IL Interpreter

Official optional package: executes supported hot-update C# assemblies ("interpreted modules") on NativeAOT players by reading them as data — no Assembly.Load, no runtime code generation. Target scenario: HarmonyOS ARM64 and desktop players that download new gameplay DLLs after install.

Status

0.1.0 — skeleton milestone (N1). The interpreted-assembly classification is active with this package installed; the module loader and VM land in N2+.

What N1 gives you

• An Interpreted Assembly (IL VM) toggle on every Assembly Definition.
• With the package installed, interpreted asmdefs compile to Library/ILInterpreter/Modules/<name>/<name>.dll instead of the ordinary script-assembly folder.
• Interpreted assemblies are never CLR-loaded by the editor, never auto-referenced, and never enter a player build's managed assembly closure (desktop or HarmonyOS AOT collection).
• Dependency-direction enforcement: a host (non-interpreted) assembly that references an interpreted one fails the compile plan with a specific error.
• Without this package installed, the asmdef flag is inert and nothing in the engine changes.

Usage

1. Install the package (Package Manager → Official category).
2. Create an Assembly Definition, enable Interpreted Assembly (IL VM).
3. Reference approved host contract assemblies from it (never the other way).
4. Later nodes: create hot-update modules, generate AOT bindings, check compatibility, build hot-update content, and run in interpreter mode.

See Documentation~/index.md for the full roadmap and compatibility model.