C# for Java Developers

Appendix B. Shared Assemblies

Assemblies can be private or shared. Private assemblies can be used by only one application, and the assemblies that the application comprises are stored together. Shared assemblies are available for use by many applications and can be stored in a shared directory, a network server, or a managed assembly store known as the global assembly cache (GAC). This appendix explains how to create a shared assembly and illustrates the benefits of providing common functionality in this manner. Private assemblies are discussed in Chapter 3.

Creating a Shared Assembly

Assembly names affect how an assembly can be used. Private assemblies have a name that is unique among the assemblies that make up the application. Shared assemblies ...