Query isolation by process - run query as 32/64 bit

dobrou

Regarding new query isolation by process in LINQPad beta:
When query is now run in separate process, it should be easy to start queries in 32/64 bit mode, regardless of how LINQPad alone is running.
Is it possible to define bitness of query?

If not, would it be possible to add such option?
It could be defined in F4 Query Properties.

I see those advantages:
1) Easier way for user to run query with different bitness.
2) Bitness config can be part of saved query .linq file
3) No need to distribute x64 version of LINQPad executable

What do you think?

JoeAlbahari

Yes, this would certainly have advantages, and I thought about it at length when designing the process isolation model. While I don't rule it out in the future, for now I'm not taking this path because it's too much work.

First, LINQPad would need to use process isolation not just for query execution, but for all the other activities that involve loading user assemblies, such as reflecting types, creating driver domains, getting schema information, etc.

Second, it would cause trouble for the upcoming debugger in that a 32-bit host process cannot debug a 64-bit process and vice-versa. The workaround is writing a daemon executable that acts as an intermediary, communicating with the host via Remoting or similar. However this adds another unwelcome layer of complexity, as well as making it (even) harder to debug the debugger.

dobrou

OK, I understand. It's not so easy how it was on first look
Thanks for explanation.