Performance Impact of Using.NET Reflection in .NET Compact Framework Applications

This study tests whether or not loading a DLL (Dynamic Linked Library), instantiating a class and invoking its methods using .NET reflection takes longer to execute than performing these tasks using standard invocation techniques. This study included the development of a benchmark DLL that included one class and ten functions that performed common program routines. In addition to this DLL a GUI based application was created that allowed the benchmark class to be invoked using both standard invocation techniques and using .NET reflection. The benchmark tests were conducted on two different Windows Mobile devices and were executed 100 times using each technique on each device. A t-test was performed at the 99% confidence level to determine if there was a significant difference in the average execution time. The conclusion is that there was no significant difference and that using .NET reflection does not result in longer execution time.