header - like files in C#

Question

Is there a way to 'fake' header files in C# using namespaces? From what I've heard, there is no way to get the preprocessing that they provided in C++; but I'd like the organization aspect of it rather than wrapping classes in namespaces and relying on an IDE to tell me whats in what .

for example (note the incorrect syntax) suppose

ns1.cs
iamaclass.cs
iamanotherclass.cs
yaclass.cs
yaaclass.cs

where ns1.cs 's contents are:

namespace ns1
{
   extern class iamaclass;
   extern class iamanotherclass;

   namespace ns1-nested
   {
      extern class yaclass
      extern class yaaclass
   }
}

Answer 1

If you make the directory structure of your projects match the namespace structure, this goes a long way toward getting the organizational benefits. Now your project file and associated directory structure contains all of the information proposed in your 'header' file.

Answer 2

There is no way to do this in C#. The closest you could get is to make your ns1.cs file and fill it with partial class .... , but that is really pointless. At that point you should just write a document as you won't really get any compiler help in enforcing the structure.

I would say this is a case of "forget how you did it in C++". Usually it's not important to find out what's inside a namespace, but more important to figure out what namespace a certain class is in, and C#'s organization will show you that perfectly.

Just a small last thing: is there a practical reason you don't want to rely on an IDE, or is it just a nitpick? It's OK to rely on the help of an IDE for much development.