[FEATURE] Add custom IoC Container support with `HostBuilder.UseServiceProviderFactory` method

[guibranco]

Description

We must enhance our service registry to support the .NET method HostBuilder.UseServiceProviderFactory. This will involve creating our own IoC (Inversion of Control) container, following the standards and rules observed in popular libraries like Autofac, Castle Windsor, NInject, and SimpleInjector, but without introducing dependencies on these external libraries.

Problem Statement

• Current Issue: Our current service registry does not support the UseServiceProviderFactory method, and we do not have a custom IoC container that follows established patterns and practices. This limits our flexibility in managing dependencies and configuring services.
• Impact: Without a custom IoC container and support for UseServiceProviderFactory, we cannot fully leverage the benefits of advanced dependency management techniques and integrations.

Proposed Solution

• Create Custom IoC Container:
  • Develop a custom IoC container that adheres to the standards and rules of established libraries like Autofac, Castle Windsor, NInject, and SimpleInjector. This container should handle dependency registration, resolution, and lifecycle management.
  • Integrate this custom IoC container with .NET using the HostBuilder.UseServiceProviderFactory method, providing a flexible and extensible solution for dependency management.

Implementation Steps

1. Design Custom IoC Container:

   • Develop a custom IoC container class that implements core IoC features:
     • Dependency registration
     • Service resolution
     • Lifecycle management (singleton, scoped, transient)
   • Follow best practices and design patterns used by existing libraries, such as:
     • Autofac: Modular registration and advanced lifetime scopes.
     • Castle Windsor: Dependency resolution and container configuration.
     • NInject: Contextual bindings and request-based resolution.
     • SimpleInjector: Performance-oriented registration and validation.

2. Implement UseServiceProviderFactory:

   • Implement a service provider factory that uses the custom IoC container:

     public class CustomServiceProviderFactory : IServiceProviderFactory<CustomServiceCollection>
     {
         public CustomServiceCollection CreateBuilder(IServiceCollection services)
         {
             return new CustomServiceCollection(services);
         }
     
         public IServiceProvider CreateServiceProvider(CustomServiceCollection containerBuilder)
         {
             return new CustomServiceProvider(containerBuilder);
         }
     }

   • Update the Program.cs or Startup.cs file to use the custom service provider factory:

     public class Program
     {
         public static void Main(string[] args)
         {
             CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
         }
     
         public static IHostBuilder CreateHostBuilder(string[] args) =>
             Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
                 .UseServiceProviderFactory(new CustomServiceProviderFactory())
                 .ConfigureWebHostDefaults(webBuilder =>
                 {
                     webBuilder.UseStartup<Startup>();
                 });
     }

3. Configure Dependency Registration:

   • Implement methods for registering services with the custom IoC container. This includes handling various service lifetimes and managing dependencies:

     public class CustomServiceCollection
     {
         public void Register<TService, TImplementation>() where TImplementation : TService
         {
             // Implementation
         }
         // Other registration methods
     }

4. Test Integration:

   • Ensure that the custom IoC container and UseServiceProviderFactory integration work as expected. Test service registration, resolution, and lifecycle management.
   • Verify compatibility with existing services and configurations.

5. Documentation:

   • Document the new IoC container, including how to use it, its features, and how it integrates with HostBuilder.UseServiceProviderFactory.

Additional Notes

• Ensure that the custom IoC container provides equivalent or enhanced functionality compared to existing libraries.
• Review and apply best practices from established IoC libraries to ensure robust and efficient dependency management.

[Mohammad-Haris]

Hey guibranco, I would be happy to help here.
Can you elaborate a bit more on "Add support to the built-in method of .NET UseServiceProviderFactory"?
ServiceLocator currently works as an IoC container; do you have some kind of configuration/setting in mind, that the user can make at the start, depending on which the ServiceLocator uses current implementation or built in .NET implementation?

[Mohammad-Haris]

Any update on this?

[guibranco]

@Mohammad-Haris, not yet. I will look into this during the week!