Static class constructor in VB

Question

Is there a way to make a constructor for a shared class in VB.NET? I do it all the time in C# as follows, but I can't seem to get it to work in VB.NET.

static class someClass
{
    public static string somePublicMember;

    static someClass()
    {
        messageBox.show("I just constructed a static class");
    }
}

When the following code is executed, the constructor will be called.

...
someSillyClass.someSillyPublicMember = 42;
...

Can a static (shared) class even have a constructor in VB.NET?

Answer 1

Read documentation here. In you can do

Shared Sub New()
...
End Sub

And it will be invoked. From MSDN:

1. Shared constructors are run before any instance of a class type is created.

2. Shared constructors are run before any instance members of a structure type are accessed, or before any constructor of a structure type is explicitly called. Calling the implicit parameter less constructor created for structures will not cause the shared constructor to run.

3. Shared constructors are run before any of the type's shared members are referenced.

4. Shared constructors are run before any types that derive from the type are loaded.

5. A shared constructor will not be run more than once during a single execution of a program.