Array of a generic class with unspecified type

Question

Is it possible in C# to create an array of unspecified generic types? Something along the lines of this:

ShaderParam<>[] params = new ShaderParam<>[5];
params[0] = new ShaderParam<float>();

Or is this simply not possible due to C#'s strong typing?

Answer 1

You could use a covariant interface for ShaderParam<T>:

interface IShaderParam<out T> { ... }
class ShaderParam<T> : IShaderParam<T> { ... }

Usage:

IShaderParam<object>[] parameters = new IShaderParam<object>[5];
parameters[0] = new ShaderParam<string>(); // <- note the string!

But you can't use it with value types like float in your example. Covariance is only valid with reference types (like string in my example). You also can't use it if the type parameter appears in contravariant positions, e.g. as method parameters. Still, it might be good to know about this technique.

Answer 2

Rather late to the game, but here's how: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/1097830/Down-the-Rabbit-Hole-with-Array-of-Generics