diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index a0fd4327c..a33f15001 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ script:
   - npm run cov:instrument
   - npm test --silent
   - npm run cov:report
-  - npm run test:release
+  - npm run test:artifacts
+  - 'if [[ "$TRAVIS_TAG" != "master" && "$TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST" = "false" ]]; then npm run test:release; fi'
 
 after_failure:
   - ./.travis/printLogs.sh
diff --git a/gulpfile.js b/gulpfile.ts
similarity index 59%
rename from gulpfile.js
rename to gulpfile.ts
index dd2b06202..fa6b04e1d 100644
--- a/gulpfile.js
+++ b/gulpfile.ts
@@ -5,21 +5,24 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const fs = require('fs');
-const path = require('path');
-const del = require('del');
-const gulp = require('gulp');
-const mocha = require('gulp-mocha');
-const tslint = require('gulp-tslint');
-const vsce = require('vsce');
-const debugUtil = require('./out/src/coreclr-debug/util');
-const packages = require('./out/src/packages');
-const logger = require('./out/src/logger');
-const platform = require('./out/src/platform');
-const util = require('./out/src/common');
-const child_process = require('child_process');
-const optionsSchemaGenerator = require('./out/src/tools/GenerateOptionsSchema');
-const packageDependencyUpdater = require('./out/src/tools/UpdatePackageDependencies');
+import * as child_process from 'child_process';
+import * as debugUtil from './src/coreclr-debug/util';
+import * as del from 'del';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as gulp from 'gulp';
+import * as logger from './src/logger';
+import * as mocha from 'gulp-mocha';
+import * as optionsSchemaGenerator from './src/tools/GenerateOptionsSchema';
+import * as packageDependencyUpdater from './src/tools/UpdatePackageDependencies';
+import * as packages from './src/packages';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import * as platform from './src/platform';
+import * as util from './src/common';
+import * as vsce from 'vsce';
+
+import { CsharpLoggerObserver } from './src/observers/CsharpLoggerObserver';
+import { EventStream } from './src/EventStream';
+import tslint from 'gulp-tslint';
 
 const Logger = logger.Logger;
 const PackageManager = packages.PackageManager;
@@ -51,15 +54,18 @@ gulp.task('updatePackageDependencies', () => {
 // Install Tasks
 function install(platformInfo, packageJSON) {
     const packageManager = new PackageManager(platformInfo, packageJSON);
+    let eventStream = new EventStream();
     const logger = new Logger(message => process.stdout.write(message));
-    const debuggerUtil = new debugUtil.CoreClrDebugUtil(path.resolve('.'), logger);
+    let stdoutObserver = new CsharpLoggerObserver(logger);
+    eventStream.subscribe(stdoutObserver.post); 
+    const debuggerUtil = new debugUtil.CoreClrDebugUtil(path.resolve('.')); 
 
-    return packageManager.DownloadPackages(logger)
+    return packageManager.DownloadPackages(eventStream, undefined, undefined, undefined) 
         .then(() => {
-            return packageManager.InstallPackages(logger);
+            return packageManager.InstallPackages(eventStream, undefined); 
         })
         .then(() => {
-            return util.touchInstallFile(util.InstallFileType.Lock)
+            return util.touchInstallFile(util.InstallFileType.Lock);
         })
         .then(() => {
             return debugUtil.CoreClrDebugUtil.writeEmptyFile(debuggerUtil.installCompleteFilePath());
@@ -76,24 +82,30 @@ gulp.task('install', ['clean'], () => {
 });
 
 /// Packaging (VSIX) Tasks
-function doPackageSync(packageName) {
+function doPackageSync(packageName, outputFolder) {
 
-    var vsceArgs = [];
-    vsceArgs.push(path.join(__dirname, 'node_modules', 'vsce', 'out', 'vsce'))
+    let vsceArgs = [];
+    vsceArgs.push(path.join(__dirname, 'node_modules', 'vsce', 'out', 'vsce'));
     vsceArgs.push('package'); // package command
 
     if (packageName !== undefined) {
         vsceArgs.push('-o');
-        vsceArgs.push(packageName);
+        if (outputFolder) {
+            //if we have specified an output folder then put the files in that output folder
+            vsceArgs.push(path.join(outputFolder, packageName));
+        }
+        else {
+            vsceArgs.push(packageName);
+        }
     }
 
