I found an article about an interesting new project Microsoft is undertaking beginning with VS2012. The Roslyn Project as it is called will expose the APIs used by Visual Studio to compile code as services for open consumption. This
transition will basically open the door for more openly creating code focused tools and applications. This will undoubtedly lead to new innovation in code
generation, transformation and interaction with the C# and VB
languages.
The Roslyn project will expose the following layers as services: the Compiler APIs, the Services APIs, and the Editor Services APIs. By exposing these APIs, IDE development and IDE focused tools will be more widely developed as well as more functional. Anyone with a good idea will be able to spin up a compiler add-on or IDE. This will allow many small players to hit home runs on pitches Microsoft would never even swing at.
We will have the ability to analyze and transform our syntax automatically as well as customize our IDE to specific standards. I have just begun looking into this, but some of the ideas that come to mind immediately are having the ability to enforce, coach and correct our coding guidelines with things like namespace restrictions on developer and build machines. We would have the ability develop 'standard specific' functionality that mimics other profilers on the market but would be geared to individual team / company standards.
The concept is very interesting and exciting. It is a very good read if you have the time. More information can be found here
