Bootstrapper

The bootstrapper is responsible for bootstrapping your application. It configures the IoC container, creates a new instance of your root ViewModel and displays it using the WindowManager. It also provides various other functions, described below.

The bootstrapper comes in two flavours: BootstrapperBase<TRootViewModel>, which requires you to configure the IoC container yourself, and Bootstrapper<TRootViewModel>, which uses Stylet's built-in IoC container, StyletIoC.

Example bootstrapper, using StyletIoC:

 

C#

VB.NET

class Bootstrapper : Bootstrapper<MyRootViewModel> { protected override void OnStart() { // This is called just after the application is started, but before the IoC container is set up. // Set up things like logging, etc }   protected override void ConfigureIoC(IStyletIoCBuilder builder) { // Bind your own types. Concrete types are automatically self-bound. builder.Bind<IMyInterface>().To<MyType>(); }   protected override void Configure() { // This is called after Stylet has created the IoC container, so this.Container exists, but before the // Root ViewModel is launched. // Configure your services, etc, in here }   protected override void OnLaunch() { // This is called just after the root ViewModel has been launched // Something like a version check that displays a dialog might be launched from here }   protected override void OnExit(ExitEventArgs e) { // Called on Application.Exit }   protected override void OnUnhandledException(DispatcherUnhandledExceptionEventArgs e) { // Called on Application.DispatcherUnhandledException } }

Public Class Bootstrapper : Inherits Bootstrapper(Of MyRootModel) Protected Overrides Sub OnStart() ' This Is called just after the application Is started, but before the IoC container Is set up. ' Set up things Like logging, etc End Sub   Protected Overrides Sub ConfigureIoC(ByVal builder As IStyletIoCBuilder) ' Bind your own types. Concrete types are automatically self-bound. builder.Bind(Of IMyInterface).To(Of MyType)() End Sub   Protected Overrides Sub Configure() ' This Is called after Stylet has created the IoC container, so this.Container exists, but before the ' Root ViewModel Is launched. ' Configure your services, etc, in here End Sub   Protected Overrides Sub OnLaunch() ' This Is called just after the root ViewModel has been launched ' Something Like a version check that displays a dialog might be launched from here   End Sub   Protected Overrides Sub OnExit(ByVal e As ExitEventArgs) ' Called on Application.Exit End Sub   Protected Overrides Sub OnUnhandledException(ByVal e As DispatcherUnhandledExceptionEventArgs) ' Called on Application.DispatcherUnhandledException   End Sub End Class

Using a Custom IoC Container

Using another IoC container with Stylet is easy. I've included bootstrappers for a number of popular IoC containers in the Bootstrappers project. These are all unit-tested but not battle-tested: feel free to customize them.

Note that the Stylet nuget package / dll don't include these, as it would add unnecessary dependencies. Similarly, I don't publish IoC container-specific packages, as that's a waste of effort.

Copy the bootstrapper you want from the above link into your project somewhere. Then subclass it, as you would normally subclass Bootstrapper<TRootViewModel>, documented above. Then add your subclass to your App.xaml.cs, as documented in Quick Start, e.g.

public class Bootstrapper : AutofacBootstrapper<ShellViewModel>
{
}

<Application x:Class="Stylet.Samples.Hello.App"
             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
             xmlns:s="https://github.com/canton7/Stylet"
             xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Stylet.Samples.Hello">
    <Application.Resources>
       <s:ApplicationLoader>
            <s:ApplicationLoader.Bootstrapper>
                <local:Bootstrapper/>
            </s:ApplicationLoader.Bootstrapper>
        </s:ApplicationLoader>
    </Application.Resources>
</Application>

If you want to write your own bootstrapper for another IoC container, that's easy too. Take a look at the bootstrappers above to see what you need to do.

Adding Resource Dictionaries to App.xaml

s:ApplicationLoader is itself a ResourceDictionary. If you need to add your own resource dictionary to App.xaml, you will have to nest s:ApplicationLoader inside your ResourceDictionary as a MergedDictionary, like this:

<Application.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary>
        <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
            <s:ApplicationLoader>
                <s:ApplicationLoader.Bootstrapper>
                    <local:Bootstrapper/>
                </s:ApplicationLoader.Bootstrapper>
            </s:ApplicationLoader>

            <ResourceDictionary Source="YourDictionary.xaml"/>
        </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
    </ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>