-    var proc = child_process.spawnSync('node', vsceArgs);
+    let proc = child_process.spawnSync('node', vsceArgs);
     if (proc.error) {
         console.error(proc.error.toString());
     }
 }
 
-function doOfflinePackage(platformInfo, packageName, packageJSON) {
+function doOfflinePackage(platformInfo, packageName, packageJSON, outputFolder) {
     if (process.platform === 'win32') {
         throw new Error('Do not build offline packages on windows. Runtime executables will not be marked executable in *nix packages.');
     }
@@ -101,12 +113,12 @@ function doOfflinePackage(platformInfo, packageName, packageJSON) {
     cleanSync(false);
     return install(platformInfo, packageJSON)
         .then(() => {
-            doPackageSync(packageName + '-' + platformInfo.platform + '-' + platformInfo.architecture + '.vsix');
+            doPackageSync(packageName + '-' + platformInfo.platform + '-' + platformInfo.architecture + '.vsix', outputFolder);
         });
 }
 
 function getPackageJSON() {
-    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('package.json'));
+    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('package.json').toString()); 
 }
 
 gulp.task('package:clean', () => {
@@ -114,28 +126,42 @@ gulp.task('package:clean', () => {
 });
 
 gulp.task('package:online', ['clean'], () => {
-    doPackageSync();
+    doPackageSync(undefined, undefined);
 });
 
-gulp.task('package:offline', ['clean'], () => {
+gulp.task('package:offline', () => {
     util.setExtensionPath(__dirname);
 
-    var packageJSON = getPackageJSON();
-    var name = packageJSON.name;
-    var version = packageJSON.version;
-    var packageName = name + '.' + version;
+    let argv = require('minimist')(process.argv.slice(2), { boolean: ['retainVsix'] });
+    if (argv['retainVsix']) {
+        //if user doesnot want to clean up the existing vsix packages
+        cleanSync(false);
+    }
+    else {
+        cleanSync(true);
+    }
+    
+    let outputFolder;
+    if (argv['o']) {
+        outputFolder = argv['o'];
+    }
 
-    var packages = [];
+    const packageJSON = getPackageJSON(); 
+    const name = packageJSON.name; 
+    const version = packageJSON.version; 
+    const packageName = name + '.' + version; 
+    
+    const packages = []; 
     packages.push(new PlatformInformation('win32', 'x86_64'));
     packages.push(new PlatformInformation('darwin', 'x86_64'));
     packages.push(new PlatformInformation('linux', 'x86_64'));
 
-    var promise = Promise.resolve();
+    let promise = Promise.resolve();
 
     packages.forEach(platformInfo => {
         promise = promise
             .then(() => {
-                return doOfflinePackage(platformInfo, packageName, packageJSON);
+                return doOfflinePackage(platformInfo, packageName, packageJSON, outputFolder);
             });
     });
 
