationInterfacesValue TypesBoxed and Unboxed ValuesInstance Members of Value TypesDerivation of Value TypesEnumerationsDelegatesNested TypesClass AugmentationSummary of the Metadata Validity RulesTypeDef Table Validity RulesEnumeration-Specific Validity RulesTypeRef Table Validity RulesInterfaceImpl Table Validity RulesNestedClass Table Validity RulesClassLayout Table Validity Rules
Chapter 8: Primitive Types and Signatures
Primitive Types in the Common Language RuntimePrimitive Data TypesData Pointer TypesFunction Pointer TypesVectors and ArraysModifiersNative TypesVariant TypesRepresenting Classes in SignaturesSignaturesCalling ConventionsField SignaturesMethod and Property SignaturesMemberRef SignaturesIndirect Call SignaturesLocal Variables SignaturesType SpecificationsSummary of Signature Validity Rules
Chapter 9: Fields and Data Constants
Field MetadataDefining a FieldReferencing a FieldInstance and Static FieldsDefault ValuesMapped FieldsData Constants DeclarationExplicit Layouts and Union DeclarationGlobal FieldsConstructors vs. Data ConstantsSummary of Metadata Validity RulesField Table Validity RulesFieldLayout Table Validity RulesFieldRVA Table Validity RulesFieldMarshal Table Validity RulesConstant Table Validity RulesMemberRef Table Validity Rules
Chapter 10: Methods
Method MetadataMethod Table Record EntriesMethod FlagsMethod NameMethod Implementation FlagsMethod ParametersReferencing the MethodsMethod Implementation MetadataStatic, Instance, Virtual MethodsExplicit Method OverridingMethod Overriding and AccessibilityMethod Header AttributesLocal VariablesClass ConstructorsClass Constructors and the beforefieldinit FlagModule ConstructorsInstance ConstructorsInstance FinalizersVariable Argument ListsMethod OverloadingGlobal MethodsSummary of Metadata Validity RulesMethod Table Validity RulesParam Table Validity RulesMethodImpl Table Validity Rules
Chapter 11: Generic Types
Generic Type MetadataGenericParam Metadata TableGenericParamConstraint Metadata TableTypeSpec Metadata TableConstraint FlagsDefining Generic Types in ILAsmAddressing the Type ParametersGeneric Type InstantiationsDefining Generic Types: Inheritance, Implementation, ConstraintsDefining Generic Types: Cyclic DependenciesThe Members of Generic TypesVirtual Methods in Generic TypesNested Generic TypesSummary of the Metadata Validity Rules
Chapter 12: Generic Methods
Generic Method MetadataMethodSpec Metadata TableSignatures of Generic MethodsDefining Generic Methods in ILAsmCalling Generic MethodsOverriding Virtual Generic MethodsSummary of the Metadata Validity Rules
Chapter 13: IL Instructions
Long-Parameter and Short-Parameter InstructionsLabels and Flow Control InstructionsUnconditional Branching InstructionsConditional Branching InstructionsComparative Branching InstructionsThe switch InstructionThe break InstructionManaged EH Block Exiting InstructionsEH Block Ending InstructionsThe ret InstructionArithmetical InstructionsStack ManipulationConstant LoadingIndirect LoadingIndirect StoringArithmetical OperationsOverflow Arithmetical OperationsBitwise OperationsShift OperationsConversion OperationsOverflow Conversion OperationsLogical Condition Check InstructionsBlock OperationsAddressing Arguments and Local VariablesMethod Argument LoadingMethod Argument Address LoadingMethod Argument StoringMethod Argument ListLocal Variable LoadingLocal Variable Reference LoadingLocal Variable StoringLocal Block AllocationPrefix InstructionsAddressing FieldsCalling MethodsDirect CallsIndirect CallsTail CallsConstrained Virtual CallsAddressing Classes and Value TypesVector InstructionsVector CreationElement Address LoadingElement LoadingElement StoringCode Verifiability
Chapter 14: Managed Exception Handling
EH Clause Internal RepresentationTypes of EH ClausesLabel Form of EH Clause DeclarationScope Form of EH Clause DeclarationProcessing the ExceptionsException TypesLoader ExceptionsJIT Compiler ExceptionsExecution Engine ExceptionsInteroperability Services ExceptionsSubclassing the ExceptionsUnmanaged Exception MappingSummary of EH Clause Structuring Rules
