How stable is the Roslyn CTP as a replacement for dummy console apps?

Question

I frequently find myself making a dummy console app to test something simple out. (For example how does DateTime.Parse like a YYYY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS formatted string?)

I know that Roslyn has the C# interactive window to allow such simple tests to be run in the IDE with my solution still open. This is the only feature I am really wanting.

But how stable is Roslyn CTP? Is it going to mess up my IDE? Slow me down when I am not using it? Is it only used for the Roslyn features? Or is it going to try to replace my normal compiler for my open solution?

Answer 1

As SLaks says, the Roslyn CTP doesn't generally affect your IDE for existing scenarios. The changes you should see if you install it are:

1. A new C# Interactive tool window.
2. Support for "C# script" files (.csx), using the Roslyn IDE services. However, .cs and .vb files and projects still use the existing code.
3. Some new project templates for targeting Roslyn.
4. Some additional items in the Add References dialog for targeting Roslyn
5. Documentation, etc in the Roslyn directory under your My Documents folder.

Disclaimer: I work for Roslyn on the Roslyn project.