@@ -151,9 +177,9 @@ const allTypeScript = [
 
 const lintReporter = (output, file, options) => {
     //emits: src/helloWorld.c:5:3: warning: implicit declaration of function ‘prinft’
-    var relativeBase = file.base.substring(file.cwd.length + 1).replace('\\', '/');
+    let relativeBase = file.base.substring(file.cwd.length + 1).replace('\\', '/');
     output.forEach(e => {
-        var message = relativeBase + e.name + ':' + (e.startPosition.line + 1) + ':' + (e.startPosition.character + 1) + ': ' + e.failure;
+        let message = relativeBase + e.name + ':' + (e.startPosition.line + 1) + ':' + (e.startPosition.character + 1) + ': ' + e.failure;
         console.log('[tslint] ' + message);
     });
 };
@@ -164,8 +190,8 @@ gulp.task('tslint', () => {
             program: require('tslint').Linter.createProgram("./tsconfig.json"),
             configuration: "./tslint.json"
         }))
-        .pipe(tslint.report(lintReporter, {
+        .pipe(tslint.report({
             summarizeFailureOutput: false,
             emitError: false
-        }))
+        }));
 });
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 30df8c9e8..1d31d2691 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "csharp",
-  "version": "1.15.0-beta3",
+  "version": "1.15.0-beta4",
   "lockfileVersion": 1,
   "requires": true,
   "dependencies": {
@@ -238,7 +238,8 @@
     "abbrev": {
       "version": "1.0.9",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abbrev/-/abbrev-1.0.9.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-kbR5JYinc4wl813W9jdSovh3YTU="
+      "integrity": "sha1-kbR5JYinc4wl813W9jdSovh3YTU=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "agent-base": {
       "version": "4.1.2",
@@ -264,6 +265,7 @@
       "version": "0.1.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/align-text/-/align-text-0.1.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-DNkKVhCT810KmSVsIrcGlDP60Rc=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "kind-of": "3.2.2",
         "longest": "1.0.1",
@@ -273,7 +275,8 @@
     "amdefine": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/amdefine/-/amdefine-1.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-SlKCrBZHKek2Gbz9OtFR+BfOkfU="
+      "integrity": "sha1-SlKCrBZHKek2Gbz9OtFR+BfOkfU=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "ansi-colors": {
       "version": "1.1.0",
@@ -349,6 +352,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.9",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/argparse/-/argparse-1.0.9.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-c9g7wmP4bpf4zE9rrhsOkKfSLIY=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "sprintf-js": "1.0.3"
       }
@@ -480,7 +484,8 @@
     "async": {
       "version": "1.5.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/async/-/async-1.5.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-7GphrlZIDAw8skHJVhjiCJL5Zyo="
+      "integrity": "sha1-7GphrlZIDAw8skHJVhjiCJL5Zyo=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "async-arrays": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
@@ -561,7 +566,8 @@
     "balanced-match": {
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/balanced-match/-/balanced-match-1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-ibTRmasr7kneFk6gK4nORi1xt2c="
+      "integrity": "sha1-ibTRmasr7kneFk6gK4nORi1xt2c=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "base64-js": {
       "version": "1.2.3",
@@ -622,6 +628,7 @@
       "version": "1.1.8",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/brace-expansion/-/brace-expansion-1.1.8.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-wHshHHyVLsH479Uad+8NHTmQopI=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "balanced-match": "1.0.0",
         "concat-map": "0.0.1"
@@ -677,6 +684,7 @@
       "version": "0.1.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/center-align/-/center-align-0.1.3.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-qg0yYptu6XIgBBHL1EYckHvCt60=",
+      "dev": true,
       "optional": true,
       "requires": {
         "align-text": "0.1.4",
@@ -994,7 +1002,8 @@
     "concat-map": {
       "version": "0.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/concat-map/-/concat-map-0.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-2Klr13/Wjfd5OnMDajug1UBdR3s="
+      "integrity": "sha1-2Klr13/Wjfd5OnMDajug1UBdR3s=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "convert-source-map": {
       "version": "1.5.1",
@@ -1221,7 +1230,8 @@
     "decamelize": {
       "version": "1.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/decamelize/-/decamelize-1.2.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-9lNNFRSCabIDUue+4m9QH5oZEpA="
+      "integrity": "sha1-9lNNFRSCabIDUue+4m9QH5oZEpA=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "deep-assign": {
