Dotnet Source Generation First

Overview

Prefer compile-time source generation over runtime reflection for repetitive cross-cutting concerns like mapping, serialization, regex, and logging. Source generation provides determinism, compile-time verification, reduced runtime overhead, and better AOT/trimming compatibility.

When to Use

• Introducing or reviewing repetitive cross-cutting mechanisms (mappers, serializers, regex, logging templates)
• Building performance-sensitive systems or services with startup-time concerns
• Targeting AOT compilation or assembly trimming scenarios
• Evaluating mapping or serialization libraries for a new project
• Reviewing PRs that propose reflection-based or runtime codegen approaches

Core Workflow

1. Identify the cross-cutting concern (mapping, serialization, regex, logging)
2. Check if a source-generation library exists for the use case (e.g., Mapperly, System.Text.Json source generators, GeneratedRegex)
3. Evaluate the source-gen library against requirements (API compatibility, feature set, maintainability)
4. Implement using the source-generation approach
5. Verify compile-time generation is working (check generated files, no runtime reflection warnings)
6. Benchmark if performance is critical (use the minimal benchmark template in Load: advanced)

Core

When to use

• Introducing or reviewing repetitive cross-cutting mechanisms (mappers, serializers, regex, logging templates).
• Performance-sensitive systems, services with startup-time concerns, or AOT/trimming constraints.

Defaults (strong preference)

• Prefer source generation over:
  • reflection-based scanning,
  • runtime expression compilation,
  • dynamic invocation for repetitive tasks.

Rationale

• Determinism and compile-time verification.
• Reduced runtime overhead and improved diagnosability.
• Better compatibility with AOT/trimming scenarios.

Review rules

• If a runtime/reflection-based tool is proposed, require explicit justification:
  • functional necessity,
  • measurable benefits,
  • absence of acceptable OSS source-gen alternatives.

Load: examples

• Mapping: prefer a source-generated mapper (e.g., Mapperly-style approach).
• Regex: use compile-time generated regex for hot paths.
• Logging: prefer compile-time friendly patterns (e.g., message template generators where appropriate).

Load: advanced

AOT/trimming checklist

• Avoid reflection-based discovery for core execution paths.
• Ensure analyzers/source generators are included and pinned.
• Validate publish trimming warnings and address them as part of release readiness.

Benchmarking guidance

• Benchmark representative payload sizes and typical request flows.
• Focus on startup time, allocations, and throughput for mapping/serialization-heavy systems.

Minimal benchmark template

When evaluating reflection vs source-generated approaches, use this template:

[MemoryDiagnoser]
public class MappingBenchmark
{
    private MySourceEntity _source = default!;
    private Mapper _mapper = default!;

    [GlobalSetup]
    public void Setup() => _mapper = new Mapper();

    [Benchmark]
    public MyTargetDto Reflection_MapViaReflection() => MapViaReflection(_source);

    [Benchmark]
    public MyTargetDto SourceGenerated_MapViaSourceGen() => _mapper.Map(_source);
}

Focus areas:

• Startup time (cold startup with reflection vs AOT-friendly source gen)
• Allocations per operation
• Throughput (operations/sec) for hot paths
• Comparison baseline: measure reflection first, then source-gen

Acceptable exceptions to source-generation-first

Reflection/runtime codegen may be used when:

1. Ad-hoc/one-time operations: Not part of hot paths; cost is negligible.

   • Example: Loading configuration at startup (once per app lifetime)
   • Justification: Overhead is paid once, not per-request

2. Highly dynamic scenarios: Type information unavailable at compile-time.

   • Example: Plugin systems where types loaded at runtime from external assemblies
   • Justification: No source-gen alternative exists; runtime introspection necessary

3. Backwards compatibility constraints: Source-gen requires breaking API changes.

   • Example: Maintaining legacy API surface while migrating to source-gen
   • Justification: Breaking change risk outweighs performance benefit; schedule migration

4. Prototype/experimental phases: Validation before investing in source-gen.

   • Example: Proof-of-concept that reflection will later be replaced
   • Justification: Speed of iteration > performance; document migration plan

Required for exceptions:

• Explicit PR justification
• Clear scope boundary (not used in hot paths)
• Migration path documented (if temporary)

Load: enforcement

• Any PR adding reflection-based mapping or runtime codegen must include:
  • a justification,
  • a benchmark or measurable rationale,
  • confirmation that no suitable OSS source-gen alternative exists.

Red Flags - STOP

These statements indicate source generation bypass: