c# - Setting Values on a derived class from the base class constructor using Reflection -

i have 2 classes this:

public abstract class mybase {      protected mybase(){          initialize();      }       protected idictionary<string,string> _data;       private void initialize() {          // use reflection properties          // of derived class (e.g., call new myderived()          // want know names "hello" , "id" here          var data = getdatafrombackend(propertynamesfromderived);          _data = data;      } }  public class myconcrete : mybase {      public myconcrete(){          // possibly use reflection here          hello = _data["hello"];          id = new guid(data["id"]);      }       public string hello {get;set;}      public guid id {get; set;} } 

as see, want constructor of base class know properties of derived class i'm instantiating.

now, seems huge , big code smell, let me give more background intentions, maybe there better way.

i have backend system stores key/value pairs, dictionary<string,string>. want abstract away working backend system in way people can create classes properties keys backend system. when construct object, automatically load data system , initialize variables it.

in other words, i've reinvented serialization, except don't control backend system , rather make working painless. don't want callers have call initialize() after constructing object, because in 100% of cases have initalize after constructing.

i don't want move initialize code derived classes, except string-to-business-object conversion.

would have use factory? or considered safe @ property names of derived class in base constructor? (don't care values , aren't initialized, need names).

or there better way altogether provide facade between dictionary of strings , concrete business object?

edit: .net 3.5, no system.dynamic make trivial :(

edit 2: after looking @ answers , thinking through more, guess question boils down now: calling gettype().getproperties() base constructor in order names of properties , if decorated attribute safe?

wait, let's stop here second , properly. it shouldn't mybase's responsibility this.

so write class manages getting stuff out of backend you, , write method on class

t get<t>() t : new() 

and make get responsible reading dictionary out of backend , using reflection populate instance of t. thus, say

var concrete = foo.get<myconcrete>(); 

this isn't hard, , it's right way it.

incidentally, code get going like

t t = new t(); var properties = typeof(t).getproperties(); foreach(var property in properties) {     property.setvalue(t, dictionary[property.name], null); } return t; 

where dictionary loaded key/value pairs. turns out there more optimal ways this, unless it's bottleneck wouldn't worry it.