       "version": "1.0.0",
@@ -1244,7 +1254,8 @@
     "deep-is": {
       "version": "0.1.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/deep-is/-/deep-is-0.1.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-s2nW+128E+7PUk+RsHD+7cNXzzQ="
+      "integrity": "sha1-s2nW+128E+7PUk+RsHD+7cNXzzQ=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "defaults": {
       "version": "1.0.3",
@@ -1534,6 +1545,7 @@
       "version": "1.8.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/escodegen/-/escodegen-1.8.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-WltTr0aTEQvrsIZ6o0MN07cKEBg=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "esprima": "2.7.3",
         "estraverse": "1.9.3",
@@ -1546,6 +1558,7 @@
           "version": "0.2.0",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/source-map/-/source-map-0.2.0.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-2rc/vPwrqBm03gO9b26qSBZLP50=",
+          "dev": true,
           "optional": true,
           "requires": {
             "amdefine": "1.0.1"
@@ -1556,17 +1569,20 @@
     "esprima": {
       "version": "2.7.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/esprima/-/esprima-2.7.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-luO3DVd59q1JzQMmc9HDEnZ7pYE="
+      "integrity": "sha1-luO3DVd59q1JzQMmc9HDEnZ7pYE=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "estraverse": {
       "version": "1.9.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/estraverse/-/estraverse-1.9.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-r2fy3JIlgkFZUJJgkaQAXSnJu0Q="
+      "integrity": "sha1-r2fy3JIlgkFZUJJgkaQAXSnJu0Q=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "esutils": {
       "version": "2.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/esutils/-/esutils-2.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-Cr9PHKpbyx96nYrMbepPqqBLrJs="
+      "integrity": "sha1-Cr9PHKpbyx96nYrMbepPqqBLrJs=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "event-stream": {
       "version": "3.3.4",
@@ -1705,7 +1721,8 @@
     "fast-levenshtein": {
       "version": "2.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fast-levenshtein/-/fast-levenshtein-2.0.6.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-PYpcZog6FqMMqGQ+hR8Zuqd5eRc="
+      "integrity": "sha1-PYpcZog6FqMMqGQ+hR8Zuqd5eRc=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "fd-slicer": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
@@ -2008,6 +2025,15 @@
         "is-glob": "2.0.1"
       }
     },
+    "glob-promise": {
+      "version": "3.4.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/glob-promise/-/glob-promise-3.4.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-q08RJ6O+eJn+dVanerAndJwIcumgbDdYiUT7zFQl3Wm1xD6fBKtah7H8ZJChj4wP+8C+QfeVy8xautR7rdmKEw==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "requires": {
+        "@types/glob": "5.0.35"
+      }
+    },
     "glob-stream": {
       "version": "3.1.18",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/glob-stream/-/glob-stream-3.1.18.tgz",
@@ -3158,6 +3184,7 @@
       "version": "4.0.11",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/handlebars/-/handlebars-4.0.11.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-Ywo13+ApS8KB7a5v/F0yn8eYLcw=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "async": "1.5.2",
         "optimist": "0.6.1",
@@ -3169,6 +3196,7 @@
           "version": "0.4.4",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/source-map/-/source-map-0.4.4.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-66T12pwNyZneaAMti092FzZSA2s=",
+          "dev": true,
           "requires": {
             "amdefine": "1.0.1"
           }
@@ -3214,7 +3242,8 @@
     "has-flag": {
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/has-flag/-/has-flag-1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-nZ55MWXOAXoA8AQYxD+UKnsdEfo="
+      "integrity": "sha1-nZ55MWXOAXoA8AQYxD+UKnsdEfo=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "has-gulplog": {
       "version": "0.1.0",
@@ -3359,6 +3388,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/inflight/-/inflight-1.0.6.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-Sb1jMdfQLQwJvJEKEHW6gWW1bfk=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "once": "1.4.0",
         "wrappy": "1.0.2"
@@ -3367,7 +3397,8 @@
     "inherits": {
       "version": "2.0.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/inherits/-/inherits-2.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-Yzwsg+PaQqUC9SRmAiSA9CCCYd4="
+      "integrity": "sha1-Yzwsg+PaQqUC9SRmAiSA9CCCYd4=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "ini": {
       "version": "1.3.5",
@@ -3420,7 +3451,8 @@
     "is-buffer": {
       "version": "1.1.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-buffer/-/is-buffer-1.1.6.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-NcdALwpXkTm5Zvvbk7owOUSvVvBKDgKP5/ewfXEznmQFfs4ZRmanOeKBTjRVjka3QFoN6XJ+9F3USqfHqTaU5w=="
+      "integrity": "sha512-NcdALwpXkTm5Zvvbk7owOUSvVvBKDgKP5/ewfXEznmQFfs4ZRmanOeKBTjRVjka3QFoN6XJ+9F3USqfHqTaU5w==",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "is-builtin-module": {
       "version": "1.0.0",
@@ -3653,7 +3685,8 @@
     "isexe": {
       "version": "2.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/isexe/-/isexe-2.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-6PvzdNxVb/iUehDcsFctYz8s+hA="
+      "integrity": "sha1-6PvzdNxVb/iUehDcsFctYz8s+hA=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "isobject": {
       "version": "2.1.0",
@@ -3682,6 +3715,7 @@
       "version": "0.4.5",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/istanbul/-/istanbul-0.4.5.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-ZcfXPUxNqE1POsMQuRj7C4Azczs=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "abbrev": "1.0.9",
         "async": "1.5.2",
@@ -3703,6 +3737,7 @@
           "version": "5.0.15",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/glob/-/glob-5.0.15.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-G8k2ueAvSmA/zCIuz3Yz0wuLk7E=",
+          "dev": true,
           "requires": {
             "inflight": "1.0.6",
             "inherits": "2.0.3",
@@ -3714,12 +3749,14 @@
         "resolve": {
           "version": "1.1.7",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/resolve/-/resolve-1.1.7.tgz",
-          "integrity": "sha1-IDEU2CrSxe2ejgQRs5ModeiJ6Xs="
+          "integrity": "sha1-IDEU2CrSxe2ejgQRs5ModeiJ6Xs=",
+          "dev": true
         },
         "supports-color": {
           "version": "3.2.3",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/supports-color/-/supports-color-3.2.3.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-ZawFBLOVQXHYpklGsq48u4pfVPY=",
+          "dev": true,
           "requires": {
             "has-flag": "1.0.0"
           }
@@ -3881,6 +3918,7 @@
       "version": "3.11.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/js-yaml/-/js-yaml-3.11.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-saJstZWv7oNeOyBh3+Dx1qWzhW0+e6/8eDzo7p5rDFqxntSztloLtuKu+Ejhtq82jsilwOIZYsCz+lIjthg1Hw==",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "argparse": "1.0.9",
         "esprima": "4.0.0"
@@ -3889,7 +3927,8 @@
         "esprima": {
           "version": "4.0.0",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/esprima/-/esprima-4.0.0.tgz",
-          "integrity": "sha512-oftTcaMu/EGrEIu904mWteKIv8vMuOgGYo7EhVJJN00R/EED9DCua/xxHRdYnKtcECzVg7xOWhflvJMnqcFZjw=="
+          "integrity": "sha512-oftTcaMu/EGrEIu904mWteKIv8vMuOgGYo7EhVJJN00R/EED9DCua/xxHRdYnKtcECzVg7xOWhflvJMnqcFZjw==",
+          "dev": true
         }
       }
     },
@@ -3982,6 +4021,7 @@
       "version": "3.2.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/kind-of/-/kind-of-3.2.2.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-MeohpzS6ubuw8yRm2JOupR5KPGQ=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "is-buffer": "1.1.6"
       }
@@ -3990,6 +4030,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lazy-cache/-/lazy-cache-1.0.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-odePw6UEdMuAhF07O24dpJpEbo4=",
+      "dev": true,
       "optional": true
     },
     "lazystream": {
@@ -4052,6 +4093,7 @@
       "version": "0.3.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/levn/-/levn-0.3.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-OwmSTt+fCDwEkP3UwLxEIeBHZO4=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "prelude-ls": "1.1.2",
         "type-check": "0.3.2"
@@ -4288,7 +4330,8 @@
     "longest": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/longest/-/longest-1.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-MKCy2jj3N3DoKUoNIuZiXtd9AJc="
+      "integrity": "sha1-MKCy2jj3N3DoKUoNIuZiXtd9AJc=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "lru-cache": {
       "version": "4.1.1",
@@ -4457,14 +4500,16 @@
       "version": "3.0.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimatch/-/minimatch-3.0.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-yJHVQEhyqPLUTgt9B83PXu6W3rx4MvvHvSUvToogpwoGDOUQ+yDrR0HRot+yOCdCO7u4hX3pWft6kWBBcqh0UA==",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "brace-expansion": "1.1.8"
       }
     },
     "minimist": {
-      "version": "0.0.8",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimist/-/minimist-0.0.8.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-hX/Kv8M5fSYluCKCYuhqp6ARsF0="
