Is it possible to write extension methods for Console? [duplicate]

Question

While looking at this question and it's answers I thought that it would be a good idea to write an extension method for System.Console that contained the desired functionality.

However, when I tried it, I got this compiler error

System.Console': static types cannot be used as parameters

Here's the code:

using System; using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;  namespace ConsoleApplication1 {     public static class ConsoleExtensions     {         [Extension]         public static string TestMethod(this Console console, string testValue)         {             return testValue;         }      } } 

Is there another way of creating extension methods for static types? Or is this just not possible?

Answer 1

It's not possible, as mentioned in Matt's answer.

As a workaround you could create a static class that will wrap Console adding desired functionality.

public static class ConsoleEx {     public static void WriteLineRed(String message)     {         var oldColor = Console.ForegroundColor;         Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Red;         Console.WriteLine(message);         Console.ForegroundColor = oldColor;     } } 

It's not ideal, as you have to add that little "Ex", but flows with code decently well, if that's any (ehm) consolation:

ConsoleEx.WriteLineRed("[ERROR]") 

Answer 2

No it's not possible unfortunately. See Static extension methods

A few people have suggested it: http://madprops.org/blog/static-extension-methods/

...but it was never done in .NET 4. Apparently extension properties got someway to making it but was then abandoned.

https://blogs.msdn.com/ericlippert/archive/2009/10/05/why-no-extension-properties.aspx