Can I load a Linux-C thread in C#?

Question

Kira Yamato 1

Hi~

I have some old functions written in C on Linux and I am trying to transfer it to C# on Windows

The old module is encapsuled as a Linux C thread, which loops a core function periodically.

I wonder if there exist a method that I can load the C thread directly in C#, which would save me a lot of effort

Thank you~

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2022-10-14T19:35:22.957+00:00

Maybe you can write a DLL for Windows in C or C++, export some functions, and use them in C#. Perhaps some of equivalent functionality can be done in C# instead of C.
Kira Yamato 1 Reputation point

2022-10-15T03:25:16.187+00:00

You mean in C# thread invoke the imported C method from C-Dll?
Can I wrap the Linux C thread as a Win32 thread and load it in C#?
Jack J Jun 25,296 Reputation points

2022-10-18T06:27:30.36+00:00

@Kira Yamato , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, Since your problem is more related to Linux, I recommend that you could ask the question in Linux Forum.

Thanks for your understanding.
Kira Yamato 1 Reputation point

2022-10-18T06:32:02.943+00:00

Thanks for reply
But I think it is in fact about the POSIX/GNU environment wrapper on Windows
Lex Li (Microsoft) 6,037 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-10-19T06:32:57.46+00:00

As it is rather simple to write multithreading applications now in C#/.NET with TPL and async/await, you probably will find it feasible to completely rewrite in C# than mixing C/C#. At least, that's what Microsoft did in the past few .NET Core releases, migrating from unmanaged to managed whenever suitable.

1 answer

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2022-10-14T19:35:22.957+00:00

Maybe you can write a DLL for Windows in C or C++, export some functions, and use them in C#. Perhaps some of equivalent functionality can be done in C# instead of C.
Kira Yamato 1 Reputation point

2022-10-15T03:25:16.187+00:00

You mean in C# thread invoke the imported C method from C-Dll?
Can I wrap the Linux C thread as a Win32 thread and load it in C#?
Jack J Jun 25,296 Reputation points

2022-10-18T06:27:30.36+00:00

@Kira Yamato , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, Since your problem is more related to Linux, I recommend that you could ask the question in Linux Forum.

Thanks for your understanding.
Kira Yamato 1 Reputation point

2022-10-18T06:32:02.943+00:00

Thanks for reply
But I think it is in fact about the POSIX/GNU environment wrapper on Windows
Lex Li (Microsoft) 6,037 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-10-19T06:32:57.46+00:00

As it is rather simple to write multithreading applications now in C#/.NET with TPL and async/await, you probably will find it feasible to completely rewrite in C# than mixing C/C#. At least, that's what Microsoft did in the past few .NET Core releases, migrating from unmanaged to managed whenever suitable.

Answer 1

Bruce (SqlWork.com) 77,686 Volunteer Moderator

If the C code contains Linux api calls, it will not run on windows.

Kira Yamato 1 Reputation point

2022-10-17T01:31:12.117+00:00

How about MinGW or MSYS?