Scripting languages enjoy great popularity, in part due to the immediate feedback they provide the developer. Rather than have to write code, compile it, and then execute it to see if the desired behavior occurs, many scripting languages offer a read-eval-print-loop (REPL). A REPL gives the developer the ability to watch their code execute about as fast as they can write it.
There are several advantages to this approach. First, you can explore a library or code fragment without having to first set up a new solution. Second, it allows one to experiment with different possible approaches when problem solving. By being able to quickly iterate, it can bring about a working solution more quickly.
Visual Studio had carried this feature in the past, but it disappeared in VS2013. Fortunately, it has returned in VS2015, and this is what we will explore in this recipe.