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Why Is Roslyn a Compiler

Sarah Jenkins • Oct 11, 2026 • 7 min read

Why Is Roslyn a Compiler

Instead of being opaque source-code-in and object-code-out translators, through Roslyn, compilers become platforms: APIs that you can use for code-related tasks in your tools and applications.

Is Roslyn a compiler?

NET Compiler Platform, also known by its nickname Roslyn, is a set of open-source compilers and code analysis APIs for C# and Visual Basic (VB.NET) languages from Microsoft. The project notably includes self-hosting versions of the C# and VB.NET compilers – compilers written in the languages themselves.

What is Roslyn used for?

Roslyn is an open source platform, developed by Microsoft, containing compilers and tools for parsing and analysis of code written in C# and Visual Basic. Roslyn is used in the Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 environment.

Author

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.