Chapter 15: Events and Properties
Events and DelegatesEvent MetadataThe Event TableThe EventMap TableThe MethodSemantics TableEvent DeclarationProperty MetadataThe Property TableThe PropertyMap TableProperty DeclarationSummary of Metadata Validity RulesEvent Table Validity RulesEventMap Table Validity RulesProperty Table Validity RulesPropertyMap Table Validity RulesMethodSemantics Table Validity Rules
Chapter 16: Custom Attributes
Concept of a Custom AttributeCustomAttribute Metadata TableCustom Attribute Value EncodingVerbal Description of Custom Attribute ValueCustom Attribute DeclarationClassification of Custom AttributesExecution Engine and JIT CompilerInteroperation SubsystemSecurityRemoting SubsystemVisual Studio DebuggerAssembly LinkerCommon Language Specification (CLS) CompliancePseudocustom AttributesSummary of Metadata Validity Rules
Chapter 17: Security Attributes
Declarative SecurityDeclarative ActionsSecurity PermissionsAccess PermissionsIdentity PermissionsCustom PermissionsPermission SetsChanges in Declarative Security in v4.0Declarative Security MetadataPermission Set Blob EncodingSecurity Attribute DeclarationSummary of Metadata Validity Rules
Chapter 18: Managed and Unmanaged Code Interoperation
Thunks and WrappersP/Invoke ThunksImplementation Map MetadataIJW ThunksCOM Callable WrappersRuntime Callable WrappersData MarshalingBlittable TypesIn/Out ParametersString MarshalingObject MarshalingMore Object MarshalingArray MarshalingDelegate MarshalingInteroperation with Windows RuntimeProviding Managed Methods as Callbacks for Unmanaged CodeManaged Methods as Unmanaged ExportsExport Table GroupSummary
Chapter 19: Multilanguage Projects
IL DisassemblerPrinciples of Round-TrippingCreative Round-TrippingUsing Class AugmentationModule Linking Through Round-TrippingASMMETA: Resolving Circular DependenciesIL Inlining in High-Level LanguagesCompiling in Debug ModeSummary
Appendix A: ILAsm Grammar Reference
Lexical TokensAuxiliary Lexical TokensData Type NonterminalsIdentifier NonterminalsClass ReferencingModule-Level DeclarationsCompilation Control DirectivesModule Parameter DeclarationV-Table Fixup Table DeclarationManifest DeclarationsManaged Types in SignaturesNative Types in Marshaling SignaturesMethod and Field ReferencingClass DeclarationGeneric Type Parameters DeclarationClass Body DeclarationsField DeclarationMethod DeclarationMethod Body DeclarationsExternal Source DirectivesManaged Exception Handling DirectivesIL InstructionsEvent DeclarationProperty DeclarationConstant DeclarationsCustom Attribute DeclarationsVerbal Description of Custom Attribute Initialization BlobSecurity DeclarationsAliasing of Types, Methods, Fields, and Custom AttributesData Declaration
Appendix B: Metadata Tables Reference
Appendix C: IL Instruction Set Reference
Appendix D: IL Assembler and Disassembler Command-Line Options
IL AssemblerIL DisassemblerOutput Redirection OptionsILAsm Code-Formatting Options (PE Files Only)File Output Options (PE Files Only)File or Console Output Options (PE Files Only)Metadata Summary Option
Appendix E: Offline Verification Tool Reference
Error Codes and Messages
Index

Content preview from .NET IL Assembler

Chapter 2

Enhancing the Code

In this chapter, you’ll continue tweaking the simple sample; maybe you can make it better. There are two aspects of “better” I will discuss in this chapter: first, reducing code size and, second, protecting the code from unpleasant surprises. Let’s start with the code size.

Compacting the Code

The sample code presented in the previous chapter is compact. If you don’t believe me, carry out a simple experiment: write a similar application in your favorite high-level Microsoft .NET language, compile it to an executable (and make sure it runs!), disassemble the executable, and compare the result to the sample offered ...

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.NET IL Assembler

by Serge Lidin

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