Reflector

Overview of Reflector

.NET Reflector is a powerful decompilation and debugging tool designed specifically for .NET developers working with C# and Visual Basic applications. This professional-grade software enables developers to examine, analyze, and debug compiled .NET assemblies, providing deep insights into application behavior and third-party library functionality. Developed by Red Gate Software, Reflector serves as an essential tool for software engineers, quality assurance teams, and technical leads who need to understand complex codebases, troubleshoot production issues, and optimize application performance across various .NET environments and platforms.

As a comprehensive development utility, Reflector helps developers navigate through IDE integrations and Debugger tools while providing advanced code analysis capabilities. The tool supports multiple programming languages including C#, VB.NET, and Intermediate Language (IL), making it invaluable for reverse engineering, code comprehension, and debugging scenarios where source code access is limited or unavailable for certain components and dependencies.

How to Use Reflector

To begin using .NET Reflector, download and install the desktop application, then launch it to load any .NET assembly for analysis. The intuitive interface allows you to browse through namespaces, classes, and methods using the hierarchical tree view. For deeper investigation, use the decompilation features to convert compiled code back to readable C# or VB.NET, then employ the integrated debugging capabilities to step through the decompiled code as if it were your own source. The VSPro edition seamlessly integrates with Visual Studio, enabling you to use familiar debugging shortcuts and techniques while examining third-party assemblies and framework components within your development environment.

Core Features of Reflector

1. Assembly Decompilation – Convert .NET assemblies to readable C#, VB.NET, or IL code for analysis.
2. Visual Studio Integration – Debug decompiled assemblies in Visual Studio with standard workflows.
3. Advanced Code Navigation – Browse and search codebases with filtering and tree view.
4. Add-in Ecosystem – Extend with tools like SmokeTest for testing and Reflexil for IL editing.
5. Cross-Platform Analysis – Examine APIs, SharePoint, and third-party platform assemblies.

Use Cases for Reflector

• Debugging production applications when source code is unavailable for certain components
• Understanding undocumented third-party libraries and framework internals
• Reverse engineering legacy applications with missing documentation
• Analyzing security vulnerabilities in compiled .NET assemblies
• Learning advanced .NET programming techniques from well-written assemblies
• Investigating performance issues in external dependencies
• Maintaining and extending applications without complete source access

Support and Contact

For technical support, contact via email at contact@red-gate.com or visit the official support portal for documentation, knowledge base articles, and community forums.

Company Info

.NET Reflector is developed and maintained by Red Gate Software, a UK-based company specializing in developer tools and database management solutions.

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