Server in dllmain

[Fireshtorm1k]

Can I use ZeroC Ice server inside DllMain? In my current code, the library gets unloaded immediately after injection.

HookerI* hooker;
DWORD WINAPI ServerThread(LPVOID) {
    try {
        MessageBoxA(NULL, "DLL Loaded", "Debug", MB_OK);
        int argc = 0;
        char** argv = nullptr;
        Ice::CommunicatorHolder ich(argc, argv);
        auto adapter = ich->createObjectAdapterWithEndpoints("HookerAdapter", "default -p 10000");
        hooker = new HookerI;
        adapter->add(hooker, Ice::stringToIdentity("Hooker"));
        adapter->activate();
        ich->waitForShutdown();
    }
    catch (const std::exception& ex) {
        std::cerr << ex.what() << std::endl;
    }
    return 0;
}



BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hModule, DWORD ul_reason_for_call, LPVOID lpReserved) {
    if (ul_reason_for_call == DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH) {
        DisableThreadLibraryCalls(hModule);
        CreateThread(nullptr, 0, ServerThread, nullptr, 0, nullptr);
    }
    else if (ul_reason_for_call == DLL_PROCESS_DETACH) {
        delete hooker;
    }
    return TRUE;
}

[pepone]

Looking at the DllMain documentation, there are significant restrictions on what can safely be done inside DllMain:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dlls/dynamic-link-library-best-practices

Given that, it’s unclear whether initializing an Ice server from DllMain can work reliably—especially since it may indirectly perform operations (like loading other libraries or starting threads) that are not safe during DLL initialization.

Have you checked the Windows Event Viewer for any related errors?

[Fireshtorm1k]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond in such detail, especially considering that my question was only loosely related to the Ice project itself. I truly appreciate your willingness to help—even though I was a bit bold asking something outside the intended scope.

Your explanation about the risks of performing complex operations inside DllMain, such as starting threads or loading other libraries, was very helpful and made a lot of sense. It gave me the clarity I needed to approach the issue from a different angle.

In the end, I resolved the problem by changing the architecture of the project to avoid relying on any initialization logic inside DllMain. I was genuinely surprised—and very grateful—to receive such a thorough and thoughtful answer.

Thanks again for your patience and generosity!