+      "version": "1.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimist/-/minimist-1.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha1-o1AIsg9BOD7sH7kU9M1d95omQoQ=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "mkdirp": {
       "version": "0.5.1",
@@ -4472,6 +4517,13 @@
       "integrity": "sha1-MAV0OOrGz3+MR2fzhkjWaX11yQM=",
       "requires": {
         "minimist": "0.0.8"
+      },
+      "dependencies": {
+        "minimist": {
+          "version": "0.0.8",
+          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimist/-/minimist-0.0.8.tgz",
+          "integrity": "sha1-hX/Kv8M5fSYluCKCYuhqp6ARsF0="
+        }
       }
     },
     "mocha": {
@@ -4616,6 +4668,7 @@
       "version": "3.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/nopt/-/nopt-3.0.6.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-xkZdvwirzU2zWTF/eaxopkayj/k=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "abbrev": "1.0.9"
       }
@@ -7568,6 +7621,7 @@
       "version": "1.4.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/once/-/once-1.4.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-WDsap3WWHUsROsF9nFC6753Xa9E=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "wrappy": "1.0.2"
       }
@@ -7581,15 +7635,23 @@
       "version": "0.6.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/optimist/-/optimist-0.6.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-2j6nRob6IaGaERwybpDrFaAZZoY=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
-        "minimist": "0.0.8",
+        "minimist": "0.0.10",
         "wordwrap": "0.0.3"
       },
       "dependencies": {
+        "minimist": {
+          "version": "0.0.10",
+          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimist/-/minimist-0.0.10.tgz",
+          "integrity": "sha1-3j+YVD2/lggr5IrRoMfNqDYwHc8=",
+          "dev": true
+        },
         "wordwrap": {
           "version": "0.0.3",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/wordwrap/-/wordwrap-0.0.3.tgz",
-          "integrity": "sha1-o9XabNXAvAAI03I0u68b7WMFkQc="
+          "integrity": "sha1-o9XabNXAvAAI03I0u68b7WMFkQc=",
+          "dev": true
         }
       }
     },
@@ -7597,6 +7659,7 @@
       "version": "0.8.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/optionator/-/optionator-0.8.2.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-NkxeQJ0/TWMB1sC0wFu6UBgK62Q=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "deep-is": "0.1.3",
         "fast-levenshtein": "2.0.6",
@@ -7763,7 +7826,8 @@
     "path-is-absolute": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/path-is-absolute/-/path-is-absolute-1.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-F0uSaHNVNP+8es5r9TpanhtcX18="
+      "integrity": "sha1-F0uSaHNVNP+8es5r9TpanhtcX18=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "path-is-inside": {
       "version": "1.0.2",
@@ -7899,7 +7963,8 @@
     "prelude-ls": {
       "version": "1.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/prelude-ls/-/prelude-ls-1.1.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-IZMqVJ9eUv/ZqCf1cOBL5iqX2lQ="
+      "integrity": "sha1-IZMqVJ9eUv/ZqCf1cOBL5iqX2lQ=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "preserve": {
       "version": "0.2.0",
@@ -8198,7 +8263,8 @@
     "repeat-string": {
       "version": "1.6.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/repeat-string/-/repeat-string-1.6.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-jcrkcOHIirwtYA//Sndihtp15jc="
+      "integrity": "sha1-jcrkcOHIirwtYA//Sndihtp15jc=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "replace-ext": {
       "version": "0.0.1",
@@ -8448,6 +8514,7 @@
       "version": "0.1.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/right-align/-/right-align-0.1.3.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-YTObci/mo1FWiSENJOFMlhSGE+8=",
+      "dev": true,
       "optional": true,
       "requires": {
         "align-text": "0.1.4"
@@ -8612,7 +8679,8 @@
     "sprintf-js": {
       "version": "1.0.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sprintf-js/-/sprintf-js-1.0.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-BOaSb2YolTVPPdAVIDYzuFcpfiw="
+      "integrity": "sha1-BOaSb2YolTVPPdAVIDYzuFcpfiw=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "sshpk": {
       "version": "1.13.1",
@@ -9117,6 +9185,7 @@
       "version": "0.3.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/type-check/-/type-check-0.3.2.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-WITKtRLPHTVeP7eE8wgEsrUg23I=",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "prelude-ls": "1.1.2"
       }
@@ -9153,6 +9222,7 @@
       "version": "2.8.29",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/uglify-js/-/uglify-js-2.8.29.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-KcVzMUgFe7Th913zW3qcty5qWd0=",
+      "dev": true,
       "optional": true,
       "requires": {
         "source-map": "0.5.7",
@@ -9164,12 +9234,14 @@
           "version": "1.2.1",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/camelcase/-/camelcase-1.2.1.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-m7UwTS4LVmmLLHWLCKPqqdqlijk=",
+          "dev": true,
           "optional": true
         },
         "cliui": {
           "version": "2.1.0",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cliui/-/cliui-2.1.0.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-S0dXYP+AJkx2LDoXGQMukcf+oNE=",
+          "dev": true,
           "optional": true,
           "requires": {
             "center-align": "0.1.3",
@@ -9181,18 +9253,21 @@
           "version": "0.5.7",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/source-map/-/source-map-0.5.7.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-igOdLRAh0i0eoUyA2OpGi6LvP8w=",
+          "dev": true,
           "optional": true
         },
         "wordwrap": {
           "version": "0.0.2",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/wordwrap/-/wordwrap-0.0.2.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-t5Zpu0LstAn4PVg8rVLKF+qhZD8=",
+          "dev": true,
           "optional": true
         },
         "yargs": {
           "version": "3.10.0",
           "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yargs/-/yargs-3.10.0.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-9+572FfdfB0tOMDnTvvWgdFDH9E=",
+          "dev": true,
           "optional": true,
           "requires": {
             "camelcase": "1.2.1",
@@ -9207,6 +9282,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/uglify-to-browserify/-/uglify-to-browserify-1.0.2.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-bgkk1r2mta/jSeOabWMoUKD4grc=",
+      "dev": true,
       "optional": true
     },
     "unc-path-regex": {
@@ -9568,6 +9644,7 @@
       "version": "1.3.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/which/-/which-1.3.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-xcJpopdamTuY5duC/KnTTNBraPK54YwpenP4lzxU8H91GudWpFv38u0CKjclE1Wi2EH2EDz5LRcHcKbCIzqGyg==",
+      "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "isexe": "2.0.0"
       }
@@ -9582,6 +9659,7 @@
       "version": "0.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/window-size/-/window-size-0.1.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-VDjNLqk7IC76Ohn+iIeu58lPnJ0=",
+      "dev": true,
       "optional": true
     },
     "wolfy87-eventemitter": {
@@ -9593,7 +9671,8 @@
     "wordwrap": {
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/wordwrap/-/wordwrap-1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-J1hIEIkUVqQXHI0CJkQa3pDLyus="
+      "integrity": "sha1-J1hIEIkUVqQXHI0CJkQa3pDLyus=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "wrap-ansi": {
       "version": "2.1.0",
@@ -9608,7 +9687,8 @@
     "wrappy": {
       "version": "1.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/wrappy/-/wrappy-1.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha1-tSQ9jz7BqjXxNkYFvA0QNuMKtp8="
+      "integrity": "sha1-tSQ9jz7BqjXxNkYFvA0QNuMKtp8=",
+      "dev": true
     },
     "xmlbuilder": {
       "version": "9.0.7",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index fb6771842..486fae364 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     "test:runSuiteInVsCode": "cross-env CODE_EXTENSIONS_PATH=./ CODE_TESTS_PATH=./out/test/integrationTests CODE_TESTS_WORKSPACE=./test/integrationTests/testAssets/$OSVC_SUITE npm run test:runInVsCode",
     "test:runInVsCode": "node ./test/runVsCodeTestsWithAbsolutePaths.js",
     "test:release": "mocha --opts ./mocha.opts test/releaseTests/**/*.test.ts",
+    "test:artifacts": "mocha --opts ./mocha.opts test/artifactTests/**/*.test.ts",
     "postinstall": "node ./node_modules/vscode/bin/install",
     "cov:instrument": "rimraf ./coverage && rimraf ./.nyc_output && rimraf ./out && npm run compile && cd out && nyc instrument --require source-map-support/register --cwd ../ . . && cd ..",
     "cov:merge": "cd ./out && istanbul-combine -d ../coverage/integration -r lcovonly ../.nyc_output/integration/*.json && cd ..",
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@
     "istanbul": "^0.4.5",
     "istanbul-combine": "^0.3.0",
     "ltcdr": "^2.2.1",
+    "minimist": "^1.2.0",
     "mocha": "^5.0.4",
     "mocha-typescript": "^1.1.12",
     "npm-run-all": "^4.1.2",
diff --git a/src/observers/BaseLoggerObserver.ts b/src/observers/BaseLoggerObserver.ts
index b68614b30..d40a4c80b 100644
--- a/src/observers/BaseLoggerObserver.ts
+++ b/src/observers/BaseLoggerObserver.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,13 @@ import { BaseEvent } from '../omnisharp/loggingEvents';
 
 export abstract class BaseLoggerObserver {
     public logger: Logger;
-    constructor(channel: vscode.OutputChannel) {
-        this.logger = new Logger((message) => channel.append(message));
+    constructor(channel: vscode.OutputChannel | Logger) {
+        if (channel instanceof Logger) {
+            this.logger = channel as Logger;
+        }
+        else {
+            this.logger = new Logger((message) => channel.append(message));
+        }    
     }
     
     abstract post: (event: BaseEvent) => void;
diff --git a/test/releaseTests/vsix.test.ts b/test/artifactTests/vsix.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from test/releaseTests/vsix.test.ts
rename to test/artifactTests/vsix.test.ts
diff --git a/test/releaseTests/offlinePackage.test.ts b/test/releaseTests/offlinePackage.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fbfca08db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/releaseTests/offlinePackage.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *  Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+ *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+import * as chai from 'chai';
+import * as glob from 'glob-promise';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import { invokeNode } from './testAssets/testAssets';
+import { PlatformInformation } from '../../src/platform';
+import { rimraf } from 'async-file';
+
+let tmp = require('tmp');
+
+suite("Offline packaging of VSIX", function () {
+    let vsixFiles: string[];
+    this.timeout(1000000);
+    let tmpDir = null;
+
+    suiteSetup(() => {
+        chai.should();
+        tmpDir = tmp.dirSync();
+        let args: string[] = [];
+        args.push(path.join("node_modules", "gulp", "bin", "gulp.js"));
+        args.push("package:offline");
+        args.push("--retainVsix");// do not delete the existing vsix in the repo
+        args.push(`-o`);
+        args.push(tmpDir.name);
+        invokeNode(args);
+        vsixFiles = glob.sync(path.join(tmpDir.name, '*.vsix'));
+    });
+
+    test("Exactly 3 vsix files should be produced", () => {
+        vsixFiles.length.should.be.equal(3, "the build should produce exactly 3 vsix files");
+    });
+
+    [
+        new PlatformInformation('win32', 'x86_64'),
+        new PlatformInformation('darwin', 'x86_64'),
+        new PlatformInformation('linux', 'x86_64')
+    ].forEach(element => {
+        test(`Given Platform: ${element.platform} and Architecture: ${element.architecture}, the vsix file is created`, () => {
+            vsixFiles.findIndex(elem => elem.indexOf(element.platform) != -1).should.not.be.equal(-1);
+            vsixFiles.findIndex(elem => elem.indexOf(element.architecture) != -1).should.not.be.equal(-1);
+        });
+    });
+
+    suiteTeardown(async () => {
+        if (tmpDir) {
+            await rimraf(tmpDir.name);
+        }
+
+        tmpDir = null;
+    });
+});
diff --git a/test/releaseTests/testAssets/testAssets.ts b/test/releaseTests/testAssets/testAssets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..26616481d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/releaseTests/testAssets/testAssets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *  Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+ *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+import * as cp from 'child_process';
+import * as path from 'path';
+
+export function invokeNode(args: string[]){
+    let proc = cp.spawnSync('node', args);
+    if (proc.error) {
+        console.error(proc.error.toString());
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file