Getting started with the “Roslyn” generation of open-source C# and VB compilers

After Microsoft's Build developer conference, there's a lot of new stuff to digest! One thing that I predict will be of great interest to many developers (and potentially, a big effect on the future of the developer's life) is the opening up of the C# and VB compilers in a project named "Roslyn".

The Roslyn project – or, as it's officially called, the .NET Compiler Platform – isn't exactly new, as I remember giving talks about it already a couple years ago, but at this year's Build, the project was made largely public – and for a good reason: there are plenty of ideas on how the previously "black box" compilers could be improved.

So, what is Roslyn, then, and how do I get started? There are many excellent blog posts about this on MSDN, and I especially like those on the C# FAQ Blog. To get started, check out a post titled "Taking a tour of Roslyn".

Of course, you need the code, too. That's available on CodePlex at the Roslyn repository.

Be sure to check it out!