How is Roslyn related to MsBuild?

Question

I wonder: how exactly is Roslyn related to MsBuild?

I realized that

• Roslyn is a compiler.
• MsBuild is basically a set of specifications for how the project is set up - i.e. basically a definition circuit for .csproj, .sln files, and so on.

Then again, MsBuild also comes with msbuild.exe - which, correct me, if I'm wrong, it can really compile projects. But how to relate this to Roslyn, assuming msbuild.exe can compile projects, but can Roslyn?

Does msbuild.exe use Roslyn to compile in case of MSBuild 15? Are they completely separate? I do not understand something?

And even more and more specifically: Assuming that I want to programmatically create simple .csproj files and use Roslyn MSBuildWorkspace to process / fill and finally compile them. Will the end user of my application have Microsoft build tools installed on your computer? Or is it optional, since Roslyn will be able to read and compile them regardless of any local MSBuild installation?

Answer 1

MSbuild is a Visual Studio build system. It calls the C # compiler to compile C # projects. Roslyn is a C # compiler (and a VB compiler). So msbuild uses Roslyn.

However, Roslyn also includes more than just a compiler. It also includes a VS plugin that provides you with IDE features (completion lists, coloring lists, code fixes, etc.).

In addition, Roslyn is also an API for analyzing source code that you can use from your own application. For this last scenario, there is an API known as MSBuildWorkspace, which you can use to open a project or analysis solution. This workspace uses MSBuild to define all parts of projects and solutions. So this part of Roslyn uses MSBuild.