Automatically resolve Interface<T> to Implementation<T> in StructureMap (differ only by generic type T)

Michael Shimmins picture Michael Shimmins · Jan 25, 2011 · Viewed 12.2k times · Source

I have an interface (IRepository<T>) that is currently being extended for each specific repository, ie: IUserRepository : IRepository<User>.

Each of these interfaces has corresponding concrete classes, ie: UserRepository : Repository<User>, IUserRepository.

These individual repositories don't add any additional functionality, they are all empty interfaces/classes that are used simply to pass the generics around.

I use StructureMap to resolve IUserRepository into UserRepository using a Registry with an assembly scanner and some naming conventions.

I'd like this to move to a way more optimised state, where instead of passing around instances of IUserRepository and getting it resolved to UserRepository, I can pass around IRepository<User> and have it resolved to Repository<User>.

This would remove the need to create these extra empty interfaces and classes.

I can't work out a way to use StructureMap's configuration to setup this generic mapping. Something like this:

For(typeof(IRepository<>).Use(typeof(Repository<>)).WithTheGenericTypeFromTheInterfaceSuppliedAsATypeParameter();

Edit

After getting the first couple of answers, I want to clarify this a bit more.

I don't want to create individual classes for the For bit of the configuration. I want to have the following classes/interfaces in my code:

  • IRepository<T> where T : Entity
  • Repository<T> : IRepository<T> where T : Entity
  • Person : Entity
  • Product : Entity
  • Order : Entity
  • Whatever : Entity

And have the following mappings achieved with convention:

IRepository<Person> => Repository<Person>
IRepository<Product> => Repository<Product>
IRepository<Order> => Repository<Order>
IRepository<Whatever> => Repository<Whatever>

But I do not want to have to create a mapping for each one, ala:

For<IRepository<Person>>().Use<Repository<Person>>();
For<IRepository<Product>>().Use<Repository<Product>>();
For<IRepository<Order>>().Use<Repository<Order>>();
For<IRepository<Whatever>>().Use<Repository<Whatever>>();

I want a single mapping that will work for any IRepository:

For<IRepository<>>().Use<Repository<>>().WithTheSameGenericType();

I would then use this to inject the repositories into services:

public MyService(IRepository<User> userRepository)

And expect that to be resolved to a Repository<User> at runtime.

Answer

Michael Shimmins picture Michael Shimmins · Jan 25, 2011

Turns out there is no fancy method to call, or no fancy wiring to do, you just use For and Use (the non generic versions):

public class DataRegistry : Registry
{
    public DataRegistry()
    {
        For(typeof (IRepository<>)).Use(typeof(Repository<>));
    }
}

When I inject a IRepository<Person> it is being resolved as a Repository<Person> now.

I encountered error 104 saying Repository wasn't pluggable for IRepository. This was because Repository was marked abstract. Making it non-abstract fixed that error and it is working as desired.