c# - Dynamically create base class or inherited class -

title may not trying do. not sure if possible, maybe there workaround. code below try show want achieve, know wrong. possible create base class or inherited class @ runtime? or achieve goal somehow else? hope main idea code. if not, i'll try explain more.

public class baseclass {     public int basenumber {get; set;}; }  public class derivecclass : baseclass {     public int derivednumber {get; set;}; }  public baseclass foo(bool derived) {     var classinstance;      if (derived) {        classinstance = new derivedclass();     } else {        classinstance = new baseclass();     }      classinstance.basenumber = 1234;      if (derived) {         classinstance.derivednumber = 4321;     }     return classinstance; } 

you can't "rebase" class @ runtime (and implicitly classes subclass class or system.object (that class :-) )

you can create @ runtime new dynamic classes through system.reflection.emit namespace. need use typebuilder class. new classes can subclass class isn't sealed , doesn't have private/internal constructor (there special exceptions)

if want simple factory pattern, easy:

public class baseclass {     public int basenumber { get; set; }      // baseclass can't created other code through     // new baseclass()     protected baseclass()     {     }      public static baseclass create(bool derived)     {         baseclass classinstance;          if (derived)         {             classinstance = new derivedclass();         }         else         {             classinstance = new baseclass();         }          classinstance.basenumber = 1234;          if (derived)         {             ((derivedclass)classinstance).derivednumber = 4321;         }          return classinstance;     } }  public class derivedclass : baseclass {     public int derivednumber { get; set; }      // derivedclass can't created other code through     // new derivedclass()     protected derivedclass()     {     } } 

this pattern, written, used xmlreader.create(string, xmlreadersettings)