Call Constructor Base after Code Execution

Question

Let say we have Class A and Class B. ClassB extends Class A. (ClassB : ClassA)

Now let's say that whenever I instantiate ClassB, I'd like to Run some Random code and only then call "base" to reach ClassA constructor.

Like:

class ClassA
{
    public ClassA()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Initialization");
    }  
}

class ClassB : ClassA
{
    public ClassB() //: base() 
    {
        // Using :base() as commented above, I would execute ClassA ctor before                                                         //          Console.WriteLine as it is below this line... 
        Console.WriteLine("Before new");
        //base() //Calls ClassA constructor using inheritance
        //Run some more Codes here...
    }
}

In the programming language I usually work with, I can do that, by simply calling super() after Console.WriteLine(); But I cant make it in C#. Is there any other syntax or other way to do that?

Answer 1

There's a hacky way of doing it using an instance variable initializer:

using System;

class ClassA
{
    public ClassA()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Initialization");
    }  
}

class ClassB : ClassA
{
    private readonly int ignoreMe = BeforeBaseConstructorCall();

    public ClassB()
    {
    }

    private static int BeforeBaseConstructorCall()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Before new");
        return 0; // We really don't care
    }
}

class Test
{
    static void Main()
    {
        new ClassB();
    }    
}

The less hacky way of doing it is to rethink how you construct a ClassB to start with. Instead of having clients call the constructor directly, provide a static method for them to call:

public static ClassB CreateInstance()
{
    Console.WriteLine("Before initialization stuff");
    return new ClassB();
}

Answer 2

Another hack if you can get away with calling a static method.

public class ClassA
{
    public ClassA()
    {
        Debug.WriteLine("Call A Constructor");
    }
}

public class ClassB:ClassA
{
    public ClassB():this(aMethod())
    {
    }

    private ClassB(object empty):base()
    {
        Debug.WriteLine("Class B Second Constructor");
    }

    private static object aMethod()
    {
        Debug.WriteLine("Run me First");
        return null;
    }
}

Answer 3

Another elegant solution would be to completely rethink how your objects are constructed. In the constructor of your base class you can call your own construct function, and you omit dependent future constructors, in the following way:

public class ClassA
{
    public ClassA()
    {
        Construct();
    }

    public virtual void Construct()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("3");
    }
}

public class ClassB : ClassA
{
    public override void Construct()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("2");
        base.Construct();
    }
}

public class ClassC : ClassB
{
    public override void Construct()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("1");
        base.Construct();
    }
}

Answer 4

Actually, you can:

class Foo
{
    public Foo(string s)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("inside foo");
        Console.WriteLine("foo" + s);
    }
}

class Bar : Foo
{
    public Bar(string s) : base(((Func<string>)(delegate ()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("before foo");
        return "bar" + s;
    }))())
    {
        Console.WriteLine("inside bar");
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        new Bar("baz");
    }
}

Output:

before foo
inside foo
foobarbaz
inside bar

But I will prefer to not use this trick if